Georgia beaches are constantly moving and changing shape. Summer beaches and winter beaches have different characteristics. The majority of beach residents are found either in burrows or interspersed among the wet sand grains. Take this do-it-yourself tour to learn more about how Georgia beaches work.

Layering and ripples are the two most common beach structures that the beach walker will observe. Ripples are formed in the near-shore area by both waves and currents. They mark the path of water from the beach back into the ocean. The size of ripples varies widely, but their crests are usually parallel to the beach slope. Layering is the wavy patterns of lighter and darker sand or sand of different textures. It looks something like chocolate swirl ice cream. It’s caused by concentration of heavy minerals or by variations in the size of sand grains. Geologists identify layering and ripples in ancient sandstones to develop new clues to the history of the earth.The beach never looks the same way twice. The turbulence in the breaker zone and the swash of the waves on the beach constantly rearrange sand particles and reshape the shore line. Materials stirred up by waves are deposited as offshore bars just inland from the zone of greatest breakers. Sand grains are repeatedly carried onto the beach by the swash and carried back out again with the backwash. Those factors, combined with the seasonally changing direction of the wind, produces one of the earth’s most dynamic environments. (more…)

Georgia has over a dozen major barrier islands and dozens of smaller islands between the Atlantic Ocean and the mainland. Among the major islands, only St. Simons, Sea Island, Skidaway and Jekyll are connected to the mainland by a causeway. The other islands must be reached by ferry or by private boat and only Cumberland and Sapelo (pictured at right) have regularly scheduled ferry service.

Sapelo Island Ferry Schedule
Cumberland Island Ferry Schedule

Some charter operators on the coast provide, or can be persuaded to provide, boat transportation to islands without a causeway or regularly scheduled ferry service.

Red more about Georgia’s barrier islands and create your own tour, using the information in the profiles.

Other Links:

View a map of all of Georgia’s major barrier islands with links to each of the islands.

 Georgia > Coast > McIntosh County > Sapelo Island

Visitors may tour this Georgia barrier island with the National Estuarine Research Reserve, with island native Maurice Bailey or on their own from the seat of a rental bike from Comyam’s Campground.

Sapelo native Maurice Bailey provides tours of Sapelo Island, including the beaches and historical ruins. Each tour is three hours but may be extended upon request. Ogeechee Tours or Groups as well as individuals are welcomed.

The Sapelo Island National Estuarine Reserve provides tours for the public, featuring the natural and cultural history of Sapelo on Wednesdays and Saturdays and on Fridays from June 1 through Labor Day. Special programs and activities are scheduled throughout the year. Reservations are required for these tours. For more information on these tours, contact the Sapelo Island Visitor Center (link below).

Comyam’s Campground has rental bikes so you can tour the island on your own. Comyam’s Campground is located in historic Hog Hammock Community on Sapelo, a community owned by descendants of slaves that dates back to the late 1800s. The campground has a marshside view, showers and restrooms. Comyam’s also provides tours to campers for $8 per person.

A public ferry to Sapelo runs 7 days a week, but space is limited and arrangements must be made in advance. The ferry schedule is available on the Sapelo Ferry website, and the phone number for reservations is 912-437-3224.

Links and contacts numbers:

• Tour Sapelo with Maurice Bailey  or 912-485-2170.
• Rent a bike from Comyam’s Campground.
• Schedule a tour of Sapelo through the Sapelo Island Visitors Center.
• Reserve space on the Sapelo Ferry.
• Stay on Sapelo at Cornelila and Julius Bailey’s The Wallow or 912-485-2206.
• Camp on Sapelo at Comyam’s Campground.
• Read more about the natural environment and history of Sapelo Island.
• See Roger Bansemer’s drawings and paintings of the Sapelo lighthouse and Hog Hammock, among other Sapelo scenes.
• See a Google map showing Sapelo and Georgia’s other major barrier islands.

Wilderness Southeast Tours include Wassaw Island on the Georgia coast where each spring endangered loggerhead turtles crawl up on the beach to lay their eggs.

Explore Georgia’s true nature on a private tour arranged to accommodate your interests and itinerary. WiSE Nature Tours can provide a few hours or a whole day of wildlife discovery from birding to beachcombing and beyond. Visitors to Historic Savannah choose to explore by walking, paddling, or boating and by the wildlife and habitat they want to observe. Our expert naturalist guides help you investigate the natural history of coastal Georgia. Enjoy wildlife observation on your choice of excursions to beach, rivers, swamps, marshes, estuary, and maritime forests – all accompanied by friendly and expert naturalist guides. (more…)

Bull River Cruises conducts dolphin tours and includes information about tides, marshes and the history of the region as a part of the tour package.

Bull River Cruises specializes in group tours exploring the natural beauty and history of coastal Georgia. From the Barrier Islands to the black water inland rivers, the “Island Explorer” - a 49 passenger excursion vessel - provides a unique experience, not soon forgotten. A variety of types of tours include:

• Eco Tours
• Dolphin Tours
• Private Parties
• Wildlife Refuge Tours
• Wassaw Island
• Ossabaw Island
• Daufuskie Island
• Savannah River
• New Ebenezer Retreat

The Island Explorer
The “Island Explorer,” is a 45-foot tri-hull, excursion vessel that seats 40 passengers comfortably and will accommodate 49 passengers. The Island Explorer was designed and built for coastal Georgia waters. Boat features include: padded seating, restroom, stereo, cordless PA system, USCG safety equipment; and it’s handicap friendly, and more. The Island Explorer is ultra stable - no seasickness.

A Typical Barrier Island Tour
A typical 2.5-to-3-hour barrier island tour would include:
Travel from Bull River to the Atlantic Ocean; a cruise through marshlands to barrier islands of the Georgia coast. Narration will include history, ecology and relationship of various parts of the Coastal Georgia ecosystem.