Leave one car at 601 Landing (Bates Bridge). Start your trip at the Cayce Landing 47 miles upstream or Rosewood Landing (but not when USC has a home football game) about 48 miles upstream. There are no public landings between Cayce Landing and 601. There are alligators on the Congaree River, but I have seen only one in about 10 to 12 trips down the river. They shouldn't present a problem. If you do the trip from Columbia to 601 make sure you call Congaree National Park for a backcountry camping permit and have them mail you a Congaree Blue Trail map. The map is also available at River Runner Outdoor Center. Probably elsewhere. The river is usually not swift.
There is a boat ramp off of Rosewood Drive that would be a good pick up place if you could find a drop off up stream.
I'm not sure about that. But I have always seen that river moving. Actually it moves pretty good.
Parking spots aren't built around the river. The water isn't moving so it's more a lake.
I would recommend a kayak or canoe if you go to the park. The alligators are still active this time off year. A better option would be congaree creek heritage preserve or the upper/middle saluda river. Saluda is gator free with colder water and public accesses all over the place. Congaree creek may be a little over grown as I have not been in there in a while but the access is nice and you can paddle up stream and then back to the car without needing two vehicles. Alligators are present at congaree creek.
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