Congaree National Park guide · 1 min read
Paddling the 15-Mile Cedar Creek Canoe Trail
The Cedar Creek Canoe Trail is a marked route of about 15 miles through the Congaree Wilderness.
It begins at Bannister's Bridge and follows the creek to the Congaree River. The park does not rent canoes or kayaks, so paddlers need to bring their own or hire an outfitter in the city of Columbia.
The full route is long, but shorter trips are also possible. The stretch from Bannister's Bridge to Cedar Creek Landing covers about 6.2 miles and takes four to six hours. Paddlers with only one vehicle can start at South Cedar Creek Landing, heading upstream or downstream and then returning.
The creek runs through old-growth woods, and a number of its trees rank among the loftiest in eastern North America. Few stands of bottomland hardwood forest left in the Southeast match the size and undisturbed condition of this one. The low ground is mostly cypress and tupelo, and bald cypress trunks rise on both banks, their limbs meeting overhead above the dark water. Wildlife along the water includes turtles, deer, wading birds, and river otters, and alligators show up now and then. Dawson's Lake, downstream from South Cedar Creek Landing, draws anglers and offers a good chance to see otters.
Watch for the trail markers, which are small and spaced far apart. Myzack's Cut, near the lower end of the creek, carries paddlers into the Congaree River. Beyond that point, Cedar Creek is unmaintained and often blocked by fallen trees, so plan your route with care. Visitors who want a guide can join ranger-guided wilderness canoe tours, which require reservations. Check current conditions before you set out.
