Dining Places Slideshow

	As reported at: Saint Marys, GA (31558) | Condition: Mostly Cloudy Current Temperature: 59ºF | Feels like: 59ºF

Forests so quiet that you can hear yourself breathe, sunlight filtered and diffused through overarching trees and vines, sounds of small animals scurrying in the underbrush, the gentle splash of water moving through the salt marsh, the courting bellow of the alligator, blinding light on water and sand as you emerge from the shadows of the live oak forest, a standing row of slave cabin chimneys, fallow gardens, and crumbling walls of mansions from bygone eras. This is Cumberland Island, Georgia's largest and southernmost barrier island and today a national seashore.

For thousands of years people have lived on Cumberland, but never in such numbers as to permanently alter the character of the landscape. An occasional pot shard indicates that Spanish soldier and missionaries were here in the mid- 1500s. No signs remain of Fort William and Fort St. Andrews, built to protect British interests. Revolutionary War hero Gen. Nathanael Greene purchased land on Cumberland Island in 1783. His widow, Catherine Greene, constructed a four-story tabby home that she named Dungeness. In the 1890s, the Settlement was established for the black workers. The First African Baptist Church, established in 1893 and rebuilt in the 1930s in one of the few remaining structures of the community. Thomas Carnegie, brother and partner of steel magnate Andrew Carnegie, began building, with his wife Lucy, on Dungeness' foundations in 1884. The ruins of the mansion remain here today. Plum Orchard, an 1898 Georgian Revival-style mansion built for son, Georgia, and his wife, Margaret Thaw, was donated to the National Park Foundation by Carnegie family members in 1971. Their contribution, as well as funds from supporting foundations, helped win Congressional approval for establishing Cumberland Island National Seashore.

Links:
Cumberland Island Nationsl Seashore (National Park Sevice)
Saint Marys Tourism - Cumberland Island

Information below is taken from a brochure from the Cumberland Island National Seashore.

Information for Backpackers

Cumberland Island National Seashore has four primitive camping areas, three of which are located within a National Wilderness Area. Reservations are required for both camping and space on the tour boat (both arrival and departure times).

Stafford Beach (Nonwilderness)

Located 3.5 miles north of Sea Camp. Suggested for novice backpackers and those wanting easy access to island beaches. Safety and emergency procedures, regulations and facilities are the same as wilderness sites.

Wilderness Camping

Wilderness camping on Cumberland Island is permitted at three designated locations: Hickory Hill, Yankee Paradise, and Brickhill Bluff. The Wilderness Area begins 4 miles north of Sea Camp dock. Distances from the dock to the campsites are 5.5, 7.4 and 10.6 miles. Camping permits are required and are issued only at the Sea Camp Visitor Center. Campsites are assigned once you reach the island and no more than 20 campers are allowed at any one campsite. Be prepared to hike! The southern most campsites fill fast, so you may have to backpack the full 10.6 miles.

Safety and Emergency Procedures

Use Common Sense - Most accidents occur because of carelessness.In An Emergency - Keep Calm. If you or a member of your party are injured or sick, hike to the main road. Proceed along the road to either Plum Orchard Mansion or the Sea Camp Visitor Center. Emergency radios are located at the rear (west side) of Plum Orchard and between the restroom doors at the Visitor Center. Don't "Cry Wolf!" These radios are for emergency use only!Heat and Humidity - During warm weather, be reasonable in your hiking plans. Heat exhaustion is the most common first aid problem on the island.Take Care of Your Feet - Use good quality lightweight hiking shoes or boots. Change socks frequently. Do not hike on the beach barefooted. The additional weight of the backpack will cause bruised soles and wear the skin off your feet.

Regulations

To help assure the preservation of park resources, the following regulations are strictly enforced:

Fires Are Not Permitted - Fire rings scar the land and take years to heal. Fires can also get out of control very quickly and destroy hundreds of acres. Report all illegal fires!Pack Out Trash - Do not burn or bury trash. Raccoons will dig up and scatter buried litter.Sanitation - There are no restrooms. Bury body waste in top six inches of soil. Never deposit waste or bathe within fifty yards of your water source.Protect Park Resources - All historical, archeological and natural features are protected. Antique and artifact hunting is not allowed. Do not pick or cut vegetation. The feeding or capturing of wildlife is prohibited.Stay Out of Sand Dunes - Use only designated dune crossings. Walking on the dunes destroys vegetation and causes erosion. Dune areas also provide nesting habitat for sea turtles and several kinds of shore birds. Some of these animals are endangered and penalties for disturbing them are severe.Respect Private Property - Travel through private land is permitted only on the Main Road, designated trails and on the beach, below the mean tide line. Do not trespass.

What to Bring

Wilderness camping on Cumberland requires preplanning. Essential equipment includes insect repellent, first aid kits and flashlights. Also, remember to bring a camp stove. Drinking water must be boiled or treated. Packs and litter bags must be suspended from trees so rope is required.

Remember to pack light! Unnecessary weight becomes a burden on a long hike. Plan ahead!

Cumberland Island National Seashore
P.O. Box 806
St. Marys, Georgia 31558
Voice: (912) 882-4335
Fax: (912) 673-7747