The Beach: 17 Miles of Wild Shore

Cumberland Island has one of the wildest beaches on the East Coast — 17 miles of undeveloped Atlantic shore with no boardwalk, no vendors, and, most days, almost no one. It's the kind of beach that's nearly impossible to find anymore.

Miles of Empty Sand

The island's entire Atlantic side is one long, wild beach — 17 miles of dunes, shells, and surf backed by nothing but sea oats and forest. With only about 300 people allowed on the island at a time and no development, you can walk for an hour and see no one. Bring water and sun cover; there's no shade and no services out here.

Sea Turtles

In summer, loggerhead sea turtles come ashore to nest along these beaches, and their tracks and marked nests are a common sight. Give nests a wide berth, and if you're camping, keep lights low at night — artificial light disorients hatchlings. The park protects the nesting beaches carefully.

Shelling & Wildlife

The undisturbed shore is excellent for shelling, and the beach and dunes teem with life — shorebirds, ghost crabs, dolphins offshore, and the wild horses that wander down onto the sand. It's a naturalist's beach, not a party beach, and that's exactly its appeal.

Getting to the Sand

From the Sea Camp dock, a short boardwalk trail leads through the dunes to the beach — the easy access point for a day trip. Farther north, the beach grows wilder and emptier still; reaching those stretches takes a bike, a long walk, or an overnight camp.