• Bald Cypress and Water Tupelo along Cedar Creek

    Congaree

    National Park South Carolina

There are park alerts in effect.
hide Alerts »

  • South Cedar Creek Canoe Launch Closed Sporadically in June

    The South Cedar Creek Canoe Launch will be closed sporadically beginning June 17 to prepare the area for an upcoming parking area expansion project. Paddlers may access the creek from Bannister Bridge during closures. Please all ahead for closure info. More »

  • Elevated Boardwalk Section Closed

    A portion of the elevated boardwalk is closed for repairs due to damage from a tree falling. Visitors can still access the boardwalk, see a park ranger for current information and hiking recommendations.

Guided Canoe Tours

Canoeing on Cedar Creek

Park visitors enjoy a leisurely paddle down Cedar Creek

NPS Photo

Park rangers provide a limited number of free guided canoe tours along Cedar Creek each year. Please see Schedule of Events for the tour dates. If the calendar does not have dates posted, tours are not available.

Paddlers experience this unique old-growth bottomland forest while paddling through large bald cypress and water tupelo trees draped with Spanish Moss. You will be surrounded with the sounds of songbirds, owls, and woodpeckers as you paddle through Congaree's Wilderness. White-tailed deer, otters, and raccoons may also be spotted along the banks of Cedar Creek.

The park provides canoes, life jackets and paddles for up to 16 participants per tour. Be sure to bring snacks, water, insect repellent, a change of clothes, and wear shoes that attach to your feet (no flip-flops).

Children must be at least 5 years old to attend. All participants must be able to paddle and swim.

Guided canoes tours will be cancelled if the air temperature is 45 degrees F or below, if the water level on Cedar Creek is 10 ft or above, if wind speed is 30 mph or greater, or if the heat index exceeds 103 degrees.

Plan to spend 3 1/2-4 hours at the park for your canoe trip experience.

Park staff reserve the right to cancel a canoe tour for any reason.


Public Guided Canoe Tours:
A limited number of dates are available each year. Rangers are not currently scheduling canoe tours.

Organized Group Guided Canoe Tours:
A limited number of group canoe tour reservations, for organized groups of 10-16, from a club or common affiliation, are available each year. Rangers are not currently scheduling canoe tours.

Did You Know?

Visitors on a Ranger-guided tour

During the last 20 years, visitors from over 100 different nations have signed the guest register at the park