Congaree National Park vs Wrangell – St Elias National Park & Preserve

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Congaree National Park vs Wrangell - St Elias National Park & Preserve

“Discover the beauty and diversity of America’s protected wilderness with a comparison of two national parks: Congaree and Wrangell-St. Elias. One, a lush, towering forest of towering trees, the other, a vast expanse of glistening glaciers and towering peaks. Both offer unique experiences, but which one will you choose for your next adventure? Will it be the stillness of a forest echoing with the songs of insects and birds, or the thundering roar of glaciers calving into the sea? Whichever you choose, you’ll be sure to leave with unforgettable memories.”

Hiking Trails in Congaree National Park and Wrangell – St Elias National Park & Preserve

Congaree National Park and Wrangell – St Elias National Park & Preserve both offer scenic and challenging hiking trails. Congaree is known for its boardwalk trails, which are easy to navigate and provide stunning views of the park’s old-growth bottomland hardwood forest. The most popular trail, the 2.4-mile Boardwalk Loop, is an easy hike and showcases the park’s unique ecosystem. On the other hand, Wrangell – St Elias is a bigger park with more rugged terrain and offers longer and more strenuous hikes. The park’s most challenging hike is the 17-mile round trip trek to the summit of Mount Wrangell, an active volcano. For easier hikes, the Root Glacier Trail is a popular 2-mile round trip hike that leads to the face of the glacier. Both parks have something for every level of hiker, with Congaree offering a more accessible and less challenging option and Wrangell – St Elias offering more strenuous and remote hikes.

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 Wrangell – St Elias National Park & Preserve

Name Length Elevation Type Difficulty Visitor Ratings
Rankin Ridge Interpretive Trail 1609.34 72.8472 Moderate loop 4.5
Wind Cave Canyon Trail 6115.492 64.9224 Easy out and back 4
Lookout Point Trail and Centennial Trail Loop 8368.568 156.972 Moderate loop 4
Cold Brook Canyon Trail 4506.152 60.96 Easy out and back 4
East Bison Flats Trail 16254.334 445.9224 Moderate out and back 4.5
Boland Ridge Trail 7724.832 248.7168 Moderate out and back 4
Centennial Trail: Highway 87 to Highlander Rd 13035.654 286.8168 Moderate point to point 4.5
Elk Mountain Interpretive Trail 4023.35 99.9744 Easy out and back 3.5
Prairie Vista Loop 1609.34 31.6992 Easy out and back 4
Highland Creek Trail to Centennial Trail Loop 21887.024 443.7888 Hard loop 4.6

Wildlife in Congaree National Park and Wrangell – St Elias National Park & Preserve

Congaree National Park in South Carolina is known for its diverse plant and animal life including woodpeckers, deer, river otters, and over 80 species of trees. Wrangell – St Elias National Park & Preserve in Alaska is home to a wide range of wildlife including grizzly bears, moose, caribou, wolves and over 170 species of birds. Both parks also offer opportunities to see various species of fish and other aquatic life. However, Wrangell – St Elias is larger and more remote, offering a greater chance to see large mammals in their natural habitats. Both parks offer a unique and diverse array of wildlife, but Wrangell – St Elias offers the chance to see a wider range of large mammals in their natural habitats.

Below are lists of the most commonly spotted wildlife at Congaree National Park and Wrangell – St Elias National Park & Preserve. However, you can see a full list of wildlife at each national park here.

Birds

Congaree National Park Wrangell – St Elias National Park & Preserve
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 Wrangell – St Elias National Park & Preserve
Coyote Coyote
American Beaver American Beaver
Muskrat Muskrat
Big Brown Bat Little Brown Bat
Bobcat Black Bear
Striped Skunk Porcupine
Raccoon Red Fox
Black Bear Puma
Red Fox Mink
Mink Mule Deer
Common Gray Fox Wolf
North American River Otter Short-Tailed Weasel
White-Tailed Deer Snowshoe Hare
Virginia Opossum Land Otter
Eastern Red Bat Common Shrew
White-Footed Mouse Water Shrew
Eastern Cottontail Red Squirrel
Eastern Fox Squirrel Montane Shrew
Eastern Gray Squirrel Long-Tailed Vole
Feral Hog Lynx
Northern Short-Tailed Shrew Wolverine
Least Shrew American Marten
Northern Flying Squirrel
Grizzly Bear
Meadow Vole

Reptiles

Congaree National Park Wrangell – St Elias National Park & Preserve
Racer
Ringneck Snake
Common Garter Snake
Common Kingsnake

Insects

Congaree National Park Wrangell – St Elias National Park & Preserve
Alfalfa Sulphur Silvery Blue
Monarch Clouded Sulphur
American Painted Lady
Red Admiral
Mourning Cloak
Cabbage Butterfly
Checkered Skipper
Variegated Fritillary
Buckeye
Commom Wood Nymph
Gray Hairstreak

Fish

Congaree National Park Wrangell – St Elias National Park & Preserve
Largemouth Bass Steelhead
Green Sunfish Longnose Sucker
Bluegill Lake Trout
Golden Shiner Northern Pike
European Carp Burbot
Yellow Bullhead Silver Salmon
Graceful Catfish King Salmon
Black Crappie Slimy Sculpin
Mosquitofish Threespine Stickleback
Brown Bullhead Sockeye Salmon
Pink Salmon
Chum Salmon
Dolly Varden
Cutthroat Trout
Arctic Grayling

Amphibians

Congaree National Park Wrangell – St Elias National Park & Preserve
Wood Frog

Beautiful Landscapes in Congaree National Park and Wrangell – St Elias National Park & Preserve

Congaree National Park is known for its towering old-growth hardwood trees, including some of the tallest in the Eastern US, standing up to 160 ft. The park’s unique bottomland swamp forest ecosystem is home to diverse wildlife.

Wrangell – St Elias National Park & Preserve is the largest national park in the US, boasting an expansive landscape of glaciers, snow-capped peaks, and valley glaciers, including Mount St. Elias, the second-tallest peak in the US. The park is also home to the Wrangell Mountains, one of the largest volcanic fields in North America.

Things To-Do and Activities in Congaree National Park and Wrangell – St Elias National Park & Preserve

Congaree National Park is popular for activities such as kayaking, canoeing, and fishing in the Congaree River, as well as hiking and camping. In contrast, Wrangell – St Elias National Park & Preserve offers a wider range of experiences, including backpacking, mountaineering, and glacier trekking, in addition to traditional activities like camping, fishing, and hiking. Both parks offer scenic drives and ranger-led programs. However, Wrangell – St Elias is known for its diverse landscapes of glaciers, mountains, and forests which attract more adventurous visitors, while Congaree’s swamp forests and old-growth hardwoods attract those interested in eco-tourism and wildlife viewing.

Best Time to Visit Congaree National Park and Wrangell – St Elias National Park & Preserve

Congaree National Park in South Carolina has a humid subtropical climate with hot summers & mild winters. The park experiences maximum rainfall in the late spring & early summer. Wrangell-St. Elias National Park & Preserve in Alaska, on the other hand, has a subarctic climate with long, harsh winters & short, cool summers. The park receives most of its precipitation as snow.

Due to the hot, humid weather, the best time to visit Congaree National Park is during fall & winter, when temperatures are mild and comfortable for outdoor activities. In contrast, Wrangell-St. Elias is best visited in the summer months, when snow has melted, allowing access to its glaciers and peaks.

Family Friendliness of Congaree National Park and Wrangell – St Elias National Park & Preserve

Congaree National Park is generally considered more family-friendly than Wrangell-St. Elias National Park & Preserve. Congaree offers many activities suitable for families with children, such as hiking on boardwalks through its old-growth forest, kayaking and canoeing on Cedar Creek, and ranger-led programs. On the other hand, Wrangell-St. Elias is a more remote and rugged wilderness, with fewer amenities and developed trails. It is a better option for families seeking a more backcountry experience and who are comfortable with the challenges of remote travel.

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