Congaree National Park - Walks and Talks (U.S. National Park Service)

Note: Please visit the Schedule of Events page to obtain exact date and time for each program.

Weekend Programs

Tree Trek (1.5 hour guided walk)

Discover the primeval forested floodplain that is Congaree National Park. Experience extraordinarily diverse plant and animal life and walk among the towering trees. No reservations are required. Meet at the visitor center.

Nature Discovery (1.5 hour guided walk)

Immerse yourself in the magical experience of this undisturbed, old-growth bottomland forest, its giant trees and immense diversity of wildlife. No reservations are required. Bring your lunch and enjoy a meal in the picnic area afterwards.

Owl Prowls

Have you ever heard a barred owl hoot “Who cooks for y’all”? Talk to barred owls and look for foxfire, flying squirrels and fireflies on this 2 ½ - mile walk. These popular ranger-guided night walks are held in the spring and fall seasons each year. The programs are usually presented on Friday evenings just before dusk. They last two hours and are free of charge. Bring flashlights with red filters. Reservations are required two weeks in advance for these programs.

Harry Hampton Memorial Walk

This annual program is a 3 hour guided walk held in honor of the founding father of Congaree National Park. Hampton was an ardent conservationist and a writer for “The State” newspaper in Columbia, South Carolina. In his column “Woods and Waters” he promoted preservation of the Congaree floodplain forest. He started his campaign to protect Congaree in the 1950’s. Not until the 1970’s did others join Hampton in a grass roots effort to preserve the Congaree which resulted in park establishment on October 18, 1976 as Congaree Swamp National Monument. Call in advance to make reservations for this free November program.

Annual Spring Walk

Each spring season professor and naturalist Rudy Mancke leads several three hour walks through the Congaree forest. Mancke is renowned for this public television program “NatureScene”. He has visited and promoted Congaree through the years and his efforts helped publicize the Congaree forest. Call in advance to make reservations for this free program.