River Trail

Dogs Leashed

Features Birding · River/Creek

To reach this trail from the visitor center, you'll need to hike about 1.5 miles on the boardwalk, Weston Lake, and Oakridge Trail. Once there, you'll notice that the trail is much less traveled than the previous three, and you'll be rewarded with a nice hike in the woods.

Most of the trail is a mix of large loblolly pines and hardwoods such as oak, sweetgum, ash, holly, maple, etc... you'll also pass several stretches of bald cypress and water tupelo sloughes especially at the start/end. About 1.3 miles into the trail, you can go right or left to start the 3.7-mile loop. If you start with the right side of the loop, it is a mix of hardwood forest and sloughs that run into a single lane gravel access road. You'll see lots of places where wild boars have been foraging, and you may even see one.

You'll then hike about a mile along the Congaree River although there are only a few spots where you have easy access off the main trail for views. The first is marked by a sign stating "sand bar" and leads out onto a peaceful sandbar complete with a large fallen tree you and a partner can sit on and take a break. The second is an easily seen beaten path at a bend in the river. Both are worth the short diversion.

After the second area where you can see the river, it's .9 miles to complete the loop. There are several areas along the trail where you'll need to go over, under, or around fallen trees. It other than that, it is an easy hike.