Cumberland Island Wilderness

Managed by the National Park Service, Cumberland Island Wilderness protects sparkling white beaches and sand dunes, freshwater lakes, and saltwater marshes. It is Georgia's largest and southernmost barrier against seaborne storms. The island measures about 16 miles in length and 3 miles at its widest, with approximately 1 mile of water and marshland separating it from the mainland. A maritime forest is the centerpiece of the island, providing shade for the deer that attract hunters during six managed hunts. When the hunters appear — usually a few days every month from November through February — visitation and camping are restricted on parts of the island. The first-rate surf fishing attracts another kind of hunter; a Georgia fishing license is required. The northern portion of the island has been designated Wilderness, starting approximately four miles north of the ferry dock, and you have to take a passenger ferry to get here from the mainland. Attractions include the ruins of Thomas Carnegie's Dungeness Mansion, built in the late 1800s, a short walk from the ferry dock on the southern end of the island. For most of the year, insect repellent is strongly recommended for campers. Beach access is allowed only at designated dune crossings. Alligators, loggerhead turtles, and pelicans live on the beaches.