Hike Congaree National Park

Рет қаралды 16,174

10 ай бұрын

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Before visiting Conagree National Park, I researched and noticed more bad reviews than usual. Some people even called Congaree National Park the worst National Park. In this video, I'll take you on a hike on the Boardwalk Trail, revealing some of the secrets of Congaree and giving you a better appreciation of what's around you. The Boardwalk Trail is easy and a great way to see the best of Congaree National Park.
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Congaree National Park, nestled in the heart of South Carolina, stands as a testament to nature's grandeur and resilience. Home to one of the largest tracts of old-growth floodplain forest remaining in North America, this unique park showcases a rich ecosystem vibrant with towering bald cypresses, ancient loblolly pines, and diverse wildlife. As visitors wander along the iconic Boardwalk Trail or paddle through its meandering waterways, they are treated to a symphony of birdsong and the sight of fireflies illuminating the dense canopy during certain seasons. Designated as a national park in 2003, Congaree serves as a sanctuary for both nature enthusiasts and the rare species that call it home, reminding us of the importance of conservation and the boundless beauty of the natural world.
The Boardwalk Trail at Congaree National Park is a captivating journey through one of the East Coast's most unique landscapes. Elevated above the forest floor, this 2.4-mile loop provides an intimate perspective of Congaree's ancient floodplain forest, allowing visitors to traverse between colossal bald cypresses and meandering waterways without disturbing the fragile ecosystem beneath. Informative plaques dot the path, offering insights into the park's diverse flora and fauna. As the sun filters through the dense canopy overhead, hikers can often spot various wildlife, from playful otters in the waters below to birds flitting amongst the treetops. Wheelchair accessible and gently graded, the Boardwalk Trail is an invitation for all ages and abilities to immerse themselves in the serene beauty of Congaree National Park.

Пікірлер: 84

@echo6echo419 10 ай бұрын

People who hate on this park have forgotten why some people hike. It's not always about packing on miles. Some of us do it to see nature as it was intended. This place is a great area to do that. You'll see some of the largest pine trees in the world here. Put on some bug spray, forget about the mud and take a look around. There is a TON of things going on in that place.

@user-cr1iz8fw6h 21 күн бұрын

I think people expect stunning views like the Grand Canyon when you brand something a National Park. It’s a branding at this point. Big Thicket National Preserve in Texas is very similar to this and doesn’t get any hate. Other National parks I felt were underwhelming are : Indiana Dunes, Cuyahoga Valley, Hot Springs, Gateway Arch, New River Gorge.. The National Park branding has become very prestigious and lucrative at this point and comes with certain expectations. There’s plenty of other NPS designations that are more suited like National Monument or National Preserve, etc.

@mickeybrumfield764 10 ай бұрын

I don't think there is a worst National Park. Every National Park I have been to has been worthwhile and interesting. If I go to South Carolina will have to try to find some time to visit this park.

@overwatchxrescue 10 ай бұрын

fax

@user-eb1ix3gj8m 10 ай бұрын

My husband and I stopped here on the way back from Charleston for a hike. We heard that its not the best national park, so expectations weren't high. We were pleasantly surprised how unique and interesting the park is. We even had a chance to see a gator swimming in Weston lake! We definitely recommend the park, but also try detouring off the boardwalk to see more of what the park has to offer. Also, glad to see you on the east coast! Hopefully we see you do more hikes over here in the future 😀

@kuukan4 10 ай бұрын

My husband and I spent 2 days doing all the trails there. It was so much fun and very different from CA. The flora and fauna was amazing and getting to explore the park without crowds (and without permits!) was so nice. So happy to see a KZfaqr I love rave about the park!

@TheGPFilmMaker 20 сағат бұрын

We are planning a trip to Congaree down the line. So excited! Such a cool ecosystem and we're looking forward to seeing it!

@Hikingguy 9 сағат бұрын

It's great, you'll love it.

@BookMama72 5 ай бұрын

No mosquitoes in February! We went to Congaree yesterday, and we thoroughly enjoyed it!

@dreamformula 10 ай бұрын

i enjoyed the facts, especially the height of the flood levels! insane. really cool to see you witness the amount of wildlife out there

@stevendavis1940 25 күн бұрын

Great video and narration. It looks like a wonderful place. Thanks!

@backkat9475 10 ай бұрын

Thank you. I visited many years ago in November (no bugs, but wet). Loved it. Boardwalk section could be very slick in places. We hiked miles of off boardwalk and did encounter flooding in places (which made it longer when we had to turn around and find another connection). Very worthwhile. Selfishly, I liked that it was not as popular as other NP. Appreciate your vids!

@LinusTan94 10 ай бұрын

It looks lovely! I look forward to visit this place in the future, just to see all of my spider friends ;)

@user-cr1iz8fw6h 21 күн бұрын

Reminds me of Big Thicket National Preserve. I think if it wasn’t named a National Park, people wouldn’t hate on it.

@NatureShy 20 күн бұрын

Even as a PNW hiker, this park seems like such a cool place, and I have always thought so. Unlike Gateway Arch, Hot Springs, Cuyahoga, and Indiana Dunes, which do not deserve the national park title, imo. (Especially the first three.)

@Hikingguy 19 күн бұрын

Yea it's pretty awesome and recommended if you're in the area.

@CJspitz 10 ай бұрын

I didn’t know you also go to East Coast parks. Good to see that! This park, I visited three times and personally, the best way to experience this park is to either canoe or kayak on the river and feel the serenity of the area. The worst park is Gateway Arch so no other park can claim that title. That park should’ve stayed as the national memorial.

@marisacherry 10 ай бұрын

Great to see an accessible trail highlighted here as you mentioned! I would be very interested to visit South Carolina and this park. I learned on the National Park Foundation website, "African American slaves used the floodplain as a refuge and place to find liberty. After emancipation they fished Cedar Creek, hunted along its banks, and baptized children in its waters."

@sierraseb3311 10 ай бұрын

Awesome! Never heard of this national park before. I love broadwalk hikes. Best, most interesting video I've watched today. Thanks for taking us with you.

@keeparizonawild156 4 күн бұрын

Great video my bro

@christyperkins8985 10 ай бұрын

Thank you for this video Hiking Guy! I live and have backpacked most of the Upstate SC trails since relocating to SC ten months ago. I have very little interest in hiking the low country but you've change that with this magical National Park!

@ClydeNut 9 ай бұрын

Great vid, hope to make it here one day. Something has always rubbed me the wrong way about national park ranking lists because it seems like some people go to national parks in a checklist sort of way and not in a way that actually appreciates why the parks are there and what they’re here to protect, which leads to the disrespect places like these are subject to.

@roninatlanta 10 ай бұрын

Good video! We hiked Congaree last November (2022) when the mosquito meter was low. We did the boardwalk and enjoyed every moment of our visit. We highly recommend Congaree.

@Mr.South-sh3xc Ай бұрын

6:46 Is Another Nice View Of The Swamp!

@ervinslens 10 ай бұрын

If you ask me, this is a perfect park for solo hiking, it looks so soothing and actually alluring. Gorgeous presentation bud!

@ericcsuf 10 ай бұрын

I had no problem with the tongue-in-cheek way Cris promoted this NP. I've traveled all over the country for decades and never heard of Congaree NP. I'll probably never get back to the South to camp, largely because of the bug problem. But if I do, this will be on my list. Thanks for all the great videos and useful information.

@RobertVinet 10 ай бұрын

Another wonderful hike and park review. I've added it to my list. Thanks.

@TheRealProtagonistic 3 ай бұрын

That clip you showed while discussing the river otter was actually a clip of our muskrats. Tho cute, they are only half as cute as our river otters imo! Great video though. Best part if the oark though is when you go deep in the long trails and theres no one else around for miles. Lovely park that gives you a true taste of what out world USED to be

@VivianInTheOC 10 ай бұрын

Another excellent video. Thank you Hiking Guy!👍

@Mr.South-sh3xc Ай бұрын

Whoa! This Beautiful Wetland Became A National Park Back In 2003? That's The Year My Father Passed Away!

@jerrywitt4707 2 ай бұрын

You do a great job on all your content, thank you for all of your hard work

@Hikingguy 2 ай бұрын

Thank you appreciate it!

@scacct2323 10 ай бұрын

Wow, really branching out from SoCal / Western US. Good job, Chris.

@kevanhubbard9673 3 ай бұрын

....looks quite nice to me and I have learnt that Colombia is the state capital of South Carolina, don't think that I'd ever heard of it before.

@sklise1 10 ай бұрын

Awesome review!!

@TomKimmerer 6 ай бұрын

Very well done. Congaree is an amazing experience.

@scottvk75 5 ай бұрын

My wife and I plan on visiting in early March. Hoping the mosquitoes are on the "mild" marker. It looks very interesting. Thanks for your information. Very helpful.

@jefftammy9606 10 ай бұрын

We camped here a few years ago in the fall. We enjoyed the park. We hiked the River Trail which was about ten miles long. It was a nice hike, but there were a lot of fallen trees over the trail that required effort to go under or over. I don’t know if those fallen trees have been cleared.

@elizabethtipton4193 10 ай бұрын

I enjoyed this park! I saw wild hog and watched a raccoon chasing frogs. I spent the night at the campgrounds that you backpack a few miles in. It was beautiful.

@brianpowell5082 10 ай бұрын

Nice to see a review across the continent!! I don't know how people have such hate for that park! Bugs and mud ARE part of nature! Great review! If I'm ever in SC, I would LOVE to check it out! That Loblolly Pine would give some of our Ponderosas a run for their money!

@Hikingguy 10 ай бұрын

Brian you would love it - just exploding with life there

@ianmacfarlane9454 10 ай бұрын

Really interesting video that, thanks 👍👍🇬🇧🇬🇧🇬🇧🇬🇧

@GusMcCrae01 2 ай бұрын

Fantastic! I was not aware of this park. And now worries about alligators, right??

@Hikingguy 2 ай бұрын

Ha yea I wouldn't worry too much about the gators here unless you're in the river.

@khaledpower6139 10 ай бұрын

Hello Sir for Garmin ETREX 22x ..... what's different between. USB Garmin mode And mass storage mode when we connect to computer ....and thank you

@hollernathan 10 ай бұрын

Beautiful video. Hi, does your Garmin gpsmap 67 ever randomly power off? Mine has done that a few times since purchasing. When imputing commands that’s when it usually happens. Any cause for concern? Had this issue with past gpsmaps. Thank you

@Hikingguy 10 ай бұрын

Yea with every GPSMAP (66, 67) I've had a random shutoff or freeze. It's very very rare and I can never recreate it, but it does happen. If it's something you can recreate, you might want to post on the Garmin Support Forums. Someone else may have had the other problem OR Garmin might pick up on it and fix.

@leticialopez8900 10 ай бұрын

Beautiful park ❤

@steveschwartz6138 10 ай бұрын

Reminds me of Estelle Manor in NJ but much bigger.

@Calidastas 10 ай бұрын

I just think the problem is the competition. Yeh it’s fun if you stumble on to it, but not compared to Teton, Yosemite or Glacier for example.

@RedwingBB 10 ай бұрын

But you know the people who made those comments are going to say ridiculous things about those parks too. 😉 "Half Dome was the wrong shape, Old Faithful was late, that bear at Jenny Lake wasn't friendly, etc." 🙃

@Calidastas 10 ай бұрын

@@RedwingBB ikr - that’s exactly how it is in internetland…

@overwatchxrescue 10 ай бұрын

That's the thing, when those kinds of parks are your competition, it's hard to stack up. But somewhere like Congaree is nice for what it is....a refreshing wooded area full of plenty of lush greenery.

@Padres1969W 10 ай бұрын

We have overnight permits starting and ending at whitney portal. Are we still allowed to do it in one day?

@Hikingguy 10 ай бұрын

Yup

@entropyfu 10 ай бұрын

looks beautiful

@RichRich1955 10 ай бұрын

Looks like a fav for birders.

@Mr.South-sh3xc Ай бұрын

I'll Enjoy Walking Around This Place Five Times In One Day, If The Weather Is Calm And The Paths Aren't Flooded!

@JasonRaneses 10 ай бұрын

Do I spy the Epix Pro 51mm on your wrist? Curious how it turned out on the trip and when the review is going to drop.

@Hikingguy 10 ай бұрын

Yup so far its great hopefully can get a video up in the next couple of weeks

@Mr.South-sh3xc Ай бұрын

I See The Cabbage Palmettos Whenever I Go Somewhere!

@frankgoldman3313 10 ай бұрын

Welcome to the East Coast!

@fardrives 5 ай бұрын

Truthfully, there isn't a bad national park in the country. They are all beautiful

@magnubeido8832 3 ай бұрын

Agreed 💯

@tennesseejed5654 10 ай бұрын

There is NO WAY this park is worse than Cuyahoga Valley.

@fiarandompenaltygeneratorm5044 10 ай бұрын

Agreed. Cuyahoga Valley is a bad national park, but one of the best METRO PARKS ever. I'm glad the area is protected, though, because it would just get destroyed otherwise.

@Mr.South-sh3xc Ай бұрын

Yeah! 8:50! My Reptilian Friends!

@tonyjones9442 10 ай бұрын

Hello. Some one from britain here so excuse my ignorance. Is it not dangerous to have a trail next to a lake with alligators? The beast could go on the board walk!

@easydoesit9584 10 ай бұрын

Alligators are mostly shy. But just in case you can go with a friend who is slower than you :)

@0grifman1 9 ай бұрын

It’s national park, and it’s there to protect the wildlife, not the people. And if you think gators are bad, if you go to Yellowstone NP there are deadly bison, wolves and grizzly bears for heaven’s sake! Should we wipe them all out to protect the tourists (many of whom go there just to see them!)? You go to a NP at your own risk.

@leonfisher 10 ай бұрын

A hike with no visor required.

@user-oh2hs6jh5x 2 ай бұрын

"Is this the worst National Park?" No, that would be Gateway Arch National Park. I've been to both. Congaree has a nice little elevated walking path through a unique ecosystem. Gateway Arch is just a big man made object. We might as well have made the Statue of Liberty a National Park. Before you comment, yes, I know that the Arch commemorates westward expansion of our country. I just think it is pretty weak to have a man made object as a NP.

@higler. 10 ай бұрын

I dunno... hot springs national park in Alabama is pretty garbage. It's like some building and a few trees lmao

@ruthwallace6741 Ай бұрын

I think Hot Springs National Park is in Arkansas.

@higler. Ай бұрын

@@ruthwallace6741 you're right

@danmenes3143 10 ай бұрын

Now I know everyone's wondering: which park does get your vote for "worst?"

@Hikingguy 10 ай бұрын

Ha yea prob Gateway Arch - visited when driving cross-country about 10 years ago. "Park" is a strong term for that one.

@MandyL 10 ай бұрын

Extremely sad that you have had to resort to click bait titles and add to the negativity already on the internet. Anyone who has been here will know that this is not the worst and so much of its history (including it’s important and interesting African American history) is ignored. Also, the synchronised fireflies are amazing! It is absolutely fantastic that there are National Parks you do NOT have to plan a year in advance, try to get hard to obtain permits and can have easy access from a big city.

@oxeneers 10 ай бұрын

I don't think "Hike Congaree National Park" is a clickbait title. His thumbnail has a clickbait-y question but it is incredibly inoffensive and he answers the rhetorical question it poses immediately. I've been watching Cris for a while now and he is literally giving such incredible advice, thoughts, and insight into hiking in general. Give the guy a break - he's doing an insanely good job. Much love from Irvine, Cris! Don't listen to the haters.

@TheMetaSD 10 ай бұрын

That's not clickbait at all. Clickbait is when a title or thumbnail misleads the user in some way in order to trick them into clicking. Chris didn't do that. He asked a question in the thumbnail, immediatly explained the question in the beginning of his video, and then spent the rest of the video answering the question. That is like the exact opposite of clickbait.

@Hikingguy 10 ай бұрын

Guessing you didn't watch the video. The first words out of my mouth are "I don't agree with those reviews" and then spend 11 minutes dispelling the negativity on the internet and tell people how great it the place is, ending with "I hope you get a chance to visit it, it's unique and cool place."

@MandyL 10 ай бұрын

@@Hikingguy shame you couldn’t also muster a more positive title then… Perhaps you could reword it to something like “my great experience at Congaree National Park”, rather than continuing to pick on them…

@markburrell2778 8 ай бұрын

What about Native American history ? The African Americans helped exterminate them after they gained their freedom.