River Trail

As a day trip or backpacking trip, hike through designated wilderness that’s rich in wildlife, and reach the shore of the Congaree River.

Hiking Moderate

Distance: 15 km
Ascent: 10 m
Descent: 10 m
Duration: 3-4 hrs

Low Point: 30 m
High Point: 34 m
Gradient: 0˚

This is one of the longer trails in Congaree National Park, and one of the most varied. The park is famous for its old growth, which is a forest that has never been logged. Not all of the park is old growth, however—many trees were cut down within the past 150 years. On the River Trail, you’ll hike through some areas of old growth, with giant trees and open understory, and other areas of younger, denser growth that were previously logged. This provides an interesting perspective for nature lovers.

The Congaree River Photo: Congaree National Park

Description

River Trail is also one of the park’s best for wildlife viewing, both because of the varied forest types and because it travels so far from popular areas. You may see many kinds of birds, small mammals, white-tailed deer, or wild boar. You will also see the Congaree River, for which the park is named, even though most other trails do not actually reach it.

River trail is perhaps the park’s best for an overnight backpacking trip (permit required), and you can camp on a sandy beach beside the Congaree River. Be prepared for more difficult conditions on River Trail than on some others in the park. It is mostly flat, but the difficulty comes in sections that are overgrown, muddy, or flooded. Pay close attention to navigation, and be prepared to find short detours where necessary.

Source: https://www.nps.gov/cong/planyourvisit/trail-information.htm