Make your reservation in advance! The Weston Lake Loop Trail loops through old growth forest, where you can see more tupelo and bald cypress trees. Learn how to become a Congaree Volunteer! Colas Restaurant, Mr. Friendlys New Southern, Alodias Cucina Italiana (located outside of Columbia), and Midwood Smokehouse also get very good reviews. For comparison, in the same year, 4.42 million people flocked to Yosemite National Park. Let us know. This small park is quick and easy to visit. If you use an outfitter like River Runner, they can drop your canoe or kayak at the starting point and pick you up at the endpoint. Out of these cookies, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are as essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. At 2 pm, our canoe was delivered by Gus from River Runner Outdoor Center. We were given hiking directions at the Harry Hampton Visitor Center and have modified them: From the Bates Ferry trailhead, walk 0.4 miles. From these hotels, you can easily walk or Uber to some great restaurants. The NPS website warns that it this hike is difficult, since flooding and downed trees can make hiking challenging. Which most parks, we are enjoying these massive sweeping vistas. Native Land Digital is a registered Canadian not-for-profit organization with the goal to creates spaces where non-Indigenous people can be invited and challenged to learn more about the lands they inhabit, the history of those lands, and how to actively be part of a better future going forward together. Adequate preparation, constant attention, and good judgement will help make your hike a safe and enjoyable experience. #2 Go Kayaking or Canoeing on Cedar Creek, #7 Bates Ferry Trail and the General Greene Tree, #10 Hike the River Trail to the Congaree River. If you want to see the synchronous fireflies, plan your visit for the end of May to early June. Now dominated by loblolly pines, remnants of the once abundant longleaf pines that covered this upland region have managed to hold on and can still be seen. Plus, wed had the park almost entirely to ourselves. There are several other trees which are South Carolina campion trees. The food is very good (Cajun and Creole) but the main reason to put this restaurant on your list is for the bourbon.