Boardwalk Loop
A 2.6-mile loop, when it isn't flooded.
Congaree National Park
The largest old-growth bottomland hardwood forest in the Southeast, with some of the tallest trees in the East.
Giant loblolly pines and cypress knees rise from a flooding forest near Columbia. An easy boardwalk loops through it, and you can canoe Cedar Creek. For a couple of weeks around late May, synchronous fireflies flash here.
- Best Time
- March–May and October–November
- Time Needed
- Half a day
- Cost Level
- $$$$
- Open
- Check before you go; hours vary by season
- Getting There
- About 30 minutes by car from Columbia, South Carolina.
What to See
2 of 2 are freeCedar Creek Canoe Trail
A slow paddle among huge trees.
Know Before You Go
- Bring strong bug spray. There's a mosquito meter at the door, and it's not a joke.
Where to Stay
Stay in Columbia.
Where to Eat
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Last checked 2026-11-02. Part of the Southeast list.