Congaree National Park, South Carolina This preserve, located just 20 miles southeast of Columbia, was originally established in 1976 as Congaree Swamp National Monument to protect the largest contiguous tract of old-growth bottomland hardwood forest in the United States. Since the monument gained national park status in 2003—and dropped the unappealing “s” word from its name—the number of visitors has gradually increased to its current annual count of about 160,000. Surprisingly, there’s no fee to enter the park—a fact that may help boost visitation. The preserve was actually misnamed because, technically speaking, Congaree is not a swamp. It does not contain standing water throughout most of the year. It is, in fact, a floodplain forest that floods frequently—about ten times a year—spreading northeast from the meandering Congaree River to cover more than 24,000 acres. There’s a unique allure to this place. Once you brush past the ghostly Spanish moss that clings to the bald cypresses, you enter a lush backcountry beneath a towering canopy of ancient trees where the only sounds you’re likely to hear are the splash of a playful river otter or the rapid-fire knocks of the park’s many woodpeckers. To begin your exploration of the park, we suggest a hike along the 2.4-mile Boardwalk Loop Trail that winds among some of the largest and oldest trees in the preserve. Birders and wildlife photographers might want to take on the Kingsnake Trail, too. It’s the longest trail in the park, clocking in at 11 miles, and it leads visitors deep into Congaree’s pure wilderness. At night in the fall and spring, rangers lead visitors on “owl prowls” to listen for the eerie calls of barred owls. For another perspective, visitors can take to the water to canoe or kayak among the tupelo trees and knobby cypress knees on Cedar Creek. The Congaree River is also popular with paddling enthusiasts. The river runs all the way from Columbia and offers sandbars for camping along the way.
Conagree National Park.
Caribbean waters are the hallmark of Virgin Islands National Park. While visitor activities include scuba diving, snorkeling, boating, windsurfing, fishing, and hiking—simple beach time here is the best that it could ever be. The NPS has made an effort to preserve a few plantation sites and ancient petroglyphs of the indigenous Taino people so guests can learn about the island’s history—which is largely that of colonialism and enslavement. The park even offers a lodging option at Cinnamon Bay Beach Campground, where you can rent a tent and rough it or reserve a cottage or glamping tent for your stay. Either way, you’ll be treated to direct access to Cinnamon Bay Beach, where you can rent snorkeling gear, kayaks, and paddleboats. There’s also a delightful open-air restaurant, the Rain Tree Café, serving breakfast and dinner daily.
www.nps.gov/viis | 340-776-6201
www.nps.gov/cong | 803-776-4396
LONELIEST NATIONAL PARKS
COAST TO COAST MAGAZINE FALL 2024 | 25
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