Cumberland Island National Seashore

Enjoy this once in a lifetime trip, backpacking on the historic Cumberland Island without the hassle of planning ANY OF IT!

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Hikes along pristine, undeveloped beaches
Boundless opportunities for wildlife sightings - wild horses, armadillos, dolphins and more!
An island rich in history, we’ll tour Plum Orchard, a 19th century mansion built by the Carnegies and maintained by National Park Services.
Historic Dungeness Ruins
Camp amongst giant Live Oak trees with the sounds of the ocean nearby

Trip Highlights

Over 300 species of birds pass through Cumberland Island

Trip Itinerary

March 9th - 13th

Participants organize personal travel to St. Mary’s Georgia - where your geeks will greet you.
Gear will be distributed and the Geeks will go over the ABC’s of packing a backpack.
Enjoy a restful night’s stay at a boutique hotel, near the ferry.
No meals included for night 1.
Enjoy breakfast followed by any last minute gear adjustments you need. (More snacks? We’ve got ‘em!)
Board the ferry and win a prize for first dolphin sighting!
Hike to Stafford Beach Campground.
Set up your tents and enjoy a stroll on the beach while your geeks prepare a delicious meal. Optional night hike to see the stars after.
All meals included.
Distance - 3.5 Miles Elev. Gain - 40 ft.
Hot breakfast at camp is followed by a hike to Plum Orchard, historic mansion. Spot armadillos and horses along the way on this flat hike amongst the palm fronds.
Lunch on the beautiful Plum Orchard grounds before a guided tour of the mansion. Afterwards, search for shark’s teeth along the one main (packed sand) road of the island.
Relax, after a long day of hiking and sight seeing, while your geeks prepare your dinner.
This is a lot of miles. You’ll only need to carry your water, snacks and essential items and you’ll be hiking on flat, packed terrain.
All meals included.
Distance - 9.4 miles Elev. Gain - 75 ft.
After breakfast, we’ll pack up camp and move to Sea Camp (3.2 miles). Once you’re settled in, we’ll enjoy lunch and then walk south down the beach toward the Dungeness Ruins.
You’ll enjoy dinner at sunset amongst the ruins, exploring historic wash houses, cemeteries and more before a night hike back to camp.
This is a lot of miles. You’ll have your full pack for 3.2 of the miles and then just your water, snacks and essential items for the remainder.
All meals included.
Distance - 9.6 miles Elev. Gain - 60 ft.
Pack up your gear while the Geeks make you one last (divine) breakfast and then you’ll hike to the ferry.
Enjoy one last look at the island on your way back to St. Mary’s, Georgia. The Geeks will assist in unloading your gear from the ferry. There will be a gear shakedown and tears shed.
Breakfast included.
Distance - 1.1 miles Elev. Gain - 14 ft.

Logistics

What to Pack

You’ll receive a complete packing list via email after booking.

Arrival

Closest Airport: Jacksonville, FL. Approximately 45 minute drive to meeting location.
Meeting Location: Boutique hotel in St. Mary’s, GA (specifics TBA)
Meeting Time: 3PM Day 1

Meeting Day 2

Ferry departs St. Mary’s at 11:45AM and is approximately 45 minutes.

Departure

Airport City: Jacksonville, FL Approximately 45 minute drive from drop off location in St. Mary’s, GA.
Depart Location on day 5: Ferry will arrive back at St. Mary’s GA by 12:30PM.
Return Time: Plan to depart St. Mary’s, GA by 1:30pm on Day 2

You will receive an email with a packing list, and additional information you’ll need to prepare for your trip.

We require a minimum of 4 participants signed up for this trip. Please confirm that your trip is guaranteed before booking airfare.

Activity Level for This Trip

Rated Level 3

This backpacking trip requires you to carry a backpack for extended periods of time on a mostly flat, packed earth terrain. Days 3 and 4 have hiking distances of nearly 10 miles and while there is very little elevation lost or gained on Cumberland Island, the distance is no joke.

Expect to carry approximately 25-35 pounds on your back. You will be responsible for carrying your own pack, assigned gear, and necessities.

There are no water crossings, unless you count puddles. There’s the occasional large horse patty to navigate around, roots, and armadillos.

Carrying a heavy backpack for any distance is challenging and requires proper preparation— it’s different than day hiking. And while much of our longer distances on this trip are without the full burden of your backpacks, it’s important that all hikers be prepared and capable of both hiking 10 miles AND carrying a pack weighing 25-35 pounds.

It’s our goal that everyone enjoy themselves and laugh so much they cry! Not cry because they weren’t prepared to hike 9+ miles. It takes too long to catch a horse and train it to pull you back to camp… trust us.

Peaks & Geeks strives to provide both a physically and emotionally safe environment for hikers of all different backgrounds and ability levels. We hike at an inclusive pace and our group will stick together.

Day 1: NA
Day 2: 3.5 miles (full pack)
Day 3: 9.5 miles (day pack)
Day 4: 3.2 miles (full pack) & 6.4 miles (day pack)
Day 5: 1.2 miles (full pack)

Please consider the physical demands carefully as it is for the safety and enjoyment of the group. All guests will be required to sign an Acknowledgement of Physical Demands as part of their waiver upon booking.

If you have ANY concerns regarding the activity level, please reach out here.

What’s Included

Gear

Single person backpacking tent
Backpack
Sleeping Bag
Sleeping Pad
Trekking poles
Shared water filter, cookware, stove
Headlamp
Camp chair

Meals

All meals as indicated in itinerary: Breakfast-4, Lunch-3, Dinner-3

Practical

1 night stay at boutique hotel
Commercial permits, campground permits & Roundtrip Ferry ticket
Two professional WFR certified guides
Detailed pre-trip planning emails and personalized correspondence

Not Included

Airfare or travel to/from St. Mary’s Georgia
Alcoholic beverages
Travel Insurance
Meals exclusive of itineraries
Gratuity for your Geek (more on that here)

Peaks & Geeks reserves the option to modify trip itineraries as necessary due to weather, conditions, illness, injury, group dynamics, or other unforeseen incidents.