Boardwalk Loop

 

TRACK Trail

Congaree National Park

June 2019

Congaree National Park

South Carolina

December 2014

 

 

The 2.4 mile Boardwalk Trail is a must for anyone looking for a top rated accessible trail into a wilderness area. Unfortunately, part of the boardwalk was closed for our visit, but we didn't let that or a good rainstorm prevent us from having a nice little hike.

 

(More Pictures Here)

 

 

 



Congaree National Park

Congaree National Park

South Carolina

May 2013

This was Kellisa's second visit to Congaree National Park, with the first visit back in July 2006. We first visited this park because it featured a boardwalk trail that's over 2 miles in length. 2006 was before we were pushiking challenging trails and this was the longest boardwalk I could find in the southeast. Despite being an easy walk or push, this amazing boardwalk leads through the largest old-growth bottomland hardwood forest as you are surrounded by diverse plant and animal life. 

We drove several hours in thunderstorm conditions on our way towards Congaree. I was tempted to keep driving home and save this hike for another time. However, we wouldn't let a lot of rain stop us. We entered the park while it was still raining and decided to leave the customary Kellisa in front of the National Park sign photo for after our hike, hoping the rain would stop and it did. Actually, the rain stopped while we were driving between the sign and the visitor center. The rain started again less than three minutes after I snapped the sign photograph after our walk.  

With all the rain and standing water, Kellisa and I loaded up on DEET.

Since we walked the boardwalk back in 2006, we wanted to pushike along some of the trails deeper into the interior of the park. However, since the trails resembled a swamp, it was an easy decision to walk the boardwalk. The lush greenery was breath taking.

The birds were singing high praises during our entire walk and Kellisa was excited to hear their music as she points in the direction of a woodpecker.

Kellisa wheeling herself:

Hike stats:

An Accessible Visit to Congaree National Park

 July 2006

We decided to spend the 4th of July long weekend in South Carolina. While searching for wheelchair friendly trails, I found a 2.4 mile boardwalk trail in Congaree National Park, making this an easy choice for a short trip.

It was beyond hot the whole weekend and to make matters worse, I was suffering from an allergic reaction. I was sick and miserable, but we completed the boardwalk trail. It would be nice to visit under better circumstances someday.

Congaree National Park preserves the largest tract of old growth bottomland hardwood forest left in the United States. The lush trees growing in this floodplain forest are some of the tallest in the Eastern U.S., forming one of the highest natural canopies remaining in the world.

The park was originally called Congaree Swamp National Monument before becoming a National Park on November 10, 2003. The word swamp was dropped in hopes of sounding less mysterious and attracting more visitors to this underdeveloped park.

We were staying in Columbia, SC: home of the world's largest fire hydrant. This work of art stands at 39 feet tall, easily beating the competition in Beaumont, TX (24.5 ft.) and Elk Creek, Manitoba (29.5 ft.).

NATIONAL PARKS

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