Last updated: April 18, 2022
Thing to Do
Plan a Backpacking Trip
NPS Photo/Stella Carroll
Cumberland Island is a large island, and one of the best ways to explore the extensive trail system and unique spots on the northend is to backpack. An overnight backpacking trip on Cumberland Island can be a magical experience, or it can be an unpleasant, bug infested slog. It depends on how you prepare and when you choose to come. This guide is designed to provide a few basic tips on how to plan the best backpacking experience for your trip to Cumberland. For more info visit our camping webpage or call (912) 882-4336 ext 254.
Know before you go
Cumberland Island has several different campgrounds, each with varying amenities that are available. Sea Camp is the most developed, with fire rings, treated drinking water, a bath house, and food storage lockers. Stafford is semi-developed with fire rings, bathrooms, and food lockers. The water at Stafford is potable. All gear must be backpacked in, no carts or wheeled coolers are allowed. The three wilderness sites (Hickory Hill, Yankee Paradise, and Brickhill Bluff are primitive and have no treated water, no bathroom facilities, and fires are not allowed. All gear must be packed in.
More details about these sites are available on the park’s camping webpage.
Time of year
Many people have time off during the summer and a trip to the beach is a typical summer vacation. However, summer is not necessarily the best time to backpack on Cumberland Island. Temperatures in the summer can easily reach over 100 degrees, especially when factoring in the humidity. High heat can cause backpackers to tire quickly, dehydrate, and face possible heat related illness. Taking frequent breaks and drinking plenty of fluids are vital in the summer months.
The summer also brings out the bugs. Not only are mosquitos and biting flies more prevalent in the summer months, ticks are a constant nuisance. Ticks can be abundant along trails and in wilderness campgrounds during the summer. If you happen to kick a nest while hiking, you could find hundreds of tiny ticks climbing your leg. Use bug spray, wear pants tucked into socks, and bring tweezers and a roll of masking tape to blot the ticks off.
Fall, winter and spring typically have better weather, less bugs, and are more suitable to long hikes on Cumberland Island. If you do plan on coming in the summer, try to break up your hikes by staggering your campsites and ‘stair stepping’ your way up the island and back down. Think carefully before camping for only one night at our most distant campground, Brickhill Bluff.
Gear
Experienced backpackers invest many years and dollars in acquiring lightweight gear to minimize how much effort is expended on hiking to the campground. If you find yourself packing multiple backpacks, have food and gear in grocery bags, are carrying several duffel bags, are trying to carry a cooler between two people, or can barely lift your back pack, we would strongly recommend you reconsider your gear load out. It is your responsibility to hike your gear to your reserved site and back to the ferry.
Do a practice run of at least one mile with your gear to get a feel for how the hike will go. Once you are on the island you are committed to your reserved itinerary or you can catch the last boat back (if there is space).
Wilderness camping is all about the primitive experience. Bringing just the essentials is a great way to maximize your wilderness experience and avoid any issues that may arise from a heavy pack.
Safety
Cumberland Island is a primitive and remote island. Please be careful while on the island and be aware of your surroundings. If an emergency does arise, use your cell phone to call 911. Tell dispatch you are a camper on Cumberland Island, where you are and what the problem is and they can reach our rangers to provide assistance.
The biggest safety issues include: Heat, wind and falling trees, cold temperatures (yes, it can get cold here too!), animal encounters, and injuries while hiking. Make sure you carry a first aid kit with the basic essentials and consider adding moleskin for blisters, tweezers and masking tape for ticks, and electrolyte packets for dehydration.
Know before you go
Cumberland Island has several different campgrounds, each with varying amenities that are available. Sea Camp is the most developed, with fire rings, treated drinking water, a bath house, and food storage lockers. Stafford is semi-developed with fire rings, bathrooms, and food lockers. The water at Stafford is potable. All gear must be backpacked in, no carts or wheeled coolers are allowed. The three wilderness sites (Hickory Hill, Yankee Paradise, and Brickhill Bluff are primitive and have no treated water, no bathroom facilities, and fires are not allowed. All gear must be packed in.
More details about these sites are available on the park’s camping webpage.
Time of year
Many people have time off during the summer and a trip to the beach is a typical summer vacation. However, summer is not necessarily the best time to backpack on Cumberland Island. Temperatures in the summer can easily reach over 100 degrees, especially when factoring in the humidity. High heat can cause backpackers to tire quickly, dehydrate, and face possible heat related illness. Taking frequent breaks and drinking plenty of fluids are vital in the summer months.
The summer also brings out the bugs. Not only are mosquitos and biting flies more prevalent in the summer months, ticks are a constant nuisance. Ticks can be abundant along trails and in wilderness campgrounds during the summer. If you happen to kick a nest while hiking, you could find hundreds of tiny ticks climbing your leg. Use bug spray, wear pants tucked into socks, and bring tweezers and a roll of masking tape to blot the ticks off.
Fall, winter and spring typically have better weather, less bugs, and are more suitable to long hikes on Cumberland Island. If you do plan on coming in the summer, try to break up your hikes by staggering your campsites and ‘stair stepping’ your way up the island and back down. Think carefully before camping for only one night at our most distant campground, Brickhill Bluff.
Gear
Experienced backpackers invest many years and dollars in acquiring lightweight gear to minimize how much effort is expended on hiking to the campground. If you find yourself packing multiple backpacks, have food and gear in grocery bags, are carrying several duffel bags, are trying to carry a cooler between two people, or can barely lift your back pack, we would strongly recommend you reconsider your gear load out. It is your responsibility to hike your gear to your reserved site and back to the ferry.
Do a practice run of at least one mile with your gear to get a feel for how the hike will go. Once you are on the island you are committed to your reserved itinerary or you can catch the last boat back (if there is space).
Wilderness camping is all about the primitive experience. Bringing just the essentials is a great way to maximize your wilderness experience and avoid any issues that may arise from a heavy pack.
Safety
Cumberland Island is a primitive and remote island. Please be careful while on the island and be aware of your surroundings. If an emergency does arise, use your cell phone to call 911. Tell dispatch you are a camper on Cumberland Island, where you are and what the problem is and they can reach our rangers to provide assistance.
The biggest safety issues include: Heat, wind and falling trees, cold temperatures (yes, it can get cold here too!), animal encounters, and injuries while hiking. Make sure you carry a first aid kit with the basic essentials and consider adding moleskin for blisters, tweezers and masking tape for ticks, and electrolyte packets for dehydration.
Details
Duration
1-7 Days
Activity
Backcountry Camping
Pets Allowed
No
Activity Fee
Yes
Camping fees are $22 for Sea Camp, $12 for Stafford, and $9 for the wilderness campsites. Camping reservations must be made at recreation.gov.
All visitors 16 or older must pay the park entry fee or have an America the Beautiful pass with them. Fees can be paid on the island at self-pay stations located at each dock or in person at the Mainland Visitor Center. You may also pay your entrance fee in advance online at www.pay.gov.
All visitors 16 or older must pay the park entry fee or have an America the Beautiful pass with them. Fees can be paid on the island at self-pay stations located at each dock or in person at the Mainland Visitor Center. You may also pay your entrance fee in advance online at www.pay.gov.
Season
Year Round
Accessibility Information
Wilderness campgrounds are primitive. No wheels of any kind are allowed in the designated wilderness area. All campsites are pack in sites, no carts are allowed. Water must be treated and no fires are allowed.