Lands and Legacies Tour group at The Settlement on Cumberland Island

There are three history-oriented guided tours offered at Cumberland Island National Seashore. The most comprehensive is the all-day Lands and Legacies Tour. This tour is conducted by vehicle, and a fee and reservation is required. It covers nearly the entire island and is the only practical way to see the northern end if you are visiting for the day. The tour begins at the Sea Camp dock right after the morning ferry arrives and progresses north to The Settlement, the northernmost point in the park open to the public. If time allows, the tour guide will take guests down to the Dungeness historic area. See the Lands and Legacies Tour web page here on National Park Planner for details.

Two other tours are run by the National Park Service and both have the disclaimer, “When Staff is Available.” The most likely of these to be held is a tour of Plum Orchard Mansion. The mansion is nearly eight miles from Sea Camp, so day trippers on foot, unless they plan to jog, won’t be able to make it to the mansion and back in time to catch the last ferry to the mainland. However, the trip is perfectly viable for those with a bike. Get off at the Sea Camp ferry dock and be sure to ask a Ranger if tours are being held before traveling to the mansion. See the Plum Orchard Mansion web page for more information.

The Footsteps Tour is a Ranger-guided tour of the Dungeness historic area that begins shortly after the morning ferry arrives (be sure to get off at the Dungeness Dock). The tour is typically held on weekends during the fall and winter, with more days added starting in April (again, “when staff is available”). If you plan to get off at Dungeness specifically for the tour, ask if it is being held when you check in at the Cumberland Island National Seashore Visitor Center before your ferry departure time. The tour lasts approximately 45 minutes and covers a half mile of ground. It is not a loop, so you must eventually walk back to Dungeness dock. If you plan to see the area when no guided tours are being given, be sure to check out National Park Planner’s Dungeness Area Walking Tour, a self-guided, detailed walking tour that covers the entire historic area.

Molly’s Old South Tours also conducts walking tours of the Dungeness area. As with the Footsteps Tour, I did not attend this tour and therefore cannot comment more on it.

Various lecture-oriented activities are also given by Rangers at Cumberland Island National Seashore. When on the island, inquire at the Sea Camp Ranger Station about the daily events. You can also check the National Park Service’s official Guided Tours website for a schedule. This page also gives times for the Plum Orchard and Footsteps tours.