Congaree National Park

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Congaree National Park Welcome to Congaree National Park's Official page! We welcome your comments and hope that our conversations here will be courteous.
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Astonishing biodiversity exists in Congaree National Park, the largest intact expanse of old growth bottomland hardwood forest remaining in the southeastern United States. Waters from the Congaree and Wateree Rivers sweep through the floodplain, carrying nutrients and sediments that nourish and rejuvenate this ecosystem and support the growth of national and state champion trees. We hope this page will provide you with insight into Congaree National Park and encourage you to visit. You are fully responsible for the content of your comments. We do not discriminate against any views, but we reserve the right to delete any of the following:

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-You participate at your own risk, taking personal responsibility for your comments, your username and any information provided. Communication made through this service’s e-mail and/or messaging system will in no way constitute a legal or official notice or comment to the U.S. Department of the Interior (or bureau) or any official or employee of the U.S. Department of the Interior (or bureau) for any purpose. References to commercial entities, products, services, or nongovernmental organizations or individuals are provided solely for information. These references are not intended to reflect the opinion of U.S. Department of the Interior (or bureau), the United States Government, or its officers or employees concerning the significance, priority, or importance to be given the referenced entity, product, service, or organization. Such references are not an official or personal endorsement of any product, person, or service and may not be quoted or reproduced for the purpose of stating or implying U.S. Department of the Interior (or bureau) endorsement or approval of any product, person, or service. Reporters or other media representatives are asked to send questions through their normal channels (the appropriate DOI/bureau office public affairs or communications office) and to refrain from submitting questions here as comments. Reporter questions may be removed. This Comment Policy is subject to amendment or modification at any time to ensure that its continued use is consistent with its intended purpose as a limited forum.

With more than 1,000 species of moths documented in the park, there’s a whole universe of Lepidoptera waiting to be disc...
08/04/2026

With more than 1,000 species of moths documented in the park, there’s a whole universe of Lepidoptera waiting to be discovered! 🪐

One of the most spectacular moth families is Saturniidae, the giant silk moths. This family includes some of the largest and most striking moths in North America, and some of the largest moths in the world!

Like all moths, these nocturnal giants begin their journey as caterpillars. As larvae, they feed on the foliage of their host plants, storing the energy they will need later in life. After reaching full size, they pupate, often inside a silk cocoon, and eventually emerge as beautiful, winged adults.

Adult giant silk moths live only a short time. Most have reduced or nonfunctional mouthparts and do not eat, instead relying on energy stored during their caterpillar stage. Their brief adult lives are devoted primarily to finding a mate and reproducing, beginning the cycle all over again. ✨

Golden silk orb weavers (Trichonephila clavipes) are commonly found here at Congaree during the summer where they live o...
07/30/2026

Golden silk orb weavers (Trichonephila clavipes) are commonly found here at Congaree during the summer where they live on their webs until the first freeze of fall. Colloquially known as “banana spiders”, their webs are golden in color, specifically when sunlight shines on the web. This is where they get their name from!

Golden silk orb weavers have a diet consisting of small insects that fly into the web, become stuck, and are wrapped in silk spun by the spider to consume later.

When looking at the web, do you notice smaller spiders nearby? If so, they are most likely male Golden silk orb weavers! The large individuals are females, and the smaller individuals are males engaged in mating behavior. Male Golden silk orb weavers live in the outer edges of the female’s web to mate, guard the female, and eat her food! Males can be harder to see due to size, but a female can host several males at a time in her web. 🕸

Another small spider you may spot alongside a Golden silk orb weaver is the Dewdrop spider (Genus Argyrodes). It is a small, silvery spider known to be a kleptoparasite. These tiny spiders live on the edges of the web and steal the Golden silk spider’s food to eat themselves.

Golden Silk Spiders look intimidating but are harmless to humans. Seeing their golden webs and colorful patterns during the summer are beautiful!

Image 1: Golden silk orb weaver on web with golden hue in wooded area.
Image 2: Close up of Golden silk orb weaver on web.

For years, Carolina wrens (Thryothorus ludovicianus) have built and maintained nests on top of our famous Mosquito Meter...
07/29/2026

For years, Carolina wrens (Thryothorus ludovicianus) have built and maintained nests on top of our famous Mosquito Meter. The state bird of South Carolina, these wrens are known for their resourcefulness and their distinctive "tea kettle" song.

Images: An adult Carolina wren and a few nestlings. The nestlings have their mouths open, waiting to be fed.

07/20/2026

Did you know that Congaree is home to three different species of squirrel? 🐿️ And we caught all of them on our game cameras this year!

Image 1: A Southern fox squirrel (Sciurus niger niger) enjoying a morning snack in Congaree’s upland pine habitat. Fox squirrels are about twice the size of the more common Eastern Gray Squirrel and come in three color morphs: gray (like this one), black, and brown.

Image 2: A Southern flying squirrel (Glaucomys volans) having a late night romp. These are our smallest squirrels, measuring from 8 to 11 in. long, including a 3-5 in. tail. This infrared video shows off their huge eyes, which give these nocturnal squirrels excellent night vision. 🌙

Image 3: An Eastern gray squirrel (Sciurus carolinensis) posing for the camera in our hardwood bottomland forest. Eastern gray squirrels are abundant throughout the park and produce a surprising variety of vocalizations, including squeaks, chatters, and ‘quaas’, which sound like a scratchy meow!

Sources: https://irma.nps.gov/NPSpecies/Search/SpeciesList/CONG
https://www.dnr.sc.gov/wildlife/species/foxsquirrel.html
https://www.ncwildlife.gov/species/southern-flying-squirrel
https://www.newyorkalmanack.com/2022/11/squirrel-talk-gray-squirrel-communication/

Last week, Congaree National Park staff and volunteers took part in the annual Dragonfly Mercury Project, a nationwide c...
07/15/2026

Last week, Congaree National Park staff and volunteers took part in the annual Dragonfly Mercury Project, a nationwide community science effort that helps researchers monitor mercury levels in our nation's waterways.

The information gathered here contributes to a nationwide dataset that helps scientists track environmental health and better protect our parks and waterways for future generations.

Check out more about the Dragonfly Mercury Project here:
https://www.nps.gov/subjects/citizenscience/dragonfly-mercury-project.htm

Photo credit: NPS staff, R. Heins

The boardwalk trail looks a little different today than it did back then! Decades later and throughout the seasons, the ...
07/14/2026

The boardwalk trail looks a little different today than it did back then! Decades later and throughout the seasons, the boardwalk always has a new story to tell. 🍃🍂❄




Image 1: Film photo from boardwalk to Weston Lake circa 1970s.
Image 2: Photo of boardwalk circa 1980s.
Image 3: Boardwalk trail in the fall of 2014 by Artist in Residence, Tarpley.
Image 4: Modern day boardwalk covered in snow.
Image 5: Modern day boardwalk in the summer.

07/13/2026

Breakfast is served! 🥞🐜
These pileated woodpeckers are working hard to get their meal!


Join us as we celebrate 50 years of Congaree with a special two-day anniversary celebration!📅 October 17–18, 2026📍 Harry...
07/11/2026

Join us as we celebrate 50 years of Congaree with a special two-day anniversary celebration!

📅 October 17–18, 2026
📍 Harry Hampton Visitor Center

Enjoy a weekend of ranger programs, guided hikes, special presentations, and more!
More details, including the full schedule of events, will be shared soon!

07/10/2026

Do not disturb. Nap time in progress. 🦝 💤




Video by M. Davis, NPS

We are pleased to announce that the South Cedar Creek Canoe & Kayak Launch is now open for public use, with a new ramp a...
07/09/2026

We are pleased to announce that the South Cedar Creek Canoe & Kayak Launch is now open for public use, with a new ramp and bridge! 🎉

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100 National Park Road
Hopkins, SC
29061

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