The largest old-growth forest in the Southeast is free, wild, and close to Columbia, SC

They’re called the Redwoods of the East

Twenty miles southeast of Columbia, South Carolina, a forest grows so tall and so old that people call it the Redwoods of the East.

Congaree National Park covers about 26,700 acres, and roughly 11,000 of those acres are old-growth bottomland hardwood forest, the largest stretch of its kind left in the southeastern United States.

You can walk through it for free, paddle through it by canoe, and if your timing is right, watch thousands of fireflies light it up in unison.

The trees here have been growing for centuries, and the story of how they survived is worth the drive.

The grassroots fight that saved the forest

The Congaree people once lived on this land along the river floodplain. By the 1960s, logging companies had their eyes on the old-growth timber.

Local conservationists launched a campaign to stop the cutting, and they won. Congress created Congaree Swamp National Monument in 1976.

In 2003, the name changed to Congaree National Park after officials dropped “Swamp” because the land is actually a floodplain, not a true swamp.

Today the park holds UNESCO Biosphere Region status and recognition as a Globally Important Bird Area.

Some of these trees stand nearly 170 feet tall

The forest canopy averages over 100 feet, and the tallest trees push close to 170 feet. You’re walking under some of the biggest trees on the East Coast.

The park holds the tallest known specimens of 15 different species, including loblolly pine, sweetgum, cherrybark oak, swamp tupelo, and American elm.

Those massive bald cypresses along the water are cousins to the California redwoods. Some of them have been standing here for over 500 years, and they look it.

A 2.4-mile boardwalk above the flooded forest floor

The Boardwalk Loop Trail runs 2.4 miles on an elevated walkway that keeps you above the water and protects the delicate plant life below.

Bald cypress knees rise from dark water on both sides, and old-growth hardwoods tower overhead.

You can grab a self-guided brochure at the Harry Hampton Visitor Center that marks 20 points of interest along the route. Check trail conditions before you go, though.

Sections close for maintenance or flooding, and the forest floor fills up fast after rain.

Twenty-five miles of flat trails through old growth

Most of the park’s 25-plus miles of trails sit flat, so your legs get a break. The Weston Lake Loop runs 4.4 miles past Cedar Creek with good chances of spotting wildlife.

At seven miles, the Oakridge Trail cuts through old-growth forest where deer and wild turkeys wander through the trees. Birdwatchers tend to head for the 11.7-mile Kingsnake Trail.

If you want a shorter walk with history, the Bates Ferry Trail follows a 1920s ferry road for 2.2 miles to the Congaree River.

Paddle 15 miles of blackwater under bald cypress

Cedar Creek Canoe Trail winds 15 miles through the heart of the old-growth forest. The water moves slow and dark beneath bald cypress and tupelo trees, and the canopy closes in overhead.

River otters, turtles, wading birds, and deer show up along the banks. You might even spot an alligator in the backcountry stretches.

Bring your own gear or rent from outfitters in Columbia.

If you want a longer trip, the 50-mile Congaree River Blue Trail starts in downtown Columbia and runs all the way to the park.

Thousands of fireflies flash in perfect unison

For about two weeks between mid-May and mid-June, synchronous fireflies light up the forest floor. They flash together, all at the same moment, then go dark at the same moment.

It’s part of their mating ritual, and Congaree is one of only a handful of places in North America where you can see it. The event draws so many people that the park runs a lottery system to hand out passes.

No white lights, no flash photography, and no headlamps allowed during the viewing. You sit in the dark and watch.

Over 1,200 species call this floodplain home

The park holds more than 1,220 documented species.

Birdwatchers have 191 bird species to look for, including owls, woodpeckers, herons, ibis, and bald eagles.

On the ground, white-tailed deer, bobcats, river otters, foxes, coyotes, and armadillos move through the underbrush. The water holds catfish, bass, and bowfin, and alligators live in the backcountry.

Copperheads, rattlesnakes, and water moccasins also call the park home, so keep your eyes on the trail ahead of you.

The mosquito meter goes all the way to “War Zone”

Inside the Harry Hampton Visitor Center, rangers keep a hand-updated Mosquito Meter on display. Six levels run from “All Clear” to “War Zone,” and the park earns that top rating more often than you’d like.

The floodplain floods about 10 times a year, which creates prime breeding ground. The park skips pesticide spraying to protect its biodiversity, so the bugs thrive.

Put on your insect repellent in the parking lot before you step onto any trail. You’ll be glad you did.

Night hikes, owl prowls, and guided canoe trips

Free ranger-led programs run throughout the year, and a few of them are worth building your visit around.

The Owl Prowl takes you on a 2.5-mile night hike along the boardwalk to search for owls and learn about nocturnal wildlife. The Nature Discovery Walk pairs you with a volunteer naturalist on the boardwalk.

A Woodpecker Walk covers two miles through the pine forest.

Ranger-guided canoe tours on Cedar Creek run on a limited basis, and you can reserve a spot through the park’s reservation system.

Flooding 10 times a year is what makes the trees so big

About 80 percent of the park sits within the Congaree River floodplain.

Waters from the Congaree and Wateree Rivers sweep through roughly 10 times a year, carrying nutrients and sediments that feed the soil.

That cycle of flooding and drying is exactly what drives the forest’s massive growth. It’s also why the park dropped “Swamp” from its name.

A true swamp stays wet. This land breathes.

It floods, it drains, and the trees grow taller than anywhere else in the eastern United States.

No entrance fee, open every day of the year

You don’t pay a dime to get into Congaree National Park. Parking is free too.

The Harry Hampton Visitor Center opens seven days a week from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. with exhibits and a short film about the park.

Trail maps and brochures sit in the breezeway around the clock, so even if you show up at dawn, you can grab one. Two tent-only campgrounds, Longleaf and Bluff, take reservations.

If you want to fish, bring a valid South Carolina fishing license and you’re set.

Visit Congaree National Park in South Carolina

You can find Congaree National Park at 100 National Park Road in Hopkins, S.C., about a 30-minute drive from downtown Columbia. The park stays open 24 hours a day, every day of the year, and admission is always free.

Stop at the Harry Hampton Visitor Center first for trail maps, exhibits, and current conditions.

If you’re planning around the firefly season or a ranger-guided canoe tour, check the official website ahead of time for lottery details and reservation windows.

This article was created with AI assistance and human editing.

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