Name: Boardwalk Loop Trail
Rating: 4.1

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Dogs Leashed

Features Birding · Lake · Wildlife

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Family Friendly Boardwalks are always fun for kids!

Overview

The Boardwalk Loop is a great introduction to what Congaree has to offer. Beautiful cypress and pine trees tower over you and provide opportunities for wildlife watching.

Need to Know

Portions of the boardwalk may be closed off due to flooding. Several sections of the boardwalk are uneven (due to settling of the supports) - be careful with children. No bicycles allowed.

Description

The Boardwalk starts behind the Visitor's Center. It has an optional entrance/exit to the Bluff Trail.

This is a self-guided interpretive trail which is shaded due to the high cypress and pine trees. You may see wildlife including birds, snakes, lizards, and woodland mammals.

The lower section of the boardwalk may be closed off due to flooding. Check the website or with a ranger before you start your hike.

Flora & Fauna

Cypress, oaks and maples. Cottonmouths and birds.

Contacts

Land Manager: NPS - Congaree National Park

Shared By:

Michelle Kras with improvements by Jean-Claude Linossi

Full Details

Trail Ratings

4.1 from 37 votes

#1

in Congaree National Park

#451

Overall

4.1 from 37 votes

5 Star		35%
4 Star		43%
3 Star		19%
2 Star		3%
1 Star		0%

Recommended Route Rankings

6 Views Last Month

2,054 Since Jan 9, 2016

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Photos

Lower boardwalk can be flooded. Check with the ranger or the website before you head out.

Jan 9, 2016 near Gadsden, SC

Portion of the boardwalk lowers down near the ground.

Jan 9, 2016 near Gadsden, SC

Jan 9, 2016 near Gadsden, SC

Elevated Boardwalk Trail Congaree National Park

Mar 31, 2020 near Gadsden, SC

Lower Boardwalk Trail, Congaree National Park

Mar 31, 2020 near Gadsden, SC

Congaree National Park, South Carolina, USA

Mar 31, 2020 near Gadsden, SC

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Weather

Current Trail Conditions

All Clear 72 days ago

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Check-Ins

Oct 9, 2024

Lani Darden

Upper board walk, lower board walk, sims trail

Apr 23, 2024

Rachel Solorio

Apr 21, 2024

Rachelle Watters

Apr 14, 2024

Dalana Parker

Mar 23, 2024

Jamie James

Very easy short hike with great views! the boardwalk is slippery when wet

Mar 12, 2024

Brett Wolfley

Nov 20, 2023

Linda Catron

Jul 17, 2023

Mike Munie

Very neat to see the Cypress trees 2.4mi — 1h 46m

Jul 17, 2023

Paula M

Very nice boardwalk trail. Saw wild pigs

Jun 15, 2023

Autumn DB

May 21, 2023

Andrew Parise

Feb 16, 2023

Kristy Van

wild hog, red tailed hawk, red headed woodpecker, pileated woodpecker, snapping turtle on a walk, red and yellow bellied slider turtle, froggy, gre…

Feb 11, 2023

Christian Gardner

Sep 4, 2022

Daniel daniel.ryan.paulsen@gmail.com

Apr 9, 2022

Sun Pal

2.1mi — 12h 00m

Mar 13, 2022

Katie Seeman

great loop, loved the tour guide points 2.4mi — 1h 10m

Jan 9, 2022

Mark Rodgers

beautiful swamp

Dec 29, 2021

Tom Herr

Great, gentle walk around the forest and floodplain. Informative guide about the park and it's history. Perfect introduction to the park. 2.3mi

Sep 30, 2021

David Mangano

Aug 2, 2021

Connor White

Didn't have enough time to do the full loop, but with level 2 mosquitoes this area was fantastic! Definitely need to come back! 1.1mi — 5h 30m

Aug 1, 2021

Lily Adams

Jul 16, 2021

Iana Ivanova

Jul 11, 2021

Joshua Hoyle

Jul 8, 2021

Kelly Champion-Smith

Jul 6, 2021

Brad Harris

6/12/21

May 8, 2021

Debbie Post

Dec 13, 2020

Haden Smith

Nov 8, 2020

Mark Davies

Oct 8, 2020

Anna Wallace

Jul 22, 2020

Private User

Jun 14, 2020

Clint Ferguson

Mar 2, 2020

John Eversmeyer

3.1mi — 1h 42m

Jan 26, 2020

James Nolen

Nov 21, 2019

Taylor Sepuha

Very well marked. Enjoyed the self guided tour 2.5mi

Nov 20, 2019

Hannah Hood

Saw white tailed deer (6), woodpecker, evidence of feral hogs, lots of squirrels. — 16h 15m

Oct 5, 2019

Ed Altman

Sep 27, 2019

Douglas Miller

Great hike. Not to hard beautiful trees of all kind. — 2h 00m

Aug 21, 2019

Roberto G

14h 22m

Jul 6, 2019

Michael Stevens

Jun 14, 2019

Clint Ferguson

May 14, 2019

Bobb Caligiuri

3.4mi — 1h 42m

May 8, 2019

Muriel Tarver

2.3mi — 1h 00m

Mar 16, 2019

Brandi Garland Herold

Surprisingly, we didn't encounter mud on any portions of the boardwalk. Used the self-guided tour info sheet & it was very interesting. Nice hike!

Mar 8, 2019

Thomas Crosby

Feb 25, 2019

Terri Rosenwald

Trail was flooded looped around on bluff trail and traveled as far as possible. Beautiful

Feb 2, 2019

Mike Ankner

part of west side blocked for damage. still nice trail.

Jan 3, 2019

Phillip Ferrier

About half of the boardwalk is flooded (entire lower portion. You can get to the lake overlook by hiking counterclockwise from the visitor center.

Jan 1, 2019

Warren Chin

Swamp like with tall trees. Visitor center was closed. Wouldn't do it again even tho it wasn't bad 1mi

Jan 1, 2019

Nathan Olmstead

Sep 22, 2018

Debbie Brown

Aug 11, 2018

Willem Kupper

2.3mi

Jul 14, 2018

Danielle Schlafer

Jun 13, 2018

Joel Lawson

May 26, 2018

Bob Anderson

Lovely day for a hike. Seth said it was the best hike ever: shady and flat. Saw snakes, turtles and geckos. The trees were majestic.

May 24, 2018

Eugene Liu

May 14, 2018

Trent Caldwell

May 1, 2018

Amy Ryz

Apr 30, 2018

Oleg Eyser

Mar 9, 2018

Amanda Houbre

Dec 27, 2017

Brittany Hilborn

Dec 17, 2017

Kristin Brewer

Dec 2, 2017

Wesley Sawyer

Nov 16, 2017

Mike Wallen

Oct 8, 2017

Doug Czajka

2.3mi

Sep 27, 2017

Katie Daniel

Interesting b/c of the self-guided tour while walking along the boardwalk. We did this along w/ Weston Lake Loop - overgrown & not very diverse. Bugs! 5mi

Sep 1, 2017

George Johnson

2.4mi — 1h 35m

Aug 5, 2017

Emily Schmucker

Took the boardwalk loop to the Weston Lake loop to explore Congaree National Park with Megan, Makayla, and Miranda. 2.3mi

Aug 1, 2017

michael kelso

Jun 7, 2017

Brian Reed

May 26, 2017

Mai Tran

Apr 26, 2017

Kyle Bitters

Apr 24, 2017

Yoran Chiron

Mar 8, 2017

Gianmichele Alivia

Mar 5, 2017

John Puchelt

Feb 28, 2017

J. Cole

Jan 12, 2017

David White

Dec 29, 2016

Peter Streibig

Oct 2, 2016

Birdy Kennerly

Great for birding! 2.3mi — 1h 10m

Aug 26, 2016

Scott Sallade

2mi

Jul 30, 2016

Adam Zerda

Hiked the Congaree Boardwalk trail after a fun campout at the Bluff Campground

Jun 10, 2016

Elizabeth Coutu

May 6, 2016

Becky Spearman

Apr 17, 2016

Lauren Rosin

Oct 16, 2015

Michelle Kras

Right after flooding...partial trail closures.

Aug 18, 2015

Ethan Walter

2.3mi

May 16, 2015

Jean-Claude Linossi

Interesting walk through the swamp. Good place to see swamp wildlife. Muggy in the summer. 2.3mi — 0h 45m

Oct 20, 2014

David Fulmer

Mar 1, 2013

Mary Elizabeth Griffin

Sep 18, 2012

Brent Nelson

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Boardwalk Loop Trail

“An elevated, self-guided interpretive trail showcasing spectacular trees. ”

2.3

3.8

Loop

193' 59 m

142' 43 m

76' 23 m

76' 23 m

1%

3%

Toolbox

Know This Trail?

Dogs Leashed

Features Birding · Lake · Wildlife

ADA Accessible

Family Friendly Boardwalks are always fun for kids!

Overview

Need to Know

Description

Flora & Fauna

Contacts

Shared By:

Trail Ratings

#1

#451

#1

#2

#451

Photos

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Weather

Current Trail Conditions

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Nearby Recommended Routes

Congaree Long Loop

Skinner's Shed Out-and-Back

Poinsett Loop Hike

Peachtree Figure-Eight Hike

Firebreak Trail

Harbison Long Loop

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