Congaree National Park lies along the Congaree River in central South Carolina. The park protects a hardwood forest that has some of the tallest trees in the eastern United States. The forest includes towering loblolly pines and cypress trees that are hundreds of years old and reach heights of more than 150 feet (46 meters). It is also home to a wide variety of plants and animals. It has walking trails, a canoe trail, and an elevated boardwalk that makes a 2 1/2-mile (4-kilometer) loop through the park.
The area was set aside for preservation as Congaree Swamp National Monument in 1976. In 2003, it became South Carolina’s first national park. For the area of Congaree National Park, see National Park System (table: National parks) .
