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Congaree Creek Heritage Preserve

SC PICTURE PROJECT 1 Comment

SC Picture Project / Lexington County / Congaree Creek Heritage Preserve

Congaree Creek Heritage Preserve is located in Cayce – just outside of Columbia – where it borders the Congaree River. Its 627 acres honor over 12,000 years of history. A portion of the historic Cherokee Trail still runs through the preserve. Both the creek and the river are named for the Congaree Indian tribe.

Congaree Creek

Miguel Vieira of Redwood City, CA, 2011 © Do Not Use Without Written Consent

The Cherokee Trail once led from the Appalachian Mountains to the East Coast. Archaeologists have found tools, pottery, and arrowheads in the Congaree Creek Heritage Preserve which that belonged to Native Americans who traveled on the path.

Congaree Creek

Miguel Vieira of Redwood City, CA, 2012 © Do Not Use Without Written Consent

On certain days, during the winter months, visitors are treated to one of nature’s brilliant displays. The normally dark and murky waters of the swamps here are turned into a spectacular display of vibrant colors creating what some have dubbed as rainbow swamp as seen in the photos above and below. Experts have said that this phenomenon occurs when the leaves of bald cypress tress drop into the water, as they begin to decompose, they create a film on the surface of the water, once the sunlight hits the water at the right angle, the rainbow effect occurs. Coupled with the reflections of the trees and sunlight, it is quite a breathtaking sight.

Congaree Swamp Rainbow Effect

Sarah Holcomb of Irmo, 2018 © Do Not Use Without Written Consent

There is a three-mile hiking loop at the park where you can enjoy a variety of flora and fauna. The Guignard Brickworks Trail runs through part of the preserve. Designated a Millennium Trail, it celebrates the past and the future through natural settings.

Congaree Creek Trail

Miguel Vieira of Redwood City, CA, 2012 © Do Not Use Without Written Consent

If you would like to expand your adventure, visit Congaree National Park – the first national park in South Carolina. Close to the preserve, the park is a great place to paddle, tube, or fish.

Plan Your Trip: Congaree Creek Heritage Preserve

Where is Congaree Creek Heritage Preserve located?
Address: Old State Road, Cayce, SC 29033
GPS Coordinates: 33.942689,-81.032451
Website: https://www2.dnr.sc.gov/ManagedLands/ManagedLand/ManagedLand/30
What else should I see?
USC Cockaboose 3.5 miles
SC State Fair 4 miles
Cayce Historical Museum 4.4 miles
Olympia and Granby Mills 4.5 miles
Show me more like this!
  • Cayce Historic Sites
  • See other South Carolina Forests and Nature Preserves
  • See other South Carolina Parks
  • See other South Carolina Rivers
    Congaree Creek Heritage Preserve Map

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    Comments

    1. Naomi Hamm says

      August 24, 2010 at 1:31 PM

      So tranquil done up in autumnal hues of brown and yellow-golden.

      Reply

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