“Picture this: towering trees reaching sky high, serene rivers meandering through lush forests, and an abundance of wildlife darting in and out of view. Now imagine experiencing all of this in two vastly unique, yet equally stunning locations: Congaree National Park and Shenandoah National Park. On one hand, Congaree boasts one of the tallest deciduous forests in the world and is a true natural wonder. On the other, Shenandoah offers breathtaking views from its famous Skyline Drive and is a true escape from city life. Get ready to embark on an adventure as we compare these two treasured parks and discover which one is the king of the great outdoors.”
Hiking Trails in Congaree National Park and Shenandoah National Park
Congaree and Shenandoah National Parks both offer scenic and challenging hiking experiences. Congaree is known for its boardwalk trails that meander through towering trees and diverse swamp habitats, including the 2.4-mile Boardwalk Loop, the Park’s easiest hike. On the other hand, the toughest hike at Congaree is the 25.6-mile Congaree Creek Heritage Preserve Trail, which goes through the park’s backcountry. Shenandoah, located in the Blue Ridge Mountains, boasts over 500 miles of trails, including the popular 101-mile Appalachian Trail. One of the easiest hikes at Shenandoah is the 1.4-mile Stony Man Trail, offering stunning views of the park’s rolling hills. A more challenging hike is the 8.8-mile Old Rag Mountain, a strenuous hike that includes rock scrambling and steep elevation changes. Both parks offer a variety of hiking options for all skill levels, from short and easy walks to long and strenuous backcountry treks.
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 Shenandoah National Park
| Name | Length | Elevation | Type | Difficulty | Visitor Ratings |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Old Rag Mountain Loop | 13840.324 | 736.7016 | Hard | loop | 5 |
| White Oak Canyon and Cedar Run Trails Loop | 14484.06 | 722.9856 | Hard | loop | 4.5 |
| Dark Hollow Falls Trail | 2253.076 | 171.9072 | Moderate | out and back | 4.5 |
| Bearfence Mountain Trail | 1609.34 | 73.7616 | Moderate | loop | 4.5 |
| Hawksbill Gap Loop via Appalachian Trail | 4184.284 | 228.9048 | Moderate | loop | 4.5 |
| Rose River Trail | 5632.69 | 256.9464 | Moderate | loop | 4.5 |
| White Oak Canyon Trail | 15288.73 | 733.9584 | Hard | out and back | 4.5 |
| Stony Man via Appalachian Trail | 2414.01 | 97.8408 | Easy | loop | 4.5 |
| South River Falls Trail | 7402.964 | 387.7056 | Moderate | out and back | 4.5 |
| Little Stony Man Loop via Appalachian Trail | 5471.756 | 263.9568 | Moderate | loop | 4.5 |
Wildlife in Congaree National Park and Shenandoah National Park
Congaree National Park, in South Carolina, is home to a diverse array of wildlife, including white-tailed deer, river otters, and over 200 species of birds such as the pileated woodpecker and the prothonotary warbler. The park is also home to a variety of reptiles, including the eastern diamondback rattlesnake and the American alligator. In addition to its rich wildlife, Congaree is also known for its towering trees, including the baldcypress and the loblolly pine.
Shenandoah National Park, in Virginia, also boasts a thriving ecosystem with a variety of wildlife, including black bears, white-tailed deer, and over 190 species of birds, such as the scarlet tanager and the wood thrush. The park is also home to numerous species of reptiles and amphibians, including the copperhead snake and the American toad. Additionally, the park showcases diverse plant life, including the sourwood, the mountain laurel, and the tulip poplar.
Below are lists of the most commonly spotted wildlife at Congaree National Park and Shenandoah National Park. However, you can see a full list of wildlife at each national park here.
Birds
| Congaree National Park | Shenandoah 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 | Shenandoah 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 | Silver-Haired Bat |
| North American River Otter | Hoary Bat |
| White-Tailed Deer | Red Fox |
| Virginia Opossum | Long-Tailed Weasel |
| Eastern Red Bat | House Mouse |
| White-Footed Mouse | Mountain Lion |
| Eastern Cottontail | Gray Fox |
| Eastern Fox Squirrel | River Otter |
| Eastern Gray Squirrel | Masked Shrew |
| Feral Hog | Water Shrew |
| Northern Short-Tailed Shrew | Red Squirrel |
| Least Shrew | White-Tailed Deer |
| Virginia Opossum | |
| Marten | |
| Northern Flying Squirrel |
Reptiles
| Congaree National Park | Shenandoah National Park |
|---|---|
| Racer | Black Racer |
| Ringneck Snake | Ringneck Snake |
| Common Garter Snake | Common Garter Snake |
| Common Kingsnake | Common Kingsnake |
| Milksnake | |
| Eastern Fence Lizard |
Insects
| Congaree National Park | Shenandoah National Park |
|---|---|
| Alfalfa Sulphur | Orange Sulphur |
| Monarch | Painted Lady |
| American Painted Lady | Monarch |
| Red Admiral | American Lady |
| Mourning Cloak | Red Admiral |
| Cabbage Butterfly | Mourning Cloak |
| Checkered Skipper | Cabbage White |
| Variegated Fritillary | Silvery Blue |
| Buckeye | Common Checkered Skipper |
| Commom Wood Nymph | Clouded Sulphur |
| Gray Hairstreak | Variegated Fritillary |
| Buckeye | |
| Commom Wood Nymph | |
| Gray Hairstreak |
Fish
| Congaree National Park | Shenandoah 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 | Mottled Sculpin |
| Mosquitofish | Longnose Dace |
| Brown Bullhead | Yellow Bullhead |
| Creek Chub | |
| Brown Bullhead | |
| Smallmouth Bass |
Amphibians
| Congaree National Park | Shenandoah National Park |
|---|---|
| Northern Leopard Frog |
Beautiful Landscapes in Congaree National Park and Shenandoah National Park
Congaree National Park in South Carolina is known for its towering old-growth hardwood trees, including loblolly pines, oak trees, and bald cypress trees. Visitors can hike on the boardwalk trail or venture off-trail for a backwoods adventure. Shenandoah National Park in Virginia boasts the Blue Ridge Mountains, which offer scenic vistas from various overlooks such as Hawksbill Mountain and Stony Man Mountain. Visitors can hike on over 500 miles of trails including the Appalachian Trail, drive the Skyline Drive, or explore waterfalls like Dark Hollow Falls.
Things To-Do and Activities in Congaree National Park and Shenandoah National Park
Congaree and Shenandoah National Parks offer different activities for visitors. Congaree is popular for its old-growth hardwood forest, offering opportunities for birdwatching, kayaking, and fishing. Visitors can also take ranger-led walks to learn about the park’s ecology and history. Shenandoah, located in the Blue Ridge Mountains, is popular for scenic drives, picnic areas, and horseback riding. It also has a rich history, with several historic sites and landmarks that visitors can explore. Both parks offer camping options, with Congaree offering backcountry camping and Shenandoah offering frontcountry camping. Both parks also offer ranger-led programs, including campfire talks, evening walks, and nature workshops.
Best Time to Visit Congaree National Park and Shenandoah National Park
Congaree National Park and Shenandoah National Park have different seasonal weather patterns. Congaree, located in South Carolina, has hot and humid summers with temperatures ranging from 80-90°F and mild winters with temperatures around 40-50°F. Shenandoah, in Virginia, has a more temperate climate with warm summers (70-80°F) and cool winters (30-40°F) with occasional snow. Both parks receive significant rainfall, with Congaree getting around 50 inches annually and Shenandoah around 40 inches. Best time to visit Congaree is in spring or fall, when temperatures are mild and the swamp is lush. Best time to visit Shenandoah is spring or fall, when the weather is pleasant and the park’s foliage is at its peak.
Family Friendliness of Congaree National Park and Shenandoah National Park
Shenandoah National Park is more family-friendly than Congaree National Park, with more recreational activities for children such as camping, hiking, and ranger-led programs. Shenandoah also has scenic drives, picnic areas and a visitors center with interactive exhibits. Congaree is more focused on wilderness preservation and has fewer facilities, with limited opportunities for camping and no scenic drives or developed picnic areas. Both parks offer ample opportunities for wildlife viewing and scenic beauty, but for families traveling with children, Shenandoah is the better option.