Reviews: Cumberland Island

Review for Cumberland Island

Reviewed by: david kanzler, Hygge, on Mar 15, 2024
Vessel Type: Power
LOA: 29'
Draft: 2.5'

Great spot to anchor and explore the island. Island is very interesting with feral horses, hiking trails, ruins of a great mansion and super beach. Campground has nice restrooms with cold water showers. You will swing 180 degrees. Anchor to leave room for frequent ferries but away from sand bar very visible at low tide.

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Review for Cumberland Island

Reviewed by: Jim Louy, M/V Soulmates, on Nov 7, 2023
Vessel Type: Power
LOA: 60'
Draft: 5.0'

Good news: there is a lot of space for several dozen boats. Bad news: since there is so much space, fetch can be an issue in strong winds. The bottom is mud and held great and we had a good T-Mobile signal. We didn't have any problem with no-see-ums, and we could see the wild horses on the island.

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Review for Cumberland Island

Reviewed by: Tom Allison on Aug 22, 2023
Vessel Type: Sail
LOA: 45'
Draft: 5.0'

Great anchorage. It's off the intracoastal so not too many boats zip by. Light tidal currents. Wind from the South and north can make for some uncomfortable fetch. Easy access to Cumberland Island via park docks. Pay attention to your charts and you should be fine.

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Review for Cumberland Island

Reviewed by: Abroad Reach on Mar 16, 2023
Vessel Type: Sail
LOA: 37'
Draft: 4.5'

Cumberland Island itself gets this a five star review. The anchorage is pretty exposed, especially from the South but even when the wind was 15-20 out of the NW we were bouncing quite a bit. The holding is very good in sandy mud. There is also quite a bit of current.

The reason to put up with all of the above is because the island is magical. Many beautiful walking trails, visit the Dungeness ruins, and spot the feral horses. The park rangers offer short tours, and there are several other tours of the island offered by outside companys. The NPS also has an app that has two self guided tours, one for the Dungeness area, and the other for the River Trail. The beach is stunning and because of the remote nature of the island practically empty.

NOTE--As of March 16, 2023, the normal dinghy docks are closed at both Sea Camp and Dungeness. They have opened one small area on the inside of the south dock at Sea Camp for dinghies/private boats to tie up. It is marked with blue paint. Do not block the area marked with red on the inside, or the ferry dock on the outside. There is currently no landing dinghys at Dungeness at all.

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Review for Cumberland Island

Reviewed by: Xiaolun Sun, Anodyne , on Mar 4, 2023
Vessel Type: Sail
LOA: 32'
Draft: 4.5'

We anchored in front of the Sea Camp ferry dock for a few hours to visit the NP. Wind was light. No issues with the current. A section of the inside dock was marked with blue tape for dinghy landing. Even though we arrived on a Saturday afternoon, it was not crowded on the island. I was worried about the insects but it was not a problem in late February. We saw wild horses, visited the ruins and the Ice Museum, took long walks on the beach ... A very beautiful place!

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Review for Cumberland Island

Reviewed by: Bret Butler, Lucy 2, on Jan 29, 2023
Vessel Type: Sail
LOA: 43'
Draft: 4.0'

We stayed one night. The park service docks were closed to dingy's. Not sure why as the ferry was operating. We just dingyed to the beach and walked ashore. Saw lots of horses. Nice quiet spot to anchor, fairly well protected from most directions.

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Review for Cumberland Island

Reviewed by: Janet Gannon on Jan 19, 2023
Vessel Type: Sail
LOA: 37'
Draft: 6.0'

Cumberland is outstanding. This is a fair weather anchorage, especially vulnerable to south winds. Holding is good. As of 1/19/23 the dinghy docks are still closed. You can get ashore briefly at high tide (low tide will take you in to mud).

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Review for Cumberland Island

Reviewed by: Eric Ramsey, SunBums, on Dec 9, 2022
Vessel Type: Sail
LOA: 39'
Draft: 4.0'

There is no WiFi service here but Starlink works great here. There is room here for 20 more boats but be sure to leave room for the ferry to come through. There are many fishing boats and boats bringing people to the island that do not slow down and create alot of wake during the day. This anchorage was very calm after dark.

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Review for Cumberland Island

Reviewed by: Bret Butler, Lucy 2, on Apr 25, 2022
Vessel Type: Sail
LOA: 43'
Draft: 4.0'

Stopped and anchored April 2022. There were about 8 boats in the area. Holding seemed good. Exposed to S, W and N winds. Great location to go exploring the historical island.

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Review for Cumberland Island

Reviewed by: Paul Smyers, S/V Nova, on Nov 3, 2021
Vessel Type: Sail
LOA: 43'
Draft: 4.0'

This was our southbound last anchorage before Florida to end hurricane season. It was actually pretty busy with 20 or so boats, but there was still room for several more.

The anchorage is rather narrow - probably worth doing a Bahamian mooring if you intend to stay for a few tidal changes. But the holding was very good on our single Rocna.

Pay very close attention to your charts. There's a huge area that looks like good anchoring and swing room but is actually quite shallow, much of which is actually exposed at low tide.

There's wind protection from the east but that's about it.

We had a few boats come through creating substantial wake, but most people seemed to slow down for the anchored boats and throttle back up once they cleared the area.

Cell service was good enough to stream video.

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Review for Cumberland Island

Reviewed by: Bruce Krizmanic, S/V Inspiration, on Oct 14, 2021
Vessel Type: Sail
LOA: 39'
Draft: 4.7'

We anchored between the Ice House Museum and Sea Camp. Both have public docks, Sea Camp is closer to the beach.
The incoming tide makes it a little rough with a north wind. There is a lot of trails to hike, short walk to the beach.
We had good holding with a 45# CQR and 90' chain.
Great Stop!

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Review for Cumberland Island

Reviewed by: Ernest Gilbert, Sweet Sandy Lynn, on Oct 4, 2021
Vessel Type: Power
LOA: 35'
Draft: 3.8'

We took our integrity 346 (a fly bridge trawler) for a couple of nights and anchored out near Sea Camp dock on Cumberland. Holding it was great even though there is a lot of tidal action. We had about 120 feet of chain and a 22 kg hook. We got there late the first afternoon and took advantage of the daytime docking at the northern end of the quite sturdy floating pier . We made sure to leave at sunset and used the dinghy thereafter except for the morning that we left when we came up to the dock for five minutes and took the dog for her morning constitutional. The pristine beach is only a 30 minute walk across some of the most beautiful trails I have ever seen, with a canopy of wind-worried oaks. There is a cold water shower and toilets close to the beach. If you don't mind riding in sand, the Rangers are quiet bike friendly and just asked me to make sure that my dog was leashed and then I cleaned up after her. We don't live but 40 miles away and our boat is only 20, this place will be our go to.

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Review for Cumberland Island

Reviewed by: Pat & Kathy, Puffin, on Jun 29, 2021
Vessel Type: Sail
LOA: 33'
Draft: 4.5'

Stayed 2 nights just north of the Sea Side dock on June 24, 2021. Good holding and depth in mid channel. Easy dinghy access to either sea camp or Dungeness docks.

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Review for Cumberland Island

Reviewed by: Waterway Wanderers, New Bearings, on Apr 11, 2021
Vessel Type: Power
LOA: 42'
Draft: 4.5'

This is a great anchorage next to the Cumberland Island National Park Sea Camp. Pay $10/person for a week of access to the park. Dinghy in to the opposite end of the Ferry dock. We took our dogs across the island via an Oak shaded trail to the beach every day. If the tide is low you can take them off leash. This park has so much to offer, historical ruins, wild horses, walking trails and a gorgeous beach. To avoid the crowds, time your visits opposing the disembarking Ferry. There is plenty of room for several boats to anchor. We were in front of the second to last dock.

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Review for Cumberland Island

Reviewed by: John Tyrell, Hydrophilic, on Mar 14, 2021
Vessel Type: Power
LOA: 39'
Draft: 4.0'

Anchored across from Sea Camp dock; pretty; plenty of room, great holding; current shift and some wakes during day; good TV reception, Verizon service. Leave room along island for ferry and other boats. About a 7 foot tide.

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Review for Cumberland Island

Reviewed by: Capt. Sterling on Nov 27, 2018
Vessel Type: Power
LOA: 40'
Draft: 4.0'

Ya gotta stop here to see the beaches and horses on the island. Bring cash for the landing fee for the park.

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Review for Cumberland Island

Reviewed by: Skipper Bob on Jun 1, 2016
Draft: 0.0'

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