Cedar Creek Canoe Trail

Cedar Creek Canoe Trail is the finest way to experience Congaree National Park, paddling a blackwater tributary through the heart of the old-growth bottomland forest on a 15-mile one-way route that requires a car shuttle or park-arranged pickup. Cedar Creek is a tannin-stained blackwater stream that winds through the forest floor beneath a canopy of bald cypress draped with Spanish moss, passing through sections where the channel narrows to paddle-width and the trees close overhead completely.

The paddling is generally flatwater with minimal current, but navigating the winding creek channel requires attention to channel markers and occasional log obstacles. When water levels are moderate, the creek flows below the floodplain and paddlers travel in the channel; at higher water, the canoe route traverses directly through the flooded forest, weaving between tree trunks in water several feet deep over the normal flood plain. Both experiences are extraordinary. River otters, wood ducks, barred owls, and water moccasins are regular sightings. The park offers guided canoe tours through the concessionaire and canoe rentals at the visitor center. The Cedar Creek experience is described by many visitors as the most memorable encounter with a wild southern swamp forest accessible in the national park system.