Bluff Campground

• All sites are available for reservation. All fees are collected online, and not onsite.

Longleaf Campground

• All sites are available for online reservation. Those wishing to camp must reserve a site online. All fees for campsites are collected online, and no fees for campsites are collected on site.

Congaree NP Park Store

Congaree Self Guided Boardwalk Tour Stop #1

• Stop 1 is at a large, open area on the Boardwalk. This area has benches inlaid for people to sit if they would like. There is a staircase leading down to the Firefly and Longleaf Trails. This section of Boardwalk sits on the bluff line that separates the floodplain forest from the park uplands. The marker for Stop 1 is a wooden plaque attached to a railing. Stop 1 marks a large, old (100+ years old) tree with broadleaves and smooth bark, just beyond the railing.

Congaree Self Guided Boardwalk Tour Stop #11

• A very large pine tree standing just beyond the Boardwalk Trail, Weston Lake behind the tree

Congaree Self Guided Boardwalk Tour Stop #12

• This stop is an offshoot of the Boardwalk which takes you out over Weston Lake. Beneath the overlook there may be turtles, snakes, or even alligators. Many types of fish swim in this lake, as well. Across the lake is more dense forest.

Congaree Self Guided Boardwalk Tour Stop #13

• A view of the dense floodplain forest: tall trees and grasses, vines. There once stood a pine tree marked from lightning strikes, however, this tree has since fallen. Other such trees are out in the forest.

Congaree Self Guided Boardwalk Tour Stop #14

• A section of forest floor covered with low, fan-like palm trees. There are many of them on either side of the Boardwalk Trail. They are very distinctive next to the tall pines and hardwoods that form the rest of the forest.

Congaree Self Guided Boardwalk Tour Stop #15

• In the dense floodplain forest an old concrete structure, a still, is found. The still is cracked and crumbling with age but still standing. It is several yards from the Boardwalk Trail. Surrounding the still are tall trees, grasses, and vines.

Congaree Self Guided Boardwalk Tour Stop #16

• Just over the side of the Boardwalk there are countless vines. Many of these are muscadine grape vines, which grow throughout the bottomlands here. The vines are so dense, the forest floor cannot be seen.

Congaree Self Guided Boardwalk Tour Stop #17

• This stop marks a fallen pine tree off the Boardwalk Trail, surrounded by tall grasses, other trees, and vines.

Congaree Self Guided Boardwalk Tour Stop #18

• This stop is on the corner of the Boardwalk as it meets the Sims Trail. This section of Boardwalk runs along the bluff line which separates the floodplain forest from the park uplands. The ground here is slightly elevated. Pine trees and American beech trees may be found nearby. On one side of the Boardwalk, the landscape shows evidence of a past prescribed burn, with the bases of trees still scorched. On the other side of the trail, where Sims Trail leads, the landscape is lower and more dense. This is the floodplain forest, where there are a large variety of hardwood tree species.

Congaree Self Guided Boardwalk Tour Stop #19

• Dense floodplain forest comprised of tall trees, grasses, and vines surround this section of Boardwalk Trail. The landscape is lower, often covered with some water. The ground is mostly muck and soft soil, difficult to move in.

Congaree Self Guided Boardwalk Tour Stop #20

• This section of Boardwalk is surrounded by tall trees, many loblolly pines.

Start of the Boardwalk

• The Boardwalk Trail begins just outside of the visitor center beyond the area called the breezeway. In the breezeway there are restrooms, water fountains (and a bottle fill station), maps, and dog waste bags available. The entrance to the visitor center is also in the breezeway. The Boardwalk is a wooden pathway leading away from the building, into the forest. Before the trail, there is a sign reminding visitors to take maps and water for themselves and their pets.

Harry Hampton Visitor Center

• Harry Hampton Visitor Center
• Open 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. daily. Closed New Year's Day, Washington's Birthday, Columbus Day, Thanksgiving Day, and Christmas Day. Hours may be affected by events, such as the annual Firefly Viewing Event in May, or by resource management activity. Please check park alerts prior to your visit.

Self Guided Boardwalk Tour

Note: Due to ongoing construction, only Stop #1 then Stops #20-11 (going backward) are included in the tour at this time. As such, the numbers displayed on the map here differ from the numbered markers along the trail and in the guide. The Boardwalk begins right outside the visitor center. To use this guide, look for numbers along the boardwalk railing. Wheelchairs, strollers, and pets on leash are welcome. Restrooms are located at the Harry Hampton Visitor Center.