Start of the Kingsnake Trail in Congaree National Park

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See the Hiking Trails web page for a trail map, tips on hiking in Congaree National Park, and a link to reviews of the other trails in the park.

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Length:  3.75 miles, one way
Time: 2 hours (one way)
Difficulty: Easy

The Kingsnake Trail is the least popular hiking trail in Congaree National Park. Per a 2011 survey, only about two percent of visitors hike it. However, I don’t believe this has anything to do with the quality of the trail, as all the trails in the park are pretty much the same. It is simply because it is not easily accessed from the Harry Hampton Visitor Center or the trails that start at the Visitor Center. The trailhead for the Kingsnake Trail is at the South Cedar Creek Canoe Launch, which is about a fifteen minute drive from the Visitor Center.

Kingsnake Trail Map (click to enlarge)

The National Park Service rates trails at Congaree National Park as EASY, MODERATE, and DIFFICULT. However, these ratings have nothing to do with how much huffing and puffing you’ll be doing, which is typically how trail difficulty is rated. All of the trails in the park cover flat terrain and are easy to hike, cardovascular-wise. What the National Park Service is referring to is how difficult it is to navigate the trails due to downed trees, mud holes, and other obstacles. EASY means the trail is well maintained while DIFFICULT means there may be a lot of obstacles, and you’ll need more navigational sense to find your way. The Kingsnake Trail gets a DIFFICULT rating, but I found it to be as easy as any other trail in the park, at least during the dry season. Yes, there are some trees down and an overgrown section, but that’s just part of hiking.

Other than the River Trail, I found all trails in the park easy to navigate despite any obstacles in the way. If you do find yourself confused or lost, be on the lookout for blazes, which are markers on trees that serve as Hansel and Gretel breadcrumbs. At Congaree National Park, blazes are white placards with numbers on them that correspond to the various trails. The Kingsnake Trail is #6. If you get lost, look around for a blaze. And if you don’t have a GPS unit, be sure to at least bring a trail map with you (available in the Visitor Center).

#6 blaze marks the route of the Kingsnake Trail in Congaree National Park

I did the hike in mid-October during a rainstorm, believe it or not. Once the rain ended, I noticed that the mosquitoes came out, though not in force. I encountered mosquitoes on all the trails in Congaree National Park, but never was I bothered enough by them to apply insect repellent. As long as I kept moving I was OK, but the minute I stopped to take a photo they found me quite quickly. I can say for sure that I would not want to be hiking anywhere in the park during the summer, not only due to bugs but also because of the heat. Late October through March is definitely the best time to visit, provided the place isn’t flooded.

From the parking lot of the South Cedar Creek Canoe Launch, follow the wide path down to the launch and continue past it, over the footbridge. The official start of the Kingsnake Trail is on the other side of the bridge.

Path from the parking lot to the South Cedar Creek Canoe Launch in Congaree National Park

Cedar Creek in Congaree National Park

The hike begins on a narrow trail through a swampy area. It is a little overgrown at the start, but not bad considering that very few people hike the trail. The more hikers, the more the brush gets trampled and beaten back from the path.

Typical terrain at the start of the Kingsnake Trail in Congaree National Park

A third of a mile down the trail is a bridge over a body of water nearly as wide as Cedar Creek, but the Kingsnake Trail never comes close to the creek in this area, other than at the canoe launch. While I can’t find this on a map and have no idea of its name, this is a gut. Guts are gullies that fill with water whenever the Congaree River floods, which on average happens about ten times a year from late winter through early spring. The water is not stagnate, but it doesn’t move fast either.

First bridge on the Kingsnake Trail in Congaree National Park

Water-filled gut a third of a mile from the start of the Kingsnake Trail in Congaree National Park

For the first mile, the Kingsnake Trail is as straight as an arrow. After the bridge, the vegetation is much more tame, and the trail is a pleasure to hike. No need for a DIFFICULT rating, that’s for sure.

Typical terrain on the Kingsnake Trail south of the first bridge, Congaree National Park

The first destination, per the trail map, is Bridge K (major bridges are identified by a letter). There are some bridges prior to K—three in fact—and all pass over guts that are not on any maps. The third bridge, which comes around the .75-mile point on the hike, crosses a gut that is quite scenic.

Water-filled gut .75 mile from the start of the Kingsnake Trail in Congaree National Park

Bridge K comes 1.3 mile from the start. It passes over a body of water that is on the map, Big Snake Slough. A slough (pronounced slew) is a shallow, swamp-like body of water that appears to be stagnant but actually flows slowly over time. A perfect example is the Shark Valley area of the Everglades, a wetland of grass that most people associate with airboats. Sloughs are similar to guts, but they are more pond- or lake-like, while guts look more like creeks.

Bridge K on the Kingsnake Trail in Congaree National Park

The Kingsnake Trail in Congaree National Park crosses Big Snake Slough

Big Snake Slough is a great place to see both cypress and tupelo trees. Bald cypress tend to dominate the wet areas along the other trails in the park, but here there are plenty of tupelos as well. Both grow in waterlogged soil and are characterized by swollen bases that look like bellbottom pants, which give the trees a broader footprint needed to stabilize them in the wet soil. To tell the two apart, look at the bases. Tupelos are smooth while the cypress bases are rough looking, as if somebody took a pilar of clay and raked their fingers down it. Furthermore, cypress roots stick out of the ground like straws or periscopes near the base of the trees. Such roots are called cypress knees.

Tupelo and bald cypress trees in Big Snake Slough, Congaree National Park

It is a half mile between Bridge K and J. This segment of the Kingsnake Trail follows Big Snake Slough, though it is often too far away to see. The trail itself continues as a narrow path, and some areas are pretty overgrown—bushwhacking overgrown—with what looks like baby river cane (I believe it is switch cane). For much of the way I couldn’t even see a trail, and only the #6 blazes kept me on the right path. Whenever I see excessive vegetation like this I immediately begin thinking about ticks, but I didn’t pick up any on this trail or any others in Congaree National Park. However, they are a known nuisance, so be sure to check yourself for the pests on a regular basis.

Kingsnake Trail follows Big Snake Slough at its southern end, Congaree National Park

Typical overgrown terrain on the Kingsnake Trail between Bridges K and J, Congaree National Park

There were also a couple of large trees down when I did the hike, but these may well be removed by the time you visit. However, Rangers don’t come back here that often to clear things. I’ve seen many trees down on the trails in the park with well-worn paths around them, evidence that they have been there a long time. Besides, even if a tree is cleared, there are bound to be others since they fall all the time. Expect these types of obstacles when hiking in perpetually wet areas.

Downed tree on the Kingsnake Trail is typical of trails in Congaree National Park

Bridge J also crosses over Big Snake Slough, and there are some more nice views of it.

Big Snake Slough at Bridge J on the Kingsnake Trail in Congaree National Park

At this point the Kingsnake Trail begins heading northwest. From here to the end of the trail, the terrain is much more open, and overgrown sections are few and far between. The only rough section, what might be DIFFICULT per the National Park Service definition, was the previous half mile between Bridge K and J.

Roughly .6 mile past Bridge J is a bridge over another gut (or slough) that is not on any map. Once again, you have a chance to view some beautiful scenery.

Cypress trees in a slough on the west side of the Kingsnake Trail in Congaree National Park

The Kingsnake Trail makes a sharp right just over the bridge and follows the gut for a short ways. It is now much easier to hike because it is now a former dirt road. There are still well-defined tire tracks worn into the earth.

Kingsnake Trail becomes an old road on its west side, Congaree National Park

At the three-mile point, the trail turns west and now runs along Cedar Creek, though most of the time it is too far away to see, or there is too much vegetation between the trail and the creek to get a good view. There are, however, a few spots where you are close enough to jump in.

View of Cedar Creek from the Kingsnake Trail in Congaree National Park

The Kingsnake Trail ends after 3.75 miles at the intersection with the Oakridge Trail just prior to Bridge I. At this point you can turn around and hike back the way you came. If you want a longer hike, tack on the Oakridge Trail before heading back. I was actually dropped off at the canoe launch and was hiking to the Visitor Center. If that’s your plan, do not turn onto the Oakridge Trail, but instead walk over the bridge to the Weston Lake Trail. That, combined with the Boardwalk Trail, will get you back to the Visitor Center in about two miles.

Typical terrain on the final leg of the Kingsnake Trail in Congaree National Park

End of the Kingsnake Trail at the intersection with the Oakridge Trail, Congaree National Park

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