The Boardwalks Loop, Congaree National Park - Member Hike

Hike Name:	The Boardwalks Loop, Congaree National Park
Country:	United States
State:	South Carolina
Nearby Town:	Hopkins
Rating:
Directions:	From Interstate 77, Exit 5: At Exit 5 turn off onto SC Hwy 48 East (Bluff Road), and travel southeast approximately fourteen miles toward Gadsden and turn right onto Mt. View Road. Follow Mt. View Road for 0.8 miles and then turn right onto Old Bluff Road and travel 0.6 miles. Turn left at the park entrance sign and proceed one mile to the Harry Hampton Visitor Center.
Total Hike Distance:	2.40 miles
Hike Difficulty:	Easy
Permit Required:	No
Hike Type:	Roundtrip, Loop Hike
Hike Starts/Ends:	Harry Hampton Visitors Center
Trails Used:	Elevated Boarwalk, Low Boardwalk
Backcountry Campsites:	No
Backcountry Water Sources:	Streams
Management:	National Park Service
Contact Information:	http://www.nps.gov/cosw/index.htm (803) 776-4396 ext. 0 http://www.friendsofcongaree.org
Best Season:	Winter, Spring, Fall
Users:	Hikers
Road Conditions:	Primary Paved Roads, Secondary Paved Roads
Hike Summary:	2.4 miles of easy and interesting walking on the elevated boardwalk and the low boardwalk through a mixture of bottomland hardwoods and upland pines. Visit http://www.nps.gov/cosw/index.htm for details. Call the park directly for current trail conditions before you visit. (803) 776-4396 ext. 0. Every once in a while, the Congaree River floods it's banks, making a hike on the low boardwalk portion impossible. The elevated boardwalk, however, is rarely under water and this is a nice 1.3 mile hike down to Weston Lake. The boardwalks loop is a self-guided interpretive trail with 21 points of interest. Pick up a free interpretive trail guide at the visitor center before you start walking. Be sure to ask the rangers about the Friends of Congaree Swamp. This is a non-profit organization that helps protect and promote Congaree National Park and it's unique environment. More info here: http://www.friendsofcongaree.org