While searching for places to stop on my initial trip, I noticed a place close to I-77 in South Carolina. On closer inspection, I saw it was Congaree National Park. A full National Park of which I had never heard! It had been a National Park for 20+ years, having been a National Monument since 1976.

The park has a fascinating diversity of ecosystems, from swampy lowlands to old growth forests to bluffs above the floodplain. It has also had a human presence for possibly 10,000 years. In the 1800s, some who escaped slavery chose to live a hard life here rather than take the perilous journey to the north.

I took about a 2.5 mile walk along a boardwalk over some of the swampy areas. A pamphlet described the various features encountered along the trail. Though it never rained, during the hike I did hear some thunder, very reassuring as I walked amongst the tallest trees in the area.

I also left my NPS Passport booklet sitting by the stamp station in the Visitor's Center, but the amazing staff there found it and mailed it back to me!