Congaree National Park guide · 2 min read
Deep Backcountry: Kingsnake and Oakridge Trails
If birding is your goal, the Kingsnake Trail is a strong choice. The 12-mile out-and-back route crosses sloughs lined with tupelo and cypress and runs along part of Cedar Creek.
You start at the Cedar Creek Canoe Launch and follow the trail to a junction where the Weston Lake Trail and the Oakridge Trail meet. From there you can turn back or continue onto one of those two routes.
You reach the Oakridge Trail from that junction, and it covers 7.5 miles. The park lists it alongside the Kingsnake Trail and Boggy Gut Trail as a backcountry route where a navigation device is necessary, since the path can be hard to follow. Carry one, and do not rely on your phone because cell reception inside the park is unreliable. Tell someone your route before you set out.
A visitor who used the Merlin app for birding on the Kingsnake Trail enjoyed the outing. Pileated woodpeckers are common throughout the park, including on the boardwalk. Deeper in, wild turkeys have been seen, and an osprey is possible near the river. Hikers on the backcountry routes may also spot deer, raccoons, and opossums, and they may come across bobcat tracks.
On the water, Cedar Creek offers a 20-mile canoe trail that is marked for paddlers. The Kingsnake Trail begins at the Cedar Creek Canoe Launch, so it sits right beside the creek's paddling route.
Much of the park lies in the Congaree River floodplain, which overflows about ten times a year. Almost 80 percent of the park sits within that floodplain, and high water can block backcountry trails and parts of the boardwalk. Downed trees and flooding can make the flat Kingsnake Trail hard going. The ground can be muddy, so sturdy shoes help keep your feet dry and protect you from snakes.
