Sea Camp trailhead for the River Trail on Cumberland Island

Length: .8 mile, one way
Time: 20 minutes
Difficulty: Easy

The River Trail is a short connector trail between the Sea Camp and Dungeness ferry docks that runs along the Cumberland Sound. If at Sea Camp, the trail starts at the picnic tables on your right as you come off the dock. If at Dungeness, the trail runs to the left, passing two buildings, the Ice House Museum and a Ranger station. The trail is for foot traffic only, so if you have a bike you must push it along the trail.

Trailhead for the River Trail at Dungeness dock (Cumberland Island National Seashore)

Views of the river are frequent at the start of both ends of the trail, but the middle section runs mainly through a live oak and palmetto forest. The terrain is sandy with a smooth, root-and-rock-free surface. The only thing you need to look out for is horse poop, which you will find on just about all trails in the park.

View of the Cumberland Sound from the River Trail on Cumberland Island

Live oak and saw palmetto forest on Cumberland Island’s River Trail

At each trailhead is a box containing a nature trail brochure. Descriptions correspond to numbered posts along the trail. I did not pick one up or even check to see if there were any brochures in the box. If you are interested and the box is empty, ask a Ranger if any brochures are available.

If your travels take you between Sea Camp and the Dungeness historic area and you have already walked the main park road, the River Trail is a nice alternative for your return trip.

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