Cumberland Island Backpacking Adventure

What could be better than camping, hiking, exploring and having a beach? If you can’t think of anything, then you should come join us on a backpacking adventure to Cumberland Island.

Cumberland Island is the south most barrier island in Georgia. On the island we will have the opportunity to see such wild life as feral horses, armadillos, wild turkeys, deer, wild pigs, snakes and possibly alligators.

Below is our tentative itinerary. Backcountry campsites are assigned upon arrival.

Our adventure will begin from the dock at St. Marys. We need to meet here by 8:15 AM, so we can make sure we have everyone and also to load our backpacks onto the ferry boat. After hearing the initial “do's and don’ts” from the ranger, the ferry will takes us over to Cumberland Island. The ferry boat ride is about 45 minutes. After a short orientation and camp assignment at the Ranger Station, we will begin our 3.5 "ish" mile hike to what will be known as our base camp, Stafford Beach Campsite. There are bathroom facilities at Stafford and cold running showers (rumored to be warm at times), but keep in mind it is sulfur water. Here we will set up tents, possibly eat lunch and take a hike somewhere fun, maybe super secret Shark's Teeth Location.

Saturday, we'll wake up early morning and the group will start our 14 "ish" mile day by first journeying to the northern end of the Island to see the First African Baptist church, which was established in 1893 and rebuilt in the 1930's. This was also the wedding site for JFK Jr. and Carolyn Bessette. After visiting, we will either go further north to the top of the island or head back to Stafford Beach Campsite, depending on group preference. Depending on time, we may have to kick up the pace to arrive before nightfall. Once we arrive we can eat dinner, play on the beach and stargaze at night. Feel free to bring the telescope, but remember you have to carry the weight since this is a backpacking trip.

Sunday we will hike approximately 5 "ish" miles to Plum Orchard (Don't forget there is another 5 "ish" to get back). If we arrive in time, we can take the tour of the Plum Orchard mansion with the ranger. After the tour, we can explore trails around Plum Orchard and then head back to our campsite at Stafford Beach.

On Monday morning after breakfast and breaking camp, our journey will take us down to the Dungeness ruins to explore and have lunch. Along the way we can drop backpacks/gear at the ranger station to lighten our load. Our ferry will leave for St. Mary's at 4:45 pm on Monday putting us back to St. Mary's around 5:30 and then we'll carpool it back to Atlanta.

Total Hiking Miles roughly 40 "ish" miles, but remember this is a rough estimate.

Please make sure that you in good physical condition because we'll be hiking long distances each day.
The hiking terrain is flat.

If you want to see a map of Cumberland Island,please click here: MAP

Some basics on backcounty camping at Cumberland Island

• Head southeast on I-75 S (93.2 mi)
• Take exit 165 on the left for I-16 E/Jim L Gillis Hwy toward Savannah (0.5 mi)
• Merge onto I-16 E (156 mi)
• Take exit 157A to merge onto I-95 S toward Brunswick/Jacksonville (97.6 mi)
• Take exit 1 for St Marys Rd (0.3 mi)
• Turn left at St Marys Rd (3.3 mi)
• Take the ramp to Cumberland Island/St Marys (0.3 mi)
• Turn left at GA-40 (5.0 mi)
• Turn right at St Marys St and we'll park down in a parking lot on the right