Congaree National Park Alerts and Current Conditions

Cover of Brian Russ's guide to Congaree National Park

Last checked: October 25, 2026. This page tracks what's closed, what's changed, and what's coming up at Congaree National Park, South Carolina, from the park's alerts, conditions, and hours pages. I check it daily and rewrite it when the park posts something new, so bookmark it rather than an old news story. Most of Congaree sits in the Congaree River's floodplain, which floods about ten times a year, so check the park's own alerts and the water gauges the morning you go.

Current alerts

  • Downed trees on Cedar Creek. Trees across the creek between Bannister's Bridge and South Cedar Creek may mean significant portages, depending on water levels. The park asks every paddler to carry the Ten Essentials. (NPS)
  • Bring GPS for the backcountry trails. The park says the Oakridge, Boggy Gut (formerly the River Trail), and Kingsnake trails may be difficult to follow, and GPS is necessary on them. (NPS)
  • Plan your ride home. If someone drops you off, make sure you have a return ride. Taxis and rideshares rarely come out to Congaree, and the bus may not be running. (NPS)

Open and closed right now

  • The park is generally open 24 hours a day, all year, though weather or park operations can close it for short periods. The park's fee listing shows no entrance fee. (NPS)
  • Harry Hampton Visitor Center: open daily, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. The park notes it can close for hazardous weather or resource management work. Trail guides are available there.
  • Camping: Longleaf and Bluff campgrounds are open year-round. Every site has to be reserved online, and no camping fees are collected on site. (Longleaf; Bluff)
  • Flooding: when the river rises, floods can make the backcountry trails and even parts of the boardwalk inaccessible. The park points to the Cedar Creek gauge (flood stage about 8 feet) and the Congaree River gauge at the park's west boundary (flood stage about 15 feet). (NPS)

Coming up in the next few weeks

  • Thanksgiving: the visitor center is closed Thursday, November 26. The park's hours listing also shows Wednesday, November 25, as closed, so call ahead if that day is in your plan.
  • Later holidays: the visitor center also closes on Christmas Day, New Year's Day, and Washington's Birthday (February 15, 2027).
  • Mosquito season: the park says mosquitoes are out from mid-spring until mid-fall, so late October sits at the tail end of it. The park also asks you to check yourself and your pets for ticks after the more vegetated trails.

What this means for your trip

Water is the variable at Congaree, not a calendar. The current alerts are mostly about paddlers and backcountry hikers. If you're planning the boardwalk and a short walk from the visitor center, nothing on the list gets in your way unless the river is up. Look at the two gauges the night before. If either is near flood stage, call the visitor center before you drive out, because a flooded boardwalk changes the whole day.

Paddlers on Cedar Creek should plan for portages between Bannister's Bridge and South Cedar Creek and budget extra time for them. Hikers heading past the boardwalk onto Oakridge, Boggy Gut, or Kingsnake should carry a GPS track and a map. The park lists a map on the NPS app as well as the paper trail guides. Hunting happens on private land next to the park, so stay inside the boundary, where it isn't allowed.

Two smaller things. Dogs are welcome on all of Congaree's trails on a leash, which makes it one of the friendlier parks for a dog walk. And if you're coming without your own car, sort out the ride back before you're dropped off, not after.

Before you go

  • Check the park's current conditions and alerts, including the Cedar Creek and Congaree River gauges and the river forecast linked there.
  • Reserve a campsite in advance on Recreation.gov. Neither campground takes payment on site.
  • Bring water for yourself and any pets, plus insect repellent.

If a closure or a flood knocks out part of your plan, my guide to Congaree National Park has nine one- to three-day itineraries at easy, moderate, and strenuous effort, each with a backup plan for weather or closures. You can also check alerts and conditions for every national park.

This page is independent and not affiliated with or endorsed by the National Park Service. Always check the park's current alerts before you go.