Congaree National Park: 24 Hours Kayaking and Hiking in South Carolina
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- čas přidán 20. 05. 2024
- Today, we are going on a journey through the untamed beauty and stunning wilderness of Congaree National Park. Nestled in the heart of South Carolina, this hidden gem is a sanctuary where ancient trees stretch skywards, snakes swim through the waters, and floodplains create a diverse landscape that is ripe for adventure. Congaree is a park that you really need to spend some time in to enjoy fully, and I encourage you to visit this beautiful place if you are in the area. Here is how I spent 24 hours in the park, kayaking, hiking, and just soaking in the stunning scenery. Let me know what you think in the comments!
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If I would have known that you were coming to my home state of South Carolina, I would have driven down to Columbia and taken you out to lunch! I'm glad that you had a great time exploring our state's only national park!
Thank you for showcasing our little jewel of a National Park. Hard to imagine such a large swath of the southeast looked exactly like this just 500 years ago. Hope our country will save more unique areas like this.
Considering how crowded many places have become, this place seems really tranquil. Love the kayaking aspect too. I always say, kayaks can take you places sometimes nothing else can. Looks like you lucked out with the mosquitoes 😂
I agree, kayaking totally took it to the next level
Glad to see you on our side of the country! It was flooded when I went too. Glad you're showcasing this under appreciated park. Thanks for taking us along, Josh!
Thanks for letting us go with you to this beautiful place !!! ❤😊
My pleasure 😊
It’s a really nice park. I went on one of the hardest trails and it was pretty fun getting to walk across a log to get to the other part of the trail. We walked around 7 miles that day. I really enjoyed it and that was my first national park ever!
I also should mention that on that same trail I saw some of the biggest trees I’ve ever ever seen. If you thought the trees in the videos were big Imagine them two times bigger than that. It was truly incredible!
Yosemite was just a drive away for me before I moved to Charlotte 6 months ago. I've been to Congaree three times now, and I'm enjoying it more with each visit. Thanks for your California videos-they really help when I'm missing home! Ill be back in the Yosemite Valley in July!!
No problem! That is awesome you are going to Yosemite in July, I hope it is not too busy!
umm...how can ANYONE miss homeless city demon-world californication???!
@@jeff-sq4feseriously lol
@@jeff-sq4feshut the hell up, for crying out loud🙄
lol that mosquito meter!!! That's a first. That kayak footage look so relaxing.
Congaree is my favorite park that I have been to, the wild life and the scenery were so amazing and Columbia serves as a great city to explore as well!
Thank you for sharing the kayaking video as well as the boardwalk trail! I am disabled so not sure if I could make the kayak-- so loved seeing it anyway-- but knowing how accessible the boardwalk is makes me SO happy!
Happy you enjoyed our neck of the woods!
It was a stunning area!
South Carolina is a amazing state with many interesting State Parks to go to that’s why I moved from west coast to the east coast 😊
I never visited that park and am amazed how beautiful it is when flooded, particularly for kayaking! Good to know!
There is no such thing as a bad national park. I visited here at the very beginning of the pandemic. I hiked the Boardwalk loop and had it all to myself. I was fantastic and I highly recommended it.
I was very impressed with Congaree when I visited, especially Weston Lake, the Boardwalk, and Bluff Trail. I loved the river otters and the ancient trees.
I am glad you liked it too! Otters would be so cool to see
We were there two summers ago (from CA and it was stunning) and not flooded. Agree this park is underrated! We thought it was beautiful and completely different from our west coast parks!
Thanks for sharing your videos! They are awesome!! They've given my kids and I fun virtual adventures while we were stuck home sick recently.
Thank you for showing it to us, people who aren't able to travel. This park is both mysterious and magical, so wonderful place.
Timing is everything!
NC here. Never heard of this SC National Park but it is beautiful. Love the mosquito meter. You have the best freaking job.
I wasn't sure what to expect with this being ranked one of the worst national parks on a lot of peoples' list, but I went this March and thought it was absolutely gorgeous (was flooded then too). May not have some of the epic views like some other parks, but this place is truly serene and special!
I agree, I had such low expectations and really loved it
I live about an hour and half from the park and have been only once. It is quite unique. I was there when it was NOT flooded so I was able to hike the better part of the day. (Boardwalk trail is the best) Congaree doesn’t have the wow factor like the parks out west but still worth a stop at least once.
Been here twice, once in winter and once in summer, but it wasn't flooded like this either time. It definitely still has it's beauty when the water is lower. I'm sad you didn't get to do the Weston Lake loop trail because it definitely adds a different experience than the boardwalk gets you and feels a lot more wild. I can't wait to go back and do some kayaking and hopefully some of the longer trails if the water level allows. Thanks for all your content, it really helps us plan our national park trips, we just got back today from Alaska.
Love this park. I've been a number of times but in the fall when it has not been flooded. Great place to look for old growth trees! We managed to find the 7 ft cypress knee. They also have a nice little campground.
I too am collecting National Parks (47 so far) and I haven't been to Congaree yet. It reminds me of the Everglades which I love. Thanks for sharing your National Parks travels. I'm incorporating some of your experiences into my own travels.
No problem! SO cool that you have been to that many! What's your favorite?
how TF can anyone LOVE UNBEARABLE HUMIDITY + MOSQUITOES UP THE BUTTHOLE???
Nice visit. My family lives in Columbia. I finally visited the park a couple years ago. It wasn't flooded that day, which I'm glad of. I would have been so nervous about those cottonmouths while sloshing around in the water. But I did see an otter and a wild hog during my hike, which was really exciting. It's definitely not a grand park with epic mountain views and all that, but it was definitely a nice little spot. I'll for sure go back.
Went there a couple of years ago and we loved it too! Our favorite was the kayak trip with the same company. You never know what you will see while you paddle, owls, otters, fish, snakes, it’s a treasure trove!
We were there in May 2021 and it was mostly dry around the boardwalks. It is an amazing park for sure. Thanks for your great videos
If you love this, you'll love the canoe and kayak areas in Minnesota and Lake superior apostle islands.
You’re in our neck of the woods!! Surprisingly we haven’t made it to this NP yet, but hope to soon! It looks like the flooding gave you a super unique visit!
So many people just think of national parks in the west, but there is so much beauty in the east. Hopefully, soon, there will be a national park here in hometown, Macon, GA...Ocmulgee National Park and Preserve.
Love your videos Josh! You've made many of my vacations a lot better and I thank you a lot for that. Looks like I missed you by one day! I did that same kayaking trip the morning before. Loved seeing this park in flood stage and trudging through the water. It wasn't like that two days before you got there. Glad you got to see it too!
Oh wow that is awesome! I am glad you got to experience it like I did!
A true hiker. Pull off the shoes and keep on getting it. Thank you for showing us this park
Be safe. 😊
haha gotta do what you gotta do
So awesome! We were there in December 2021. We didn’t experience the flooding. It’s weirdly amazing.
I was there a few months ago in the winter.
No mosquitoes, no flooding.
Another great video.
You are my go to content creator when researching my upcoming trips.
We would love getting to see the turtles and snakes too. Our goal is to get to as many NPS sites as we can. Thanks, Josh.
Kay and Matt
Thanks for coming out Josh and excellent video! The snake you saw was indeed a Black Racer. One of the fastest snakes you'll ever see!
Thanks for the great tour, had a lot of fun with you all!
My son and I visited a couple years ago in late September, and it was not flooded at all, but we still loved it! So much to see, like you said - gotta take your time! The boardwalk trail was so educational and allowed for so much time to slow down and explore. That kayaking looked fantastic, though!!!
I agree the trail is short and really lets you have time to just relax and take it all in
Beautiful video. I would love it there 😊
Very cool review of a lesser-known park!
This is the beauty of the South. Unparralleled beauty and tranquility. I thought the views are epic. I think narrow mindedness prevents some from seeing the differences especially the uniqueness of all places.
This is a calm and peaceful trail! I just don’t think I could do it though! I like turtles and fish but not snakes! Thank you for this video Josh! I miss Pops!❤️😀🇺🇸
I understand, snakes are a little crazy to see on the trail
Oh man, this brings back memories. We kayaked Cedar Creek with Carolina Outdoor Adventures a few years back. It ended up being a private guide for just two of us, but Billy was an awesome guide. Particularly loved learning about the bald cypress trunk cavities being used by slaves escaping to the north to evade detection. Thanks for taking me back in time!
Fantastic and hugely underrated park imho. A lot like Caddo Lake, but without the need to share the water with motorboats and such.
Yeah, Imma definitely put this on my kayaking bucketlist!! I love kayaking through submerged trees like this! Just hoping they allow free-roaming 'cause I wanna explore, lol
Great video! We love checking out your videos when planning our trips! In the last year we’ve visited Acadia, Arches, the Florida NPs & Key West and got so many great tips/ideas from your recommendations!
I think Congaree is hit or miss for many people depending on when they visit. You enjoyed your flooded experience, but many who don’t want to wade through the water would be disappointed with the “lack of things to see/do”. Also, if you visit after the area is flooded, everything seems to be covered in mud and dried leaves from the receding waters which could look dull and boring to some. As a Columbia local, we love visiting during all different conditions of the park, but I can see how if someone plans a trip and expects a specific condition they may be disappointed if the environment differs. Even the Cedar Creek paddle trail varies greatly based on water levels. It looks like during your visit the water flooded the banks, while we went a few weeks ago when water levels were ~4ft and had multiple portages around trees and trees crossing then creek to float under, same trail yet totally different experiences! For anyone looking to visit, the park website does have water level gauges for the river & creek that may be helpful in planning your trip! On the other side of the main road/visitors center is also pine forest which is totally different than the bottomland hardwood forest. Another great time to visit is during May-June if you can get a lottery ticket for the synchronized fireflies! If you don’t get a ticket, park activities (like hours and backcountry permits) may be limited during the event.
Reminds me of the bayou or the famous settings of CSI Miami (minus the alligators!). So soothing to see dangerous animals so peaceful in their own habitat. If you don't cross the line, they surely won't cross yours ☺ Thanks for the walk!
Yea, I agree, something cool about seeing snakes like this!
I wish I had the same experience as you, unfortunately when I went (late march of 2024) it was so insanely crowded to the point where we had to park a mile away just to get to the visitor center. Unfortunately the increase in visitation on this day meant that the typical wildlife experience one would have here is not what we got. Thanks for allowing me to somewhat experience it through your video!
This reminded me of the old South Carolina PBS show Nature Scene and its host, the late, great Rudy Mancke. He mostly did shows on sites in South Carolina, but I remember him going to California in one of the show's great moments. It's nice to see a California host return the favor!
I will have to check it out! Maybe it is on CZcams!
Greetings from South Africa. Always enjoy watching your amazing videos. The National Park is very well maintained, and there are photo opportunities in abundance ! Thank you for sharing
Thanks for watching the videos in South Africa!
Thank you. I would not have walked in the water. I enjoyed your visit immensely.
I think this place really looks lovely 🤗 The kayaking also seems like a good idea to enjoy this area properly.
Thanks!
We were there first week of April and we enjoyed the park and did kayak tour with Carolina Adventures which was amazing. BTW a lot of times we hope to run into you, hopefully one day
Another great video. Love that you checked out my state.
It was great, would love to spend more time there!
We went here a couple of years ago - we were camping about an hour away and did a day trip here with my brother & sister-in-law. We all including our Lab did the boardwalk trail (which created a boardwalk trail monster with me... love them)! The water level was way down, but we did see one snake! Kayaking here would be amazing! But no, there was zero water on the boardwalk and a lot of dry areas (we were there in Dec of 2021). We all loved this park!
So enjoyable, interesting, and informative, Jeff, as always... If I ever go to one of the parks I haven't been to, I am using your corresponding video, as the main resource. This was super.
🌞💛 🏞👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻
Really appreciate the comment and I hope the video is helpful if you visit!
thank you for not hating on the park! I understand that the park is hot and has bugs but so many people hate on it so much, not understanding the ecological importance of Congaree .
There are some old growth trees in the swamps of Virginia, some are older that 500 years old. Virginia occasionally has alligators, but it's pretty far north for them.
Wow, some really great views and cool wildlife. Kayaking looks like the perfect way to see that spot with the high water.
Yea I was blown away by how cool the kayaking was!
I was there shortly after Hurricane Hugo had come through. I didn’t know it had become a national park-that’s great! Would love to have heard some of the birds in your video.
Great video! Thanks for showing the park during the flood, definitely different experience than during drier seasons.
Josh you always make rhe most beautiful videos 😊
We visited Congaree June 2022. Thankfully the mosquito meter was at 2 also. We only hiked the boardwalk trail and I loved it. Glad you got to experience a lot more of it.
So cool you got to experience it as well and that the mosquitoes were not bad!
@@ThroughMyLens I can't believe you waled through that water knowing all the snakes were around. Haha. I would have said, Nope.
You always inspire us to put more destinations on our bucket list! Thank you Josh! Did miss Pops on this one😊
We went there when we passed there on our way to Charleston after our roadtrip down the Blue Ridge Parkway. (We visited from Belgium.) We absolutely loved the park. While we only were able to do a few trails, we enjoyed our time in this very different vegetation. Don't expect big mountains like in the smokeys (our day before), but go in without expectations and find a beautiful park with lots and lots of different wildlife.
After our trip we looked up a few reviews, but others rated it 'the worst'. That sets high expectations for al the other parks we plan to visit.
Thank you for your videos! I look forward to them and even based our honeymoon on one of them (the Blue ridge Pkwy and Shenandoah).
Oh wow, congrats on the wedding and I hope you had a great honeymoon road trip! I agree, I saw all the negative reviews and then I went and really enjoyed myself
I don’t get why people don’t like it either! We enjoyed our visit and thought it was beautiful! We did not get to do the kayaking tour, but hope to go back someday! Was fun watching your tour & seeing all the wildlife!!
So glad you enjoyed it as well! The kayaking was a huge highlight for me
It’s a beautiful place in the flooding stage. Thanks for introducing it, did not know it exist! The kayaking part reminds me of Everglades NP, Florida. if you ever shoot a video there, please be careful of the crocodiles, they are very dangerous! Really enjoy your videos, always! Thank you.
Very cool. Thank you.
There you are! I’ve been waiting for you and today’s adventure. Always a joy and pleasure. My Yosemite and Yellowstone trips are planned around your suggestions. Thank you
So glad the videos helped with your trip! I love both those parks so much!
Yes, this is a beautiful place. I wish it was close to me. The place to relax and heal your soul. Thank you for sharing.
I agree, I would love to go back and see the fireflies especially
I cant wait to go!!!
I hope you enjoy it!
I loved Congaree. Was there to see the fireflies, and they had a wood decked trail that winds through the trees and out to the river.
Great to be in nature.
I would love to see the fireflies there, sounds so amazing!
Absolutely stunning filming my friend! Outstanding atmosphere 👏👏
Glad you enjoyed it!
Have you ever done pictured rocks national lakeshore. The trails are great. So are Harrington state park and the kettle moraine forest in WI.
We were just there in March and loved it. The boardwalk was flooded and they actually shut it down after we started the loop, so we had it to ourselves (it was a little treacherous!) and it was incredible.
Oh wow, that must have been pretty awesome to see!
Another great video Josh! We actually live pretty close to this one so we will have to check it out!
We are heading to Calgary in June and are so appreciative of your video :) Thank you for sharing !!
So awesome! I wish I could have spent more time there
For those who know the original Myst PC/Mac game, this totally reminds me of the Channelwood age, pretty surreal. I almost expected to see some tree houses on those tall trees. What an awesome park.
Oh man, I totally remember that game! Not that specific area though
Thank you so much for videoing this park. I live in West Columbia and have never been there. 1st, I have respect for snakes but I don't want them around me. 2nd, when the "skeeters" are bad (a lot of the time around here - especially in the swamp) they will make you miserable. For these reasons I have never been to Congaree Nat. Park. Sure would like to go in May to see the synchronous fireflies. There's another part of the swamp that is not part of CNP in a nearby quaint little city of Cayce, SC. Full of ancient history including sites/artifacts of a Native American village, where the first European settlers established a fort and further up the Broad River toward Lake Murray - sites where Civil War skirmishes were held, including the attack and eventual burning of Columbia. Oh, and there's a lovely riverwalk that is part of this same body of water that connects them all together. So, when you get a chance come on back. We'll be happy to see you and glad for your visit.
Thanks for the comment, sounds like I need to go back and experience a lot more of the area!
Go to the upper peninsula of Michigan this summer. Highly underrated. Bond Falls, Porcupine Mountains, Pictured Rocks, Keeweenaw peninsula
I am actually planning on trying to get there!
What a lovely park. I’ve never been there but now you’ve whetted my appetite. I’d do the kayak tour for sure
It was a lot more exciting than I expected!
Very nice trail & photography. I would liked for more explanation regarding the type of trees. Sounds like a worthwhile park to visit. Thanks.
Thanks for the feedback, I probably should have added more info on them
❤Great video. We've been there 3 times and each was a different experience do to the water levels and weather. ❤️all the wildlife you saw. Only thing you missed were the wild hogs that were digging right beside the boardwalk on our last trip. The other great item would be the fireflies. We hear it's otherworldly. We disagree with negative comments about the park. Anyone who visited based on our recommendation concurs with us. 👍for the park.
So glad you love it too! I really want to go back for the fireflies!
I think kayaking and flooded boardwalk made your trip more interesting. I went in January this year, I thought the park was incredible.
I agree, it was really unique to see the park like this
There’s also wild boar in the park. If you see dirt that looks dug in it’s usually from the boars. Also, war zone on the mosquito meter is hell. I did 12 miles in the back country during while it was a war zone.
Oh man, 12 miles at a 6 on the meter must be horrible!
Wow josh i always wondered about this national park thank you. Still dont think ill go to this park but thanks for sharing it. You made me feel like i done personally.
No problem, glad I could help you experience it!
That is a cool park...I used to live in Columbia SC
This area has cypress trees all over the place...
Ball Cypress can live hundreds of years and grow
to be massive. In addition to water moccasins there
are rattle snakes and alligators too. Alligator snapping turtles
live there too....its not a place I would go barefoot 🤔
Yeah...mosquitoes can be brutal. Your visit was well timed 👍
Oh wow I didn't know they had rattlesnakes and alligators! Yea, I am really glad I missed the mosquitos haha
Amazing video. Thank you for sharing. 👍156
Thanks for watching!
This place looks amazing!! Have you been to Bisti badlands in NM? I'd be curious how you would navigate this place. We're planning to see it (attempt a hike) in mid-June.
Need to check the okefenokee swamp area in Georgia.
By the way, every time I visit a new national park, I check out your CZcams video first. If I traveling to California, I check out your CZcams video too
Really appreciate that! Thanks for the support and for watching the videos
@@ThroughMyLens You're enthusiasm for finding the beauty and positivity in every location and every circumstance is absolutely wonderful! And rare! Thank you for sharing. It's a pleasure to watch your videos. I'm sure there are many like me who are uplifted by them.
Any threat of gators? Usually when I see swamps that is the first thing that comes to my mind. It does look beautiful though. Glad there is a walkway.
We have a lot of wolf spiders and huntsman in wi
Was hoping to hit the firefly lottery so we could do it all here but no such luck, maybe next year.
As I was watching this video, I was wondering if you and Paw has ever been to House in the Rock in Wisconsin? I know your dad would love it.
Kayaking .....humm ,Thanks for taking us along but its not really my thing the .Park is wonderfully green
Fair enough, thanks for the comment!
This is wild. When were you there?! We were just there april 29th and had no clue it had been flooded like this!
Been trying to make it to all the national parks and have been wanting to go to Congaree for awhile! Were you there in March for this type of weather or just recent (April)? I want to go when it's flooded like this!
I would love to experience this park in person.
I hope you can someday!
Fantastic. I was no aware of this park. And now worries about alligators, right??