South Carolina has five flooded forests that offer amazing firsthand experiences that include hiking and paddling. If you’ve never experienced a cypress swamp, then seeing one of these in person is one adventure you’ll want to take. From cypress trees standing in lake beds, to a blackwater shady swamp, a variety of different swamps are right here in the Palmetto State just waiting for you to explore.
The north end of Lake Marion is home to a stand of cypress trees that are otherworldly gorgeous. Stranded in the standing water when this reservoir was first flooded, they represent both nature and progress. Less than a decade ago, water levels were down for a while and the trees were stranded yet again. If you'd like to launch your canoe or kayak to access Sparkleberry Swamp, then this website has a list of locations.
Cypress Gardens in Moncks Corner was a long-standing favorite among visitors and locals alike. The nature attraction offered 3.5 miles of walking trails that included a striking cypress swamp. The swamp is still there, but unfortunately, the devastating floods that ravaged the Lowcountry and the state of South Carolina in the fall of 2015 have closed the attraction and access to this amazing cypress swamp indefinitely while they recover. If you'd like to periodically check their website for the status of their recovery, or you'd like to donate, then here's a link.
Four Holes Swamp is located in the Francis Biedler National Forest. Here, you'll find decking trails through the swamp that make exploration super easy and fun. The blackwater swamp is home to stands of bald cypress and tupelo gum. More information, including the location, can be found here.
Located where the North Santee River meets Lake Marion, Stumphole Swamp is less dense and easier to navigate in a small craft than its sister Lake Marion swamp, Sparkleberry. This gorgeous cypress paradise can be toured on your own, or you can call on a local tour company, Blueway Adventures, LLC to be your guide.
In this national park in South Carolina, you can stroll along raised walkways through the largest tract of old growth bottomland hardwoods that exists in the U.S. Some of these trees are massive with a circumference of more than 25 feet! Congaree National Park is located at 100 National Park Rd, Hopkins, SC 29061. More information here.
Have you explored any of these beautiful cypress swamps in South Carolina? We’d love to hear your stories and see your photos in our comments on Facebook!
