Why You Should Visit Black Beard Island, Georgia

Blackbeard Island is one of the many small islands located off the coast of Georgia. As part of the Golden Isles of Georgia, Blackbeard Island serves a vital and important role as a wildlife refuge.

Blackbeard Island is one of seven refuges operated by the Savannah Coastal Refuges Complex. Blackbeard is undeveloped and the perfect place for nature lovers to visit and explore.

Blackbeard Island was purchased by the Navy Department at public auction in 1800. They bought it as a source of live oak timber for ship building. Anyone who has been to the coast of Georgia knows what a Live oak tree is. Fortunately Live oaks still cover this small island. This is due in part to a Presidential Proclamation in 1940. It changed its designation from Blackbeard Island Reservation to Blackbeard Island National Wildlife Refuge. This makes Blackbeard Island the perfect place for nature lovers of all kinds to visit and explore.

Today, the refuge on Blackbeard Island is 5,618 acres and includes maritime forest, salt marsh, freshwater marsh and beach habitat. 3000 acres today are National Wilderness. A trip to Blackbeard Island is like stepping back in time. It is a real chance to see what coastal Georgia was once like.

There are a variety of year round activities offered on Blackbeard Island, Georgia. Wildlife observation, especially bird watching, is available for visitors throughout the year. Hikers, bird watchers and nature lovers use existing trails and roads to observe and study nature. Saltwater creeks are open to fishing the entire year.

Blackbeard Island is accessible only by boat. You have to find your own boat to get there, which is part of he fun. The Fish and Wildlife Service does not provide transportation. There is a public boat ramp on Harris Neck NWR (Barbour River Landing) available to anyone needing to dock their boat. It is available as a landing site for trips to the island.

Anyone who needs helping renting a boat or finding a ride to the island can visit www.blackbeardisland.fsw.gov. They provide an updated list of local charter outfits that provide boat transportation to Blackbeard Island.