Just outside South Carolina’s capital city of Columbia is a National Park that will make campers feel far removed from civilization.
Congaree National Park, which contains more than 21,000 acres of federally-designated wilderness throughout its total of 26,692 acres, is the perfect place to get away from it all. It boasts the largest continguous stand of Southern old-growth bottomland hardwood forest in the nation.
Hunting is not allowed at this park, but it has plenty of fishing opportunities to go along with some great camping.
This park offers two types of camping, which they call frontcountry camping and backcountry camping. Of course, to get off the grid, we’re interested in the backcountry version.
It’s possible to get into the park’s backcountry camping by foot, but it’s more exciting to do it by canoe or kayak. This allows you to bring more creature comforts, and adding paddling to your camping makes it a more adventurous outing overall.
It’s free
The park has free entry, and backcountry camping is also free, but you do need to get a permit, which is as simple as emailing a request to cong_information@nps.gov, or calling 803-776-4396. Just be sure to make your request at least 72 hours before your trip to give the park staff enough time to fulfill your request.
Miles of wooden boardwalks make it easy for visitors to go deep into the Congaree National Forest, but those wanting to get away from it all also have plenty of options to get off the beaten path.
Whether you’re hiking into your camping spot or paddling in, you’re sure to enjoy the scenery. The water here passes through a primeval old-growth forest that harbors some of the tallest trees in eastern North America. Huge loblolly pine, bald cyrpress, cedar and water tupelo trees are unexpected sights. Some of the cypress trees have circumferences as large as 26 feet, and some of the pines are greater than 167 feet tall.
Miles and miles of wooden boardwalks make it easy for anyone to get deep into the swampland, but that only covers a small portion of this park. If you want to get away from it all, you can certainly do it with no problem.
A variety of fish live in the park’s waterway, which connects to the Congaree River. Bream, bass and catfish are among the most populous species, but it’s not unheard of to catch crappie, perch and a number of other species as well.
Backcountry camping here means you won’t have designated campsites, however, you don’t need to worry about any other campers getting too close, because the park calls for a 300-foot buffer from other campers.
Campers must also set up at least 100 feet away from Cedar Creek, Tom’s Creek, Bates Old River and Wise Lake. And as always, it’s advisable to check the rain and river forecast, because the water levels can rise quickly. That could have a bearing on just how much more than 100 feet you choose to set up camp.
Don’t be in too big of a hurry to set up camp. Congaree National Park is full of some of the most beautiful wilderness you can find. And if you are paddling in, you’ll want to explore the waters as much as possible.
The park is located at 100 National Park Road in Hopkins, SC, and you can find out more information about it at www.nps.gov/cong.
Closed fires allowed
Open fires are not allowed in the park’s backcountry, but campers are allowed to use backpacking stoves for cooking. I prefer the Jetboil Flash Cooking System, which features a super fast boil time, is compact enough to pack within itself, and includes a 1-liter cooking cup with insulating cozy, as well as a drink-through lid with pour spout and strainer.
