Congaree National Park

Congaree National Park encompasses nearly 27,000 acres, including the largest intact expanse (11,000 acres) of old-growth bottomland hardwood forest remaining in the southeastern United States. There are a variety of forest communities, with dominant tree species ranging from upland pines along the elevated bluffs to bottomland species such as bald cypress and water tupelo within the floodplain. There are at least 25 Champion Trees in the Park, including four over 160’ tall. Champion trees in the park range from pine and oaks on more elevated sites to cypress and tupelo in sloughs and depressions. The old-growth forest forms one of the highest temperate deciduous forest canopies remaining in the world.