Last updated: February 21, 2021
Thing to Do
Beachcombing
NPS Photo/Bohl
Cumberland Island has over 18 miles of pristine beach. During certain times of the year, high tides, storms, and other ocean events can bring a wide variety of shells onto the beach. This makes Cumberland Island perfect for beach combing. Beach combing is searching along the beach for sea shells and other evidence of ocean life. The best place to look for washed up shells is along the high tide line, also knows as the wrack line. Closer to the low tide mark you can find many smaller shells.
What washes up can vary throughout the year, and not every season is great for beach combing. Winter is generally the best time of year to find shells due to strong onshore winds and occasional powerful nor’easter storms. The calm ocean typical of the summer does not usually bring many shells onto the beach.
Throughout the year the ocean brings in many different finds including sand dollars, sea stars, and a large variety of seashells. Some commonly found seashells are the knobbed whelk, lettered olive, moon snail, and heart cockle. In the fall and winter, one may find some exotic items such as coconuts and sea beans.
Collecting unoccupied seashells and fossilized sharks’ teeth is permitted within Cumberland Island National Seashore. Collection is limited to two gallons of uninhabited shells per person per day, and only for non-commercial purposes.
When collecting seashells, it is important to make sure the shells are empty. If the shell still has an animal inside, put it back into the environment. The animal inside will die in the shell and start decomposing on your way home. Collected items should have little to no smell. If they smell off, or smell like dead animals, put it back on the beach. All other items found in the National Seashore are protected, including bones, feathers, and artifacts. Please leave these items where you find them.
A note on beach trash: Unfortunately, there is a lot of trash in our oceans and this trash finds it’s way onto our beaches. If you are so inclined to pick up trash along the beach, we welcome this. However, we ask that you pack the trash all the way off the island if you choose to pick it up. Sometimes this trash collects at beach crossings. This can create a hazard when the trash is covered with blowing sand, and an unsuspecting bare foot steps in the buried trash pile. Please pack out all trash that you collect. Thank you!
Details
Duration
1-2 Hours
With 18 miles of beach, you can spend as much or as little time as you like combing the beach for shells.
Activity
Gathering and Foraging
Pets Allowed
No
Pets are not allowed on the ferry, but are allowed on private boats. They must be leashed at all times. Please pick up after your pet and pack out the waste.
Activity Fee
Yes
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.
Reservations
No
Season
Year Round
Summer is the least preferred time to beachcomb.
Accessibility Information
The beach is all sand. There are no pavillions or other structures on the beach for shelter. The Sea Camp beach crossing is the most accessible.