From Darren Smith,
Your Guide to US & Canadian Parks.
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Things to Do at the Cumberland Island National Seashore:

As the ferry slowly pulled into the dock at Dungeness, I spotted three of Cumberland's famous wild horses grazing in a nearby field. Originally left there by plantation owners, these horses have thrived on the grasses in the marsh areas and roam the island freely. Now numbering close to three hundred, the horses are a favorite of island visitors, but a source of controversy with environmentalists, since, among other things, it is believed that their overgrazing may impair the ability of some island grasses to reproduce.

After the boat docked, we immediately joined a ranger-led talk which included a short hike down a shell and dirt road through a canopy of live oak trees draped with Spanish moss. Passing under the arching trees with sunlight filtering through, we eventually ended up in front of the crumbling walls of the Dungeness mansion. A few minutes later, the ranger program ended, and we were left to explore the island on our own. Being from Florida, our first instincts were to head towards the dune and beach area, which was located about half a mile further east. From there, we headed south about two miles along the Atlantic shoreline down to the southern tip of the island, where a long jetty protruded into the ocean in an area known as Pelican Banks. Along the way, we explored the beach and marveled at the fact that there wasn't another person in sight as far as the eye could see. Along the shoreline, we explored a variety of shells, sand dollars, and driftwood that the tide had brought in, and watched a flock of sandpipers and gulls walk lazily along the water's edge. Upon reaching the southern tip of the island, we were actually less than a mile from the Georgia/Florida state line and had a beautiful view of Fort Clinch State Park at the northern tip of Amelia Island in Florida.

On our return hike across the island, we spotted squirrels, raccoons, and even an armadillo scurrying across the dirt path under a cluster of cabbage palms. Cumberland Island is, in fact, home to a variety of wildlife, including whitetail deer, wild pigs, alligators, and birds. It even serves as a feeding ground for bald eagles. We later passed along the Ice House Museum and headed north along the River Trail, winding up at the Sea Camp Visitor Center. Here we watched a video presentation on Cumberland Island as a critical nesting habitat for the loggerhead sea turtle.

By now it was almost 4:30, and just about time to catch the ferry back to the mainland. I was slightly disappointed that we hadn't had more time to explore the northern half of the island, where most of the hiking trails are located, but realized that there was only so much that could be covered in a day. Even with a full load of people coming over on the ferry, the island never felt crowded. In fact, there were stretches during the day when we didn't encounter anyone at all. I look forward to returning to Cumberland Island sometime soon to visit some of the areas that I missed on this trip.

If you are planning a trip to Cumberland Island, keep in mind there are no stores or restaurants, so you will need to bring your own supplies with you. The park does, however, maintain rest rooms and drinking water in four locations, a developed campground at Sea Camp Beach, and four primitive backcountry sites. Camping is limited to seven days and reservations can be made up to six months in advance (Spring and late fall are peak seasons). The park visitor center is open daily from 8:00am to 6:00pm, Monday through Sunday. Fees are charged for ferry service, for entrance into the park, and for camping. For further information or to make reservations for ferry contact park at 912-882-4336 or 877-860-6787.

Other Resources:

Florida Division of Recreation & Parks
Florida Tourism
Georgia State Parks & Historic Sites Division
Georgia Tourism Division