Place

Congaree Self Guided Boardwalk Tour Stop #9

A shallow body of water just beyond the boardwalk trail. Trees are growing from the water.
Stop #9

Quick Facts
Location:
33.822, -80.8206
Significance:
Tour stop

Guts and Sloughs

The low area you see on both sides of the boardwalk is called a gut. Guts and sloughs (pronounced “slew”) are low channels in the forest that help disperse water throughout the floodplain when the Congaree River foods. The guts fill with water prior to the entire forest floor flooding. During floods, silt and soil are deposited, replenishing the floodplain with nutrients. 

Congaree National Park

Tags: congaree national park,

Last updated: June 11, 2026