Sims 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:  1.1 mile (one way)
Time:  45 minutes (from Visitor Center on the Firefly Trail)
Difficulty:  Easy

The Sims Trail is used to reach the Weston Lake Trail, the River Trail, and the Oakridge Trail at the southern end of Congaree National Park. To get to it, you must first hike a quarter mile from the Harry Hampton Visitor Center on the Firefly Trail, which begins at the back of the building. Take the stairs down from the deck to the Firefly Trail and make a left. When it seems to dead end at the Boardwalk Trail—it actually merges with it for a short distance—make another left. The intersection with the Sims Trail is a stone’s throw away at a gap in the boardwalk. Directional signage is at the intersection.

Firefly Trail merges with the Boardwalk Trail east of the Congaree National Park Visitor Center

Intersection of the Boardwalk and Sims trails, Congaree National Park

With the terrain at Congaree National Park being swampy, encounters with mosquitos should be expected, even to some extent in the cooler months. I hiked every trail in the park in mid-October, and oddly enough, the Sims Trail was the only one where I consistently had to deal with mosquitoes. I hiked it numerous times to get to the various trails, and there were always mosquitoes waiting for me, despite the trail appearing to be no more or no less swampy than any of the others. As long as I kept walking they didn’t bother me, but as soon as I stopped to take a photo, it didn’t take long for them to find me.

The Sims Trail in Congaree National Park runs through swampy terrain

The Sims Trail is nothing but an old road, so it is wide, has a fairly smooth surface, and is easy to hike. It runs down the middle of the Boardwalk Trail loop, intersecting with it at the northeastern end (where it starts) and at the center of the southern end. The stretch of trail between the two intersections is .6 mile.

Typical terrain along the Sims Trail in Congaree National Park

Intersection of the Sims Trail and the southern end of the Boardwalk Trail in Congaree National Park

A mile and a quarter from the start is the intersection with the Weston Lake Trail. The Sims Trail continues straight ahead over a footbridge that spans Cedar Creek. The trail crossed a smaller waterway a little earlier known as the Tennessee Gut. If you are thinking about paddling on Cedar Creek, don’t be alarmed. The Tennessee Gut, which is obviously not navigable, is not what you will be paddling on.

Intersection of the Sims and Weston Lake trails in Congaree National Park

View of Cedar Creek from the Sims Trail, Congaree National Park

The Sims Trail ends just over the bridge at the intersection with the Oakridge Trail, 1.1 mile from the start (not counting the walk on the Firefly Trail). There is also a side trail to Wise Lake. Both of these are much narrower, traditional hiking trails. If your destination is the River Trail, it begins a half mile down the Oakridge Trail.

Start of the Oakridge Trail at the intersection with the Sims Trail, Congaree National Park

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