Trek Beneath the Trees
at Congaree National Park

October 12, 2024
Congaree National Park
Hopkins, South Carolina

IMPORTANT: Due to the regional impacts of Hurricane Helene, this hike has been cancelled.

Walk among giant hardwoods and towering loblolly pines standing over 130 ft tall, making this tree canopy one of the largest in the southeastern US…

Experience an ecosystem so unique and amazing it has been named a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve for its biodiversity…

Breathe in this flora and fauna sanctuary, home to a wide variety of animals and plants including 33 species of amphibians, 45 reptiles, 71 fish, 191 birds, 37 mammals, 328 terrestrial plants, 512 wetland plants, and 3 aquatic plants…

The hike will cover the 2.6 mile boardwalk loop plus some or all of the Weston Lake Trail (depending on desires of the group).

Meet new friends and enjoy the natural beauty of autumn in Congaree National Park, just 30 minutes from Columbia, and 2 hours from Charlotte and Charleston.

Registration Is Free

Instead of charging a fee, we ask your help raising funds for mental health research and trail maintenance.

It’s fast and easy! When you register, you will be able to personalize a sponsorship page and share it through email and your favorite social media such as Facebook or Instagram. How does it work?

Every little bit helps, and there is no minimum to raise – we just ask that you help us spread the word, then come join us on the trail.

Get a Free Hiking Shirt

Our quick-dry shirts look and feel great, on or off the trail.

Every registered hiker who raises at least $250 will receive a HIKE for Mental Health shirt as a token of our appreciation.

Available in men’s or women’s sizes SMALL – XXL.

When you register, we will ask your size preference. Once you reach $250 in donations to your fundraising page, we will get your shirt to you.

If you hit the $250 ten days before the hike, your hike leader will have your shirt for you on hike day. Otherwise, we will mail it to you after the hike.

So help us raise money and awareness for this great cause.

For a Good Cause

HIKE for Mental Health is an all-volunteer, 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization.

All contributions are tax deductible, and 100% of the hike donations support our mission.

Eighty cents of every dollar funds mental health programs, including break-through scientific research into PTSD, schizophrenia, bipolar spectrum disorders, depression and other major mental illnesses. Through research we can find better ways to alleviate the suffering that affects 1 in 4 American families.

The remaining twenty cents maintains wilderness trails across the U.S. By supporting non-profit, volunteer groups that care for our trails, we help preserve wilderness experiences for generations to come. Where the money goes.

Hike Details

Location:	Congaree National Park, Hopkins, SC
Date:	October 12, 2024.
Time:	Approximately 9 am – 12 pm. Exact times and locations with directions provided to registered hikers only.
Distance:	Approximately 5 miles.
Difficulty level:	Easy to moderate
Suitable for beginners?	Yes!
Registration fee	Registration is free, and there is no entry fee to enter the park.
Pet friendly?	Well-behaved dogs are welcome on a 6 ft lead.
Sponsorship amount:	The hike goal is $5,000. There is no minimum required to join the hike, but if every hiker raises $250 we will get very close to our goal.
Free shirt:	Hikers who raise $250 or more will receive a free HIKE for Mental Health quick-dry hiking shirt.
Hike director:	“Katherine Torbush is a hiking enthusiast who enjoys spending time outdoors and “”unplugging”” to enjoy the beauty of Nature around us. She participated in HIKE for Mental Health’s Summit Mt. Washington in 2019 and had a great time and met some wonderful people. Since then she has participated in Hike the Giant in CT, Carlsbad Caverns discovery, and led the Providence Canyon Hike last year. “I think bringing HIKE for Mental Health to SC would be wonderful and hopefully encourage more people to join! I chose this location for the hike because is is a new park to me but from those I know who have visited it is a hugely underrated park and quite enjoyable with a wide variety of plant and animal life making this a really peaceful hike.”

Trail Map

Every HIKE for Mental Health is an opportunity to:

get away from the hustle and bustle of work-a-day life and enjoy the beauty of Nature
renew old friendships and make new ones
have a great time hiking with a good group of people
stand up against the stigma of mental illness
discover your new favorite get-away
raise money for a great cause

Come on out and join us!