“Imagine standing amidst towering trees that soar towards the sky, or being surrounded by rolling hills blurred by a smoky haze. These are just some of the breathtaking sights you can experience at Congaree and Great Smoky Mountains National Parks. Both parks offer unique landscapes and outdoor adventures, but with different terrains and ecosystems. Whether you’re a hiker, camper, nature lover, or just seeking a peaceful escape, both parks are sure to leave you in awe and satisfy your wanderlust. So pack your bags, grab your hiking boots, and get ready to explore two of the most stunning national parks in the country.”
Hiking Trails in Congaree National Park and Great Smoky Mountains National Park
Congaree National Park and Great Smoky Mountains National Park both offer a variety of hiking trails for visitors, ranging from easy walks to strenuous backcountry adventures. Congaree features mostly flat trails, including the 2.4-mile Boardwalk Loop, which offers scenic views of the park’s unique floodplain forest and is one of the easiest hikes. On the other hand, the most challenging hike in Congaree is the 7.4-mile Weston Lake Loop, which takes visitors through the park’s swampy wilderness. Great Smoky Mountains National Park boasts over 800 miles of trails, including some of the most popular hikes in the country. One of the easiest hikes in the park is the 1.9-mile Clingmans Dome Trail, while the strenuous Alum Cave Trail, which is 5 miles round trip, is considered one of the hardest. Both parks offer a variety of experiences for hikers, from scenic walks to challenging backcountry adventures, making them popular destinations for outdoor enthusiasts.
Most Popular Hiking Trails in Congaree National Park
| Name | Length | Elevation | Type | Difficulty | Visitor Ratings |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Boardwalk Loop Trail | 3862.416 | 3.9624 | Easy | loop | 4 |
| Weston Lake Loop Trail | 7402.964 | 4.8768 | Easy | loop | 4 |
| Oakridge Trail | 10138.842 | 5.7912 | Easy | loop | 4 |
| Congaree River Trail | 15932.466 | 15.8496 | Easy | loop | 4 |
| Kingsnake Trail | 11909.116 | 6.7056 | Easy | out and back | 3.5 |
| Congaree Bluff Trail | 3379.614 | 5.7912 | Easy | loop | 3.5 |
| Congaree River Blue Trail | 75317.112 | 1.8288 | Moderate | point to point | 5 |
Most Popular Hiking Trails in Great Smoky Mountains National Park
| Name | Length | Elevation | Type | Difficulty | Visitor Ratings |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alum Cave Trail to Mount LeConte | 17219.938 | 916.8384 | Hard | out and back | 5 |
| Chimney Tops Trail | 5793.624 | 392.8872 | Hard | out and back | 4.5 |
| Rainbow Falls Trail | 8851.37 | 503.8344 | Moderate | out and back | 4.5 |
| Grotto Falls Trail | 4184.284 | 162.7632 | Moderate | out and back | 4.5 |
| Laurel Falls Trail | 3862.416 | 120.7008 | Easy | out and back | 4 |
| Abrams Falls Trail | 7885.766 | 191.7192 | Moderate | out and back | 4.5 |
| Clingmans Dome Observation Tower Trail | 1931.208 | 100.8888 | Easy | out and back | 4.5 |
| Charlies Bunion via Appalachian Trail | 13840.324 | 603.8088 | Moderate | out and back | 4.5 |
| Ramsey Cascades Trail | 13035.654 | 677.8752 | Hard | out and back | 4.5 |
| Peregrine Peak via Alum Cave Bluffs Trail | 6759.228 | 322.7832 | Moderate | out and back | 5 |
Wildlife in Congaree National Park and Great Smoky Mountains National Park
Congaree and Great Smoky Mountains National Parks both offer unique wildlife experiences. Congaree is home to a wide variety of animals such as river otters, alligators, white-tailed deer, and over 200 species of birds, including woodpeckers, owls, and wading birds. In contrast, Great Smoky Mountains is known for its diversity of plants and animals, including black bears, elk, and over 200 species of birds, such as warblers, thrushes, and vireos. Additionally, the Smokies boast an array of wildflowers and over 100 species of native trees. Both parks offer opportunities for wildlife viewing and provide habitats for species that are unique to the region.
Below are lists of the most commonly spotted wildlife at Congaree National Park and Great Smoky Mountains National Park. However, you can see a full list of wildlife at each national park here.
Birds
| Congaree National Park | Great Smoky Mountains National Park |
|---|---|
| Peregrine Falcon | Peregrine Falcon |
| Northern Harrier | Northern Harrier |
| Sharp-Shinned Hawk | Sharp-Shinned Hawk |
| Osprey | Osprey |
| Tree Swallow | Tree Swallow |
| Mallard | Mallard |
| Canada Goose | Canada Goose |
| Lincoln’s Sparrow | Lincoln’s Sparrow |
| Ruby-Crowned Kinglet | Ruby-Crowned Kinglet |
| American Robin | American Robin |
| Great Horned Owl | Great Horned Owl |
| Red-Tailed Hawk | Red-Tailed Hawk |
| Northern Flicker | Northern Flicker |
| Merlin | Merlin |
| Barn Swallow | Barn Swallow |
| Savannah Sparrow | Savannah Sparrow |
| Great Blue Heron | Great Blue Heron |
| Hermit Thrush | Hermit Thrush |
| American Kestrel | American Kestrel |
| Bald Eagle | Bald Eagle |
| Song Sparrow | Song Sparrow |
| European Starling | European Starling |
| American Wigeon | Northern Pintail |
| Green-Winged Teal | American Wigeon |
| American Pipit | Green-Winged Teal |
Mammals
| Congaree National Park | Great Smoky Mountains National Park |
|---|---|
| Coyote | Coyote |
| American Beaver | American Beaver |
| Muskrat | Muskrat |
| Big Brown Bat | Big Brown Bat |
| Bobcat | Bobcat |
| Striped Skunk | Striped Skunk |
| Raccoon | Little Brown Bat |
| Black Bear | Deer Mouse |
| Red Fox | Raccoon |
| Mink | Black Bear |
| Common Gray Fox | Porcupine |
| North American River Otter | Silver-Haired Bat |
| White-Tailed Deer | Hoary Bat |
| Virginia Opossum | Red Fox |
| Eastern Red Bat | Long-Tailed Weasel |
| White-Footed Mouse | House Mouse |
| Eastern Cottontail | Panther (Mountain Lion) |
| Eastern Fox Squirrel | Mink |
| Eastern Gray Squirrel | Gray Fox |
| Feral Hog | Gray Wolf |
| Northern Short-Tailed Shrew | Snowshoe Hare |
| Least Shrew | River Otter |
| Masked Shrew | |
| Water Shrew | |
| Red Squirrel |
Reptiles
| Congaree National Park | Great Smoky Mountains National Park |
|---|---|
| Racer | |
| Ringneck Snake | |
| Common Garter Snake | |
| Common Kingsnake |
Insects
| Congaree National Park | Great Smoky Mountains National Park |
|---|---|
| Alfalfa Sulphur | Orange Sulphur |
| Monarch | Painted Lady |
| American Painted Lady | Monarch |
| Red Admiral | American Painted Lady |
| Mourning Cloak | Red Admiral |
| Cabbage Butterfly | Mourning Cloak |
| Checkered Skipper | Cabbage White |
| Variegated Fritillary | Silvery Blue |
| Buckeye | Common Checkered Skipper |
| Commom Wood Nymph | Common Sulphur |
| Gray Hairstreak | Honey Bee |
| Variegated Fritillary | |
| Buckeye | |
| Commom Wood Nymph | |
| Gray Hairstreak |
Fish
| Congaree National Park | Great Smoky Mountains National Park |
|---|---|
| Largemouth Bass | Rainbow Trout |
| Green Sunfish | Brook Trout |
| Bluegill | Brown Trout |
| Golden Shiner | Largemouth Bass |
| European Carp | Green Sunfish |
| Yellow Bullhead | Bluegill |
| Graceful Catfish | Common Carp |
| Black Crappie | Longnose Dace |
| Mosquitofish | Yellow Bullhead |
| Brown Bullhead | Channel Catfish |
| Black Crappie | |
| Black Bullhead | |
| Mosquitofish | |
| Creek Chub | |
| Goldfish | |
| Smallmouth Bass |
Amphibians
| Congaree National Park | Great Smoky Mountains National Park |
|---|---|
| Northern Leopard Frog | |
| American Bullfrog | |
| Wood Frog |
Beautiful Landscapes in Congaree National Park and Great Smoky Mountains National Park
Congaree National Park is known for its old-growth bottomland hardwood forest and towering trees, including the tallest loblolly pine and bald cypress in the world. Visitors can hike or canoe through the park to see these natural wonders as well as the Congaree River.
Great Smoky Mountains National Park boasts diverse landscapes including lush forests, rolling hills, and scenic drives with breathtaking views. The park is particularly famous for its spring wildflowers, the synchronous fireflies in the summer, and the vibrant fall foliage. Hikers can enjoy over 800 miles of trails and visitors can also drive to scenic overlooks for panoramic views of the Smoky Mountains.
Things To-Do and Activities in Congaree National Park and Great Smoky Mountains National Park
Congaree National Park is a floodplain forest located in South Carolina, while Great Smoky Mountains National Park straddles Tennessee and North Carolina. Both parks offer scenic drives, camping, and ranger-led programs. Congaree is known for its towering old-growth trees and opportunities for kayaking and fishing in the park’s waterways. The Smoky Mountains, on the other hand, offer a wider range of activities including horseback riding, and historic structures such as cabins and churches. Additionally, the Smokies are home to diverse wildlife including black bears, elk, and wild boars which visitors can observe from designated overlooks. Both parks offer unique experiences, with Congaree offering a serene, ancient forest atmosphere and the Smoky Mountains offering a more diverse range of activities and wildlife viewing opportunities.
Best Time to Visit Congaree National Park and Great Smoky Mountains National Park
Congaree National Park and Great Smoky Mountains National Park are two popular national parks located in the United States. Congaree is in South Carolina and Smoky Mountains is in Tennessee and North Carolina. Congaree has a humid subtropical climate with hot and humid summers, mild winters, and abundant rainfall throughout the year. The best time to visit Congaree is from fall to spring as the cooler temperatures make outdoor activities more enjoyable. On the other hand, Great Smoky Mountains have a temperate climate with cool summers and cold winters. Winter can bring snow and ice making some trails and roads impassable. The best time to visit Smoky Mountains is from late spring to early fall when outdoor activities are more accessible.
Family Friendliness of Congaree National Park and Great Smoky Mountains National Park
Great Smoky Mountains National Park is generally considered more family-friendly than Congaree National Park. Smoky Mountains offers a wider range of activities for families such as hiking, camping, picnicking, fishing, horseback riding and junior ranger programs. On the other hand, Congaree National Park is more suited for nature enthusiasts and bird-watchers, with its swamp and old-growth forest habitats. However, Congaree does have several trails that are easy to hike, as well as ranger-led programs. In conclusion, if you are traveling with children, Great Smoky Mountains National Park is a better option as it offers a wider range of activities.