Georgia's Online
Outdoor Recreation and Adventure Guide - www.n-georgia.com
Discover Georgia's
beautiful parks, wildlife, mountains, waterfalls, lakes, coast and
islands, Civil War and historic sites, gardens, trails, festivals, and
other fun places to visit. Whether you are going out for a day or
vacationing in Georgia, this site is full of outdoor recreational ideas
and maps at your fingertips. Relax, browse around and get ready
for good times in Georgia.
Welcome
to the WMA Barrier Islands of Georgia
Georgia's Wildlife Management Islands consists of
Sapelo Island and
Ossabaw Island. These beautiful islands offer a refuge for wildlife that
are protected by Georgia's WMA. Tours are offered in some of the
areas, but off
limits in other areas. Please contact the proper
associations listed below
for more information.
Sapelo Island
At
nearly 18,000 acres, Sapelo is Georgia's fourth largest island at 10 miles long
and 3 miles wide, and it retains many natural features. By state law, all
of Georgia's barrier island beaches are state property and open to the public.
The public is allowed to use Sapelo's beaches for hiking, picnicking, or
shelling during daylight hours. Public access to the interior of the
island is limited and advance tour arrangements are required.
Located 60 miles south of
Savannah opposite McIntosh County's mainland, Sapelo has four active components:
the University of Georgia's Marine Institute, the Sapelo Island National
Estuarine Research Reserve, the R.J. Reynolds (Sapelo Island) Wildlife Refuge,
and the Hog Hammock Community. The four entities divide the 17,950-acre island
(10,900 acres of uplands and 5.5 miles of beach) into different uses.
Visitors to Sapelo Island can
see virtually every facet of a barrier island's natural community, from the
forested uplands, to the vast salt marsh, and the complex beach and dunes
systems. The mainland Visitor
Center brings to life both the natural and cultural history of Sapelo, while
guided island tours highlight the African-American community of Hog Hammock,
University of Georgia Marine Institute, Reynolds Mansion and newly restored
lighthouse. Built in 1820, the lighthouse was in service until 1905 when it was
deactivated. Following its 1998 restoration, it once again became a working aid
in navigation.
Guided Tours: Wednesday 8:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. (mansion and island) and Saturday 9
a.m.-1 p.m. (lighthouse and island). From June through Labor Day, an additional
tour is offered Friday 8:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. (lighthouse and island). Extended
tour offered the last Tuesday of the month, March-October, 8:30 a.m.- 3 p.m.
(lighthouse, mansion and island). Reservations required.
Pioneer Campground: Groups of
15-25 people may camp near the beach on Sapelo's Cabretta Island.
Comfort station with hot showers available. Reynolds
Mansion: Groups of 16-29 people may stay at this home originally designed
and constructed by Thomas Spalding in 1807. Meals and transportation
included.
For more info, contact:
Sapelo Island Visitors Center Route 1, Box 1500, Darien, GA 31305
(912) 437-3224 (public tour reservations) - (912) 485-2300 (group tours) - (912)
485-2299 (group camping and Reynolds Mansion)
Wolf Island
Wilderness Area
Wolf Island National Wildlife Refuge, which includes Egg Island and Little Egg Island, was established on April 3, 1930. The refuge consists of a long narrow strip of oceanfront beach backed by a broad band of salt marsh. Over 75% of the refuge's 5,126 acres are composed of saltwater marshes.
About 300 acres of Wolf Island is "upland" standing an average of 10
feet above the sea and including a long, narrow, four-mile-long strip of
oceanfront beach. On the upland grow sea oats, sandspurs and other beach-dune
perennials. The rest of the island is salt marsh dominated by
cord grass.
Wolf Island NWR is located in McIntosh County, Georgia 12
miles east of the small town of Darien. This 5,126 acre migratory bird refuge is
composed of Wolf Island (4,519 acres), Egg Island (593 acres), and Little Egg
Island (14 acres). Saltwater fishing and crabbing are popular activities. Though
the refuge's salt waters are open to a variety of recreational activities, all
beach, marsh, and upland areas are closed to the public. Visitors must make their own arrangements to reach the refuge. Marinas in the Darien, Georgia area may offer transportation to Wolf Island
NWR. From Savannah, GA, take US 17 south about 70 miles to Darien where marinas provide boat access
to the refuge which lies approximately 12 miles east. A free map is available from the refuge manager.
Contact for more information:
Savannah Coastal Refuges, 1000 Business Center Drive, Suite 10, Savannah, GA 31405
Phone Number: (912) 652-4415
Wassaw
Island National Wildlife Refuge
Located in Chatham County,
Georgia, Wassaw NWR is one of seven refuges within the Savannah Coastal Refuges
complex. Wassaw NWR lies 14 miles southeast of Savannah, Georgia. Composed of a
single barrier island (Wassaw) is migratory bird refuge consists of 10,070
acres. The balance of uplands consists of two smaller interior islands
(collectively known as Little Wassaw Island), several small hammocks and 20
acres of leased land on the mainland known as Priest Landing. The refuge is only accessible by boat.
Natural History
The 10,070-acre migratory bird refuge consists of a single barrier island (Wassaw
Island), tidal salt marsh, two smaller islands (collectively known as Little
Wassaw Island), several small hammocks. The refuge, with approximately 25 miles
of boundary or shoreline, is comprised of 76 percent salt marsh, 24%
beach dune and upland forest communities, roads, trails and administrative
land.
Seven miles of undeveloped beach provides nesting
habitat for the threatened Loggerhead sea turtle. Numerous species of shorebirds
visit this spectacular beach. The bald eagle nests annually on one of the
outlying hammocks and the endangered wood stork can be found feeding in the
tidal marshes and waters of the refuge.
The refuge attracts over 14,000 visitors each
year. Public use opportunities on
Wassaw Island includes: trails, bicycling, saltwater fishing, sea kayaking, wildlife
observation, photography, and daytime beach use.
For
regulations and information, call
the Refuge Manager at
Savannah Coastal Refuges (912) 652-4415.
