Congaree River Blue Trail, Florida

Starting near Columbia, this 50-mile water trail and greenway ranges from urban adventures to the Coastal Plain with its high bluffs and floodplain habitats.

From American Rivers

	Inaugural Paddle on the Congaree River Blue Trail (photo: Jamie Mierau)

On Saturday, June 2, 2007, National Trails Day, American Rivers and a coalition of diverse local organizations dedicated the Congaree River Blue Trail. The coalition including Congaree National Park, Congaree Land Trust, Friends of the Congaree Swamp, River Alliance, South Carolina Department of Natural Resources, Coastal Conservation League, and others, celebrated the grand opening of the 50-mile water trail. The project was designated a National Recreation Trail in 2008.

Starting near Columbia, the blue trail offers paddlers an urban adventure with opportunities to learn about the historic significance of the area including prehistoric Native American sites along its tributaries. Continuing downstream paddlers cross the fall line and enter the Coastal Plain known for its countless sandbars, high bluffs, and extensive floodplain habitats.

Gervais Street Bridge (photo: Ron Ahle)

The highlight of the trail is the section along the Congaree National Park, a protected wilderness that is home to the largest continuous tract of old growth bottomland hardwood forest in the U.S. Paddlers and hikers alike can enjoy the network of 20-miles of hiking trails within the park and take advantage of opportunities to camp, fish, watch birds, and study nature.

A new camping area along the river has been designated by the park. An early version of a map was created for the dedication and inaugural paddle and includes interpretative information and messages about safety and conservation.

The Congaree River National Recreation Trail seeks to reconnect the communities of South Carolina to their rivers and help them realize the benefits that healthy rivers provide. By doing so, people will be inspired to protect and conserve lands in the river corridor including wetlands, floodplains, and streamside buffers. It also will highlight the need for clean water and sufficient flows for boaters, anglers, and fish habitat. Plans to expand this blue trail to include the Wateree River are underway.

	Photo from Congaree National Park

For more information:

American Rivers
Southeast Regional Director
2231 Devine Street, Suite 202
Columbia, SC 29209
(803) 771-7114
www.americanrivers.org

Download the Map and Brochure for the Congaree River Blue Trail (pdf 412 ib)

Enter the National Recreation Trails annual Photo contest

Audubon Center at the Francis Beidler Forest (photo: Mark Musselman)

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