Champion Tree Trail

This out-and-back ramble through Congaree's old-growth bottomland hardwood forest is about as flat as hiking gets — the elevation change is barely noticeable, like walking from one end of a parking garage to the other. But the scenery is anything but ordinary. The trail threads through a cathedral of loblolly pines, bald cypresses, and hardwoods so massive they've earned national champion status — some of these trees were saplings when the Constitution was signed. The canopy towers over 130 feet in places, blocking out most sunlight and creating an almost primeval atmosphere. The boardwalk sections keep you above the swampy forest floor, though expect some muddy stretches on the ground-level portions. The payoff is standing next to trees with trunks wider than your car, understanding viscerally why this place is called the tallest deciduous forest in North America. Ideal for nature lovers who want old-growth grandeur without old-growth suffering.