Geology of Congaree National Park

The Congaree National Park is located close to Columbia in South Carolina. It’s basically an old growth flood plain forest and home to some of the biggest trees in the world – tree huggers be warned, you’re gonna’ need very long arms! The canopy made by these giant trees is one of the highest in the world, and the largest tree, a Loblolly pine in the forest is a gigantic 167 feet high.

The 26,500 acre Congaree National Park experiences periodic flooding which brings silt and water rich in nutrients to the soil, which is just how the trees can grow to be so big . . . it’s like they’re standing in a giant gro-bag.  Many of the really big monster trees are in the back country away from the marked trails, but one trail in particular, the 7.5 mile Oakridge Trail has huge swamp chestnut oaks, loblolly pines and cherrybark oaks for you to gaze up at and get a crick in your neck.