Oakridge Trail

The Oakridge Trail takes you deep into Congaree's legendary old-growth bottomland hardwood forest — the tallest deciduous canopy in the eastern United States. You'll follow a subtle ridge line where massive loblolly pines and cherrybark oaks tower overhead, their canopy so thick it feels like walking through a green cathedral even at midday. The trail dips in and out of low-lying sloughs where standing water collects, creating prime habitat for barred owls, deer, and the occasional river otter. At seven miles roundtrip with a strenuous rating, this isn't the casual boardwalk stroll most visitors expect from Congaree — the terrain is rooty, often muddy, and genuinely remote-feeling despite being minutes from Columbia. This trail rewards hikers who want to experience the park the way it was meant to be experienced: quiet, wild, and utterly unlike anywhere else east of the Mississippi.