Congaree National Park guide · 1 min read
Walking the Boardwalk Loop Among Cypress Giants
The Boardwalk Loop Trail begins at the Harry Hampton Visitor Center, the main hub of Congaree National Park and the starting point for most of its trails.
The loop covers 2.6 miles, and most walkers finish it in one to two hours. Its flat, all-boardwalk route makes it one of the simplest ways to see the forest up close.
Because the path is raised and level, wheelchairs and strollers can cover its full length. That makes the loop a good choice for families and for visitors who need a smooth surface underfoot.
Before you set out, pick up the self-guided boardwalk brochure at the visitor center. Numbers posted along the route match entries in the brochure, which point out both natural and historical sights. Maps showing the tour stops and benches are also available, so you can plan where to rest along the way.
The boardwalk runs through the bottomland, where giant tupelos and bald cypress rise from standing water. Some of the bald cypress here have been growing for more than 500 years. Together they make up an old-growth bottomland hardwood forest, and the park protects the largest unbroken tract of this type left in the Southeast.
The park lies in the Congaree River floodplain, and flooding is a regular feature of the landscape. Many people call it a swamp, but the forest relies on floodwaters from the Congaree and Wateree Rivers, which deliver nutrients and sediment across the land. Bald cypress, oaks, gums and tupelos can withstand floods that come and go with the seasons.
