Swamp Stories
By John Petersen
Not all of our National Parks are out West or in the mountains. Some of them defend vital ecosystems often overlooked across the nation. A new favorite of mine is Congaree National Park. Congaree is an old-growth, hardwood forest just southeast of Columbia, South Carolina that had been preserved from extensive logging projects in the 1700’s and 1800’s and eventually created into a national park in 2003. When it was created it hosted over 15 “Champion” trees. These trees are called champions because they are either the largest in the state or the nation.
The park itself is very beautiful, but changes rapidly based on the rainfall and weather. When I visited Congaree, it had been after a period of drought, so the water was non-existent. However, this is not always the case. Congaree National Park exists on a floodplain of the Congaree river and is known to flood and retain water often. The boardwalk I walked on must have been 10-15 feet off the ground, but there are pictures of the water completely submerging and blocking the path. I highly recommend calling the ranger station at the front office and checking the weather before you go. If you do end up visiting, bring water shoes, towels, a change of clothes, sunscreen, and bug spray.
A quick side note before I continue, one of the most beautiful things about Congaree National Park is the synchronous fireflies in the late spring! But beware, bug spray affects these little critters too. It is best to apply bug spray once in the parking lot and not to reapply on the trail so you don’t adversely affect the native firefly population.
Another great way to experience Congaree is to kayak through a portion of the park. There are lots of trails off the boardwalk, but as I mentioned these may be inaccessible due to the rainfall and water levels of the nearby river. Even if the water levels are low, the trails may be very muddy and hard to hike. The best way to experience this park is instead to hop on a guided kayak tour and see some of the floodplain up close.
Finally, there is some very hidden Revolutionary War history nestled in the edge of the park. During colonial times there were no trains, cars, or means of fast transportation. Settlers often walked on foot, rode horses, or used wagons. Trying to traverse the swampy, coastal Carolina river regions was very difficult, so colonists relied heavily on ferries. This helped to shorten the time for travel and provided much needed supplies and communication to interior settlements.
During the Revolutionary War, in the Southern states, these ferries became pivotal for control of the region. Without trying to spoil what you will find on the trail, there was a ferry nestled in the Congaree river valley that the British seized control of to supply the newly captured town of Camden. This led to a battle with the famous revolutionary war heroes Nathaniel Green and Francios Marion attacking the British garrison at the Bates Ferry Trail. I understand that not that follows us here at Degenerate Fish Hippies is into history, but as it is the 250th anniversary of the United States, I thought it would be fun to share this hidden gem of history right there in the park. Be sure to share your experience with us if you visit any interesting places you find along the way!
