While driving to Asheville today, I stopped at Congaree National Park. I did a hike and had lunch there. It was a great way to break up my drive. Congaree has the largest intact expanse of old-growth floodplain forest in the southeastern US. Since it’s on a floodplain, the forest is constantly changing because of the water. It’s currently not flooded, but I could see areas where the roots of the trees were still underwater. When it floods, the water is so high, that even parts of the boardwalk I walked on today are underwater!

The walk was nice, but it’s definitely not one of the most beautiful national parks in the country. If I ever go back, I’d love to see the park from a kayak to see it from a different perspective.