“Nature lovers, brace yourselves! Get ready to embark on a journey that will take you to two of the most breathtaking National Parks in the US – Congaree and Guadalupe Mountains. While both parks boast their own unique charm, they offer vastly different experiences. On one hand, you have Congaree, with its lush, towering trees and serene swamp environment, perfect for those seeking a peaceful escape into the wilderness. On the other hand, you have Guadalupe Mountains, where rugged peaks, towering cliffs, and breathtaking vistas await those seeking an adrenaline rush. Whether you’re a birdwatcher, hiker, or just looking for a scenic drive, these two parks are sure to leave you in awe and have you coming back for more.”
Hiking Trails in Congaree National Park and Guadalupe Mountains National Park
Congaree National Park in South Carolina and Guadalupe Mountains National Park in Texas are both offering unique hiking experiences. Congaree’s trails range from easy boardwalks through towering old growth forests to moderate hikes through oak and hickory forests. One of the easiest hikes is the Boardwalk Loop, a 2.4-mile trail that takes visitors through the forest, over a wooden boardwalk and past a swamp. On the other end of the difficulty spectrum is the Weston Lake Loop, a strenuous 12-mile hike that takes you through the forest and along the Congaree River.
Guadalupe Mountains National Park is known for its scenic hiking trails and breathtaking views. The park offers a range of trails, from easy nature walks to challenging backcountry adventures. One of the easiest hikes is the Dog Canyon Trail, a 2-mile trail that winds through a scenic canyon and offers great views of the surrounding mountains. The hardest hike in the park is the Guadalupe Peak Trail, a strenuous 8.5-mile hike that takes you to the top of the highest peak in Texas and offers panoramic views of the surrounding countryside.
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 Guadalupe Mountains National Park
| Name | Length | Elevation | Type | Difficulty | Visitor Ratings |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Guadalupe Peak Texas Highpoint Trail | 13035.654 | 873.8616 | Hard | out and back | 5 |
| Devil’s Hall Trail | 5793.624 | 175.8696 | Moderate | out and back | 4.5 |
| McKittrick Canyon Trail | 32508.668 | 1330.7568 | Moderate | out and back | 4.5 |
| Smith Spring Trail | 3862.416 | 117.9576 | Easy | loop | 4.5 |
| Hunter Peak | 12552.852 | 809.8536 | Hard | loop | 5 |
| El Capitan Trail | 15449.664 | 514.8072 | Moderate | out and back | 4.5 |
| Pratt Lodge via McKittrick Canyon Trail | 7724.832 | 103.9368 | Moderate | out and back | 4.5 |
| Devil’s Hall Loop Trail | 5954.558 | 179.832 | Moderate | loop | 4.5 |
| Bush Mountain | 20116.75 | 1085.6976 | Very Hard | out and back | 4.5 |
| Pine Springs to McKittrick Canyon | 28485.318 | 1239.9264 | Moderate | point to point | 5 |
Wildlife in Congaree National Park and Guadalupe Mountains National Park
Congaree National Park in South Carolina and Guadalupe Mountains National Park in Texas both offer unique wildlife experiences. Congaree is home to diverse forests with species such as otters, deer, bobcats, and various bird species including woodpeckers and warblers. Guadalupe Mountains, on the other hand, is a desert environment with species such as mountain lions, black bears, and a variety of birds including golden eagles and spotted owls. Both parks are home to many species of plants, but Congaree is known for its towering loblolly pines and tupelos, while Guadalupe Mountains is known for its yucca, agave, and ocotillo cacti.
Below are lists of the most commonly spotted wildlife at Congaree National Park and Guadalupe Mountains National Park. However, you can see a full list of wildlife at each national park here.
Birds
| Congaree National Park | Guadalupe 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 | American Wigeon |
| Green-Winged Teal | Green-Winged Teal |
| American Pipit | American Pipit |
Mammals
| Congaree National Park | Guadalupe Mountains National Park |
|---|---|
| Coyote | Coyote |
| American Beaver | Big Brown Bat |
| Muskrat | Bobcat |
| Big Brown Bat | Striped Skunk |
| Bobcat | Deer Mouse |
| Striped Skunk | Raccoon |
| Raccoon | Black Bear |
| Black Bear | Porcupine |
| Red Fox | Silver-Haired Bat |
| Mink | Hoary Bat |
| Common Gray Fox | Long-Tailed Weasel |
| North American River Otter | Mountain Lion |
| White-Tailed Deer | Mule Deer |
| Virginia Opossum | Common Gray Fox |
| Eastern Red Bat | Gray Wolf |
| White-Footed Mouse | Long-Legged Myotis |
| Eastern Cottontail | American Badger |
| Eastern Fox Squirrel | California Myotis |
| Eastern Gray Squirrel | Fringed Myotis |
| Feral Hog | Brazilian Free-Tailed Bat |
| Northern Short-Tailed Shrew | Townsend’s Big-Eared Bat |
| Least Shrew | Western Harvest Mouse |
| Western Small-Footed Myotis | |
| Bighorn Sheep | |
| White-Tailed Deer |
Reptiles
| Congaree National Park | Guadalupe Mountains National Park |
|---|---|
| Racer | Sonoran Gophersnake |
| Ringneck Snake | Eastern Racer |
| Common Garter Snake | Prairie Rattlesnake |
| Common Kingsnake | Prairie Ring-Necked Snake |
| Hernandez’s Short-Horned Lizard | |
| Common Side-Blotched Lizard | |
| Desert Kingsnake | |
| Texas Night Snake | |
| Long-Nosed Leopard Lizard | |
| Desert Striped Whipsnake | |
| Smith’s Black-Headed Snake | |
| Big Bend Tree Lizard | |
| Eastern Collared Lizard | |
| Glossy Snake | |
| Long-Nosed Snake | |
| Desert Spiny Lizard |
Insects
| Congaree National Park | Guadalupe Mountains National Park |
|---|---|
| Alfalfa Sulphur | Orange Sulfur |
| Monarch | Painted Ladies |
| American Painted Lady | Monarch |
| Red Admiral | American Painted Lady |
| Mourning Cloak | Common Checkered-Skipper |
| Cabbage Butterfly | Clouded Sulphur |
| Checkered Skipper | Variegated Fritillary |
| Variegated Fritillary | Buckeye |
| Buckeye | Gray Hairstreak |
| Commom Wood Nymph | |
| Gray Hairstreak |
Fish
| Congaree National Park | Guadalupe Mountains National Park |
|---|---|
| Largemouth Bass | Rainbow Trout |
| Green Sunfish | Green Sunfish |
| Bluegill | |
| Golden Shiner | |
| European Carp | |
| Yellow Bullhead | |
| Graceful Catfish | |
| Black Crappie | |
| Mosquitofish | |
| Brown Bullhead |
Amphibians
| Congaree National Park | Guadalupe Mountains National Park |
|---|---|
| Tiger Salamander | |
| American Bullfrog | |
| Red-Spotted Toad | |
| Plains Spadefoot |
Beautiful Landscapes in Congaree National Park and Guadalupe Mountains National Park
Congaree National Park is renowned for its old-growth bottomland hardwood forest, which is home to many towering trees, including loblolly pine, sweetgum, and oak. Visitors can take scenic walks through the park to admire these trees, as well as explore the park’s diverse wildlife, including river otters, deer, and several species of birds.
Guadalupe Mountains National Park is known for its rugged terrain and scenic views. The park is home to the highest peak in Texas, Guadalupe Peak, which offers breathtaking views of the surrounding desert landscape. The park also features the scenic McKittrick Canyon, which is known for its vibrant fall foliage, and the stunning El Capitan, a towering limestone formation. Additionally, the park is home to several species of reptiles and mammals, including pronghorns, black bears, and mountain lions.
Things To-Do and Activities in Congaree National Park and Guadalupe Mountains National Park
Congaree National Park and Guadalupe Mountains National Park offer different experiences for visitors. At Congaree, popular activities include camping, canoeing/kayaking, and hiking on the boardwalk trails to explore the old-growth bottomland hardwood forest and unique ecosystem. At Guadalupe Mountains, visitors love to go backpacking, rock climbing, and scenic drives through the park to see the unique geology and landscapes, including the highest peak in Texas- Guadalupe Peak. Both parks offer scenic beauty and opportunities for outdoor recreation, but Congaree is more focused on water-based activities and exploring its swampy forest environment, while Guadalupe Mountains is a destination for more challenging outdoor activities and scenic drives.
Best Time to Visit Congaree National Park and Guadalupe Mountains National Park
Congaree National Park in South Carolina and Guadalupe Mountains National Park in Texas have different seasonal weather patterns which can greatly impact the ideal time to visit. Congaree is hot and humid in summer, with temperatures averaging in the high 80s to low 90s, while winters are mild with occasional cold snaps. Guadalupe Mountains, on the other hand, is much drier and experiences greater temperature variations, with summer highs in the 80s and winter lows occasionally dipping below freezing. Both parks have moderate rainfall all year, but Congaree is known for flash flooding during heavy rain events, which can make trails impassable.
The best time to visit Congaree is in the spring and fall, when temperatures are mild and the swamp is at its most vibrant, with blooming wildflowers and abundant wildlife. Guadalupe Mountains is best visited in the spring and fall as well, with milder temperatures and less crowded trails, but it also offers great opportunities for winter sports like snowshoeing and cross-country skiing.
Family Friendliness of Congaree National Park and Guadalupe Mountains National Park
Congaree and Guadalupe are both great parks for families, however, Congaree is more child-friendly. It has a 2.4-mile boardwalk trail that is stroller-friendly, plus picnic areas and ranger-led programs for kids. Guadalupe has more challenging hiking trails, but it does offer scenic drives, ranger-led programs, and a visitors center with educational exhibits. Both parks have beautiful landscapes and opportunities for wildlife viewing, but if traveling with kids, Congaree is the better choice with its easier trails and kid-friendly amenities.