The air was muggy as I leaned against the railing overlooking the small lake in Congaree National Park. Below I could see long, needle nosed fish. Were those gar? Two turtles swam nearby, looking for bugs. In the distance, beneath the overhang of cypress and tupelo trees, two alligators glided slowly parallel to the shore. The quiet was suddenly broken by a tap-tap-tap on the wooden pier. A large dog, a horse, really, bounded up to me. His owner made enthusiastic introductions to the Hamlet, Great Dane mix.
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DOG-FRIENDLY CONGAREE NATIONAL PARK
Did I really just meet a dog on a trail in a national park? It’s true – and it’s allowed! Congaree National Park is one of the most dog-friendly national parks in the country. Dogs are allowed on all trails within the park. You read that correctly – ALL trails! (for now – see addendum at the bottom).
Typically in a national park, dogs are allowed on paved roads, most campgrounds, and parking lots. Some parks, like Lassen Volcanic NP, allow dogs on the main road after it’s plowed, but before it opens to vehicles. Some parks like Redwoods State and National Parks and North Cascades/Ross Lake NRA/Lake Chelan NRA, allow dogs on many trails because the land is in state parks or national forests, not national park land.
In contrast, Congaree NP has allowed dogs on all of its trails since 2012 – both the boardwalk and “wilderness” trails. If I were to guess why, it’s because there are not the same types of apex predators like bears that you find in most wild national parks. Although CNP does have feral pigs and snakes, so be alert if you are active in the evenings in the park. I would also advise to keep your pup out of the water though – the lakes have alligators and the creeks have water moccasins and snapping turtles.
What about other National Parks that are dog-friendly?
I rated Congaree National Park 10/10 in dog-friendliness. I compiled a guide of the top 10 dog-friendly national parks, according to me, Ruby, and the googs. Check it out to see if there are other national parks for your dog to visit.
HOW TO BRING YOUR DOG TO CONGAREE NP
To bring your dog to Congaree, visitors should follow certain safety rules, as outlined by the NPS. Your dog must be kept on a leash at all times, with a maximum length of 6′. Your pet must not be left unattended and you should, of course, pick up after your pet. You should also make sure to have plenty of water for your pet. South Carolina can get very hot and humid in the summer, so plan on bringing a portable water bowl and water. The visitor center does have water bottle fillers.
While I did not bring my trusty pup to Congaree (that’s a long flight for an ornery pup), I met lots of nice dogs on the trail, including Hamlet, Hardy, and four dogs traveling together: Kia, Carey, Red and Izzy. I can see how dog-friendly the park is. The park trails are very flat and well kept, making it easy to walk without getting tangled in the brush.
Four good dog-friendly trails in Congaree
- Boardwalk Loop Trail: 2.6 mile trail made out of decking material. Very flat and accessible. Narrow at times. If you have a reactive dog, this may not be the trail for you.
- Sims (#2) Trail: 3.2 mile packed dirt trail. Very flat, connects to the Boardwalk and Weston Lake trail. This was very peaceful.
- Weston Lake (#3) Trail: 4.5 mile trail along Cedar Creek. Slightly harder trail that goes through the tupelo and cypress trees along the lake. The lake does have alligators and poisonous snakes, but as far as we walked it, you never get really close to the banks of the creek.
- Kingsnake Trail (#6) Trail: 12 miles. The entrance to this is farther down at the Cedar Creek canoe/kayak launch. For this reason, there are fewer people on this trail, making it better for dogs. You could easily shorten this trail to any length by making it an out and back.
While the Boardwalk trail is very popular, it does narrrow down at points, making it difficult to get around strollers or groups if it is crowded. Many of the other trails are far less crowded and thus calmer if you have a reactive dog. If you are looking for a quiet trail, the Sims Trail was flat and very quiet and joins Weston Lake Trail for a nice long walk. If you drive to the other edge of the park by the canoe launch, the Kingsnake trail is very long but not as popular.
Be aware that Congaree National Park is in a floodplain, so some trails may not be accessible or dry year-round. Always check the NPS Trails website for current conditions.
WHERE TO STAY WITH YOUR DOG NEAR CONGAREE
You could camp in Congaree (campgrounds are dog-friendly, too!), but my dog prefers a soft bed just as much as I do. If that’s the case, you are likely staying in Columbia, South Carolina, a thirty minute drive away. The Graduate Hotel looks adorable, is close to University of South Carolina, and has a $35 pet fee. This very cute VRBO has a $50 pet fee and a backyard (affiliate links). Glampers can stay at this adorable glamping trailer for under $100 a night! I’m a Bonvoy gal myself, but the Marriott’s in the city were not pet-friendly. :-/
While in Columbia, my sister and I walked through the Saturday morning Soda City market. There were dogs all over, but it seemed very chaotic for dogs. As a responsible dog owner, make the right decision for your pup to go or skip the crowded market. Instead, maybe check out Publico Kitchen & Tap, which has a menu just for doggos!
UPDATE:
As I was editing and updating this post to publish, I noticed on the Congaree NPS site that they are requesting public comment on changing the dog-friendly policy. Apparently, not all doggo owners are considerate doggo owners, and people are allowing their dogs off-leash on the sometimes crowded Boardwalk Loop Trail. Some owners also do not pick up after their dogs. The proposed policy change has four options, from prohibiting dogs entirely on the boardwalk (the most popular trail), to restricted days or times to allow dogs. The comment period ended May 21, 2023.
Read more on how dog-friendly Congaree National Park is:
- Congaree National Park dog-friendly safety policies
- List of trails at Congaree NP, all are dog-friendly but the Boardwalk may be crowded
- Outside Magazine’s dog-friendly national parks in each region
- Park Ranger John’s Epic guide to Congaree National Park
- List of dog-friendly places in Columbia, SC
- My quick trip report on Congaree from May, 2023
If you’re interested in reading more about Trusty Pup’s adventures:
- Trusty Pup’s adventures in the Redwoods
- Trusty Pup’s adventures at Oregon Caves
- How I planned a two-week digital nomad trip with my dog
- Top Ten Dog-Friendly National Parks
[…] pet and wildlife safety. Congaree does allow dogs, and even has a BARK Ranger program and mascot. I wrote in depth on how Congaree is dog friendly a few weeks ago. It’s worth reading for the cute doggo pictures […]