by Merike Tamm
Photo Credit: Margaret Sirois
Most states east of the Mississippi don’t even have a national park—making Congaree National Park all the more remarkable. Protected in the 1970s thanks to the passion and persistence of South Carolina conservationists and organizations, it preserves one of the country’s last remaining tracts of old-growth bottomland hardwood forest.
On a cold but sunny January 25, we were lucky to be led by one of those early advocates: South Carolina native John Cely.
Our hike took us partly along the park’s boardwalks, but John also guided us off trail—through muddy terrain torn up by invasive feral hogs—to see some of the park’s biggest trees up close.
Photo Credit: Margaret Sirois
We learned how Champion Trees are identified (and measured) as the largest of their species in the state or nation.
With outstretched arms, we gauged the size of towering Loblolly Pines (Pinus taeda) and Cherrybark Oaks (Quercus pagoda). We also encountered impressive specimens of Swamp Chestnut Oak (Quercus michauxii), Overcup Oak (Quercus lyrata), and Laurel Oak (Quercus laurifolia), alongside an abundance of Sweetgum (Liquidambar styraciflua) and an unexpectedly tall understory of American Holly (Ilex opaca). From the boardwalks, we took in stunning stands of Bald Cypress (Taxodium distichum) and their distinctive knees.
Photo Credit: Jackie Burke
Our group of twelve hikers also benefited from botanical insights shared by SCNPS leader Dan Whitten. Margaret Sirois kept us organized as registrar and brought up the rear as sweep.
