Camden: Island Nature, Trails and History

Cumberland Island combines expansive coastal scenery with traces of the island’s history. The well-preserved island is in Camden County and is part of Cumberland Island National Seashore. It is Georgia’s largest and southernmost barrier island; its continuous beach stretches for 17 miles. Rivers also shape the region: major ones include Crooked River, Cumberland River, Big Satilla River, Little Satilla River and St. Marys River.

Island Nature and Historic Sites

Cumberland Island is accessible by passenger ferry or private boat. The ferry departs from the mainland visitor center in St. Marys and serves the Dungeness and Sea Camp docks on the island. If you’re planning a visit to the island, check the ferry schedule for your travel dates. The Lands and Legacies Tour visits Plum Orchard Mansion, the Settlement with First African Baptist Church, Cumberland Island Wharf and other sites along the main road through the protected area.

First African Baptist Church was founded in 1893 by African American residents of the island and their families. It also represents the history of the people who lived on Cumberland Island. In St. Marys, the self-guided History Walk offers another way to explore regional history: the 600-foot loop features 24 informational signs.

Trails, Water and Landscape

The trails in Camden County offer a range of landmarks. White Oak Nature Trail is a 3.5-mile route in the Rails-to-Trails program, with access points near Woodbine, in White Oak and near Waverly. The paved Woodbine Nature Trail and River Walk follows a former rail line to the Satilla River and is part of the Coastal Georgia Greenway’s Rails-to-Trails program.

The 3 Rivers Trail offers a different succession of places: it begins in historic downtown St. Marys, runs along the outer edge of Naval Submarine Base Kings Bay, passes the Tabby Ruins and ends at Crooked River State Park. As route details can change, it’s a good idea to check them before setting out. Crooked River State Park offers a setting on the Intracoastal Waterway amid maritime forest. In Camden County, fishing and boating on the waterways are among the recreational activities. In St. Marys, Adventures Up the Creek offers kayaking in the surrounding quiet marshes and estuaries.

A boardwalk runs along the banks of the Satilla River, connecting to a paved path leading to a pier. Parks, hiking trails and several golf courses add to the recreational options in Camden County. Certain park pavilions can be reserved through Camden County Public Works.

Architecture and Music History

The Woodbine Historic District preserves both a historic grid plan and a courthouse plan. Its local significance encompasses community planning and development, commerce, transportation, architecture, and politics and government. Orange Hall in St. Marys illustrates antebellum life in the Greek Revival style; the building dates approximately to the 1820s–1830s.

Music is also part of Woodbine’s history. In a proclamation dated February 4, 2025, Camden County recognized the Woodbine Opry for its 25-year role in the county’s cultural and musical heritage up to that point. The proclamation connects this recognition with the historic Old School Auditorium in Woodbine, as well as with bluegrass, gospel and classic country music.

Planning Your Stay

The St. Marys Welcome Center offers travel information about Cumberland Island and the surrounding St. Marys area, including information about museums and outdoor activities. The Kingsland Welcome Center is a tourist information center next to Interstate 95. These visitor centers complement the region’s different attractions: island visits, trails and water activities, as well as historic sites.

When choosing a hotel location in Camden, it may help to first organize the experiences you have planned. If Cumberland Island is part of your trip, factor the ferry connection into your plans; if you’re interested in regional history, St. Marys and Woodbine offer different points of interest.

Discover more destinations: Woodbine, St. Marys, Spring Bluff, Kingsland, Butts, Spalding, Coweta, Coffee County.

For the main travel overview: Georgia.