one day
Commitment
intermediate
Fitness level
st. marys
Location
What to Expect
Join the Georgia Conservancy for a fun-filled day of hiking, exploration, and learning on Cumberland Island National Seashore.
This day hike will include a tour of the island’s South End, including the Sea Camp Campground, the beach, the Dungeness Historic District, and the River Trail. Expect to hike about 5 miles, with plenty of opportunities to stop, rest, and learn about the island’s ecology and natural and human history. The trip will be guided by Georgia Conservancy staff and a coastal naturalist.
Our group will depart St. Marys on the 9 AM ferry and return on the 4:45 ferry. Please join us for a happy hour at one of St. Marys’ downtown restaurants following the hike and ferry trip.
Cumberland Island is one of Georgia’s greatest natural treasures and it holds an important place at the Conservancy. In 1972, through the advocacy of the Georgia Conservancy and other conservation-focused organizations and citizens, Cumberland was established as a National Seashore, providing for the protection of the island’s upland maritime forests, saltwater marsh and 17 miles of beach.
The preservation of the Cumberland Island National Seashore remains a focus of the Georgia Conservancy in all of our programmatic areas. In addition to our advocacy efforts on the island, our Stewardship Trips Program often takes dozens of volunteers to the island to perform service work at Cumberland’s historic structures, remote backcountry trails, and deserted beaches.
Our history and connection with Cumberland Island was the inspiration of our 2015 / 2016 Cumberland Island Trail Restoration Project, an 8-month long trail restoration, GPS mapping and trail signage endeavor led by the Georgia Conservancy and sponsored by REI’s Every Trail Connects campaign. Learn more about the project and purchase your very own Georgia Conservancy Cumberland Island Trail Map!
The Schedule
Saturday morning: Welcome To St. Marys
Meet Georgia Conservancy staff at the Cumberland Island Mainland Visitors Center in St. Marys no later than 8:30 AM.
The ferry ride to Cumberland Island will take 45 minutes.
Saturday: Welcome to Cumberland Island
After departing the ferry we will gather for a brief welcome and orientation. From there we will begin our hike and exploration of Cumberland Island starting on the River Trail to the Sea Camp Dock and Campground. From there we will hike along the beach to the Dungeness Historic District, stopping along the way to refuel and learn about our surroundings. After a tour of the Dungeness ruins and grounds, we will return to the dock for our afternoon departure, arriving back in St. Marys around 5:30.
Saturday evening: St. Marys Happy Hour
After we return to St. Marys, please join the Georgia Conservancy for a Happy Hour and discussion of our conservation efforts in and around St. Marys. Location TBD.
Plan your trip
The Details
Arrival Time
Please arrive at the Cumberland Island Mainland Visitors Center in St. Marys no later than 8:30 AM on Saturday, March 7.
Look for Georgia Conservancy staff to get you signed in.
What Should I Pack?
Please bring water, a reusable water bottle, lunch, snacks, appropriate hiking shoes (close-toed), weather-appropriate clothes, sunscreen, bug spray, and a sense of adventure.
Optional: binoculars.
Is This Family Friendly?
This is an intermediate fitness level trip, so while we welcome families with kids, young children (6 and under) don’t do well.
How Long Is The Hike?
The hike will be approximately 5 to 6 miles long, following easy terrain including both loose and hard-packed sand. We will have numerous breaks throughout the day.
Register For This Trip
*Registration opens on December 8 at 5 PM. Limited spots available.
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