Congaree National Park, a sprawling hardwood forest in South Carolina, offers peaceful hikes and scenic canoeing in a diverse, wildlife-rich landscape.
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"A national park in South Carolina known for its large hardwood forest and diverse ecosystem." - Lydia Mansel Lydia Mansel Lydia Mansel is a writer with more than eight years of experience editing and writing for both brands and online publications—with a particular focus on travel, fashion, and lifestyle. She’s
"Given the fact that South Carolina has notoriously mild winters, Congaree National Park is open year-round — and travelers can plan their trip based on what they most want to see. Those visiting in the fall may miss the annual synchronous firefly mating season that occurs in the spring, but they will get to witness the foliage that peaks at the end of October and early November. Not to mention, the lower temperatures make paddling Cedar Creek or hiking Kingsnake Trail more palatable." - Travel + Leisure Editors
"Congaree National Park in South Carolina preserves the largest tract of old-growth bottomland hardwood forest in the U.S., offering unique biodiversity and floodplain ecosystems." - Travel + Leisure Editors
"Congaree is a haven for four-legged friends who want to meander through the country's largest old growth bottomland hardwood forest. The park is home to champion trees — that is, the largest in their species known to man — and was once a swampy hideout for bootleggers and runaway slaves. Take a walk along the park's 2.4-mile Boardwalk Loop trail, where bald cypress trees eerily jut out of the water – just keep a lookout for alligators." - Travel + Leisure Editors
"Located in central South Carolina, Congaree National Park offers opportunities to hike, canoe, and kayak in a peaceful forest setting. The park is also home to an incredible natural phenomenon — synchronous fireflies, best spotted during the Fireflies Festival." - Travel + Leisure Editors
