First Day Hike at Congaree

Wednesday morning, we had one last breakfast in Savannah and started heading home.  Along the way, we stopped at Congaree National Park for a New Year's Day hike.  Congaree is one of the few national parks that allows dogs on the trails.  There was some flooding impacting the trails so we'd go as far as we could.  We got on the Boardwalk Trail and went right on the elevated boardwalk.  But once we looped around to the low boardwalk, it soon went underwater and we had to turn around.

We also took Sims Trail down as far as we could but it was flooded too.

Then we got back on the Elevated Boardwalk going in the other direction.

There were nice views from up here and we were high enough to not have to worry about flooding.

We went all the way down the Elevated Boardwalk to the end at Weston Lake.

I talked to a volunteer here who said that in the spring, they have synchronized fireflies in the park.  Weston Lake Loop Trail was complete under water from this point.  The low boardwalk was just above water for maybe a half mile and we followed it until it became flooded.

It was right at the point where Sims Trail intersects.  We enjoyed some views of the flooded area and had a snack here.

On the way back, since our hike had been cut short, we took the Bluff Trail out to the campsites and then back.

Then we made our way home.