storefrontAccessToken: '0ad2d566f5e3f69231cb82738a6dc465', ui.createComponent('product', { Pleasant. Individual trips cannot be scheduled. To the southwest it is separated from the barrier island Dewees Island by Capers Inlet. if (window.ShopifyBuy) { The only signs of civilization are a small dock at Capers Inlet that has a boardwalk across the marsh to an unpaved nature trail which opens up to the beach. Being left high and dry for a few hours stuck in a stinking mass of marsh mud would not be a good thing. Hours of visitation are 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily. As you paddle through the maze of grassy trails, you will see power lines in the distance that go from Dewees Island to Capers Island. All terrain vehicles, bicycles, and horses are prohibited. The preserve is closed to use except by permit. Copyright 2023 VerticalScope Inc. All rights reserved. This is your destination. "contents": { Island Information . The beach was littered with fallen palm tree trunks half buried in the sand; reminders of the devastation hurricane Hugo wreaked in this area in 1989. Capers is a large island, so break your hikes up day by day. Late fall or winter and/or mid-week would probably be a much more crowd free trip. The island contains diverse habitats supporting abundant wildlife. Simply head north on the Intracoastal Waterway for 4.5 miles. ui.createComponent('product', { View a map of this area and more on Natural Atlas. Free, primitive camping is permitted on the island with a permit from the Department of Natural Resources. All arrangements for camping should be made with the supervisor of the Santee Coastal Reserve. Half Moon Outfitters hasthe boats you'll need to get to the island. "margin-bottom": "50px" The plan was to paddle from the Isle of Palms Marina and be on the water around 7AM to catch the falling tide out to Capers. A large 16 foot gator has been seen several times in this section. SC. "margin-left": "20px", "margin-left": "0px", "button": "Checkout" Two fisherman got hopped out and hollered that they were going to make camp right behind our site, beyond the dunes if we didn't mind. Managed wetlands will be open for wildlife observation, bird watching, photography or nature study without day or time restriction from February 1 through October 31 each year. Awendaw, South Carolina. "margin-left": "20px", PaddlingLaunch your kayak into the narrow channel that weaves through grassy trails on the north side of the Copahee Sound. After setting up camp and getting my gear packed away I made dinner and tried to enjoy one of the . I put in at the Isle of Palms Marina on the northern end of the island. The paddle is relatively easy, but there can be adverse currents, winds, and boat traffic on the ICW. No camping without a permit except for deer, turkey, and hog hunters on nights before a designated hunt. Permits may be acquired on All hunters, fishermen and visitors must obtain and complete a day use pass upon entering the area and follow instructions on the pass. These permits are completely free; just make sure you obtain them through the proper procedures. Daws Island camping is limited to two groups of no more than eight people in each group. Bicycles may be ridden on any road or area that is not posted as closed to bicycles. A good kayak is important for this trip, as it's a somewhat lengthy paddle, and you'll need to transport all of your gear. Horse riding is allowed only on designated trails. And by the way, the Wi-Fi on Capers Island is most likely broken, so leave your phones at home and just enjoy the scenery and the magic of this barrier islands remote and mystical landscape. Consult tide tables and have navigational charts before making this trip, because it is very easy to run aground. Backcountry beach camping! Alistair Nicol is an award winning fine art photographer based in Charleston, South Carolina. No person may enter any area of the preserve designated as a nesting area for birds. The dikes around the waterfowl impoundments and the canoe trail will be closed, except by prior arrangement, during the period of November 1 through January 31 of the next year. }, We had to go a bit further up to the main channel cut by Toomer Creek to paddle out Capers Inlet. . You name it: Boneyard Beach, Osprey nesting sites, alligators, deer, primitive camping and trails, 1,090 acres of marshland. Camping is only permitted on the island's north and south ends. Permit may be obtained from the DNR Charleston office. These 80 people may be divided into no more than 20 different groups. Bring tons of water if you go. guest-paddler, A self-supported trip created by Pleasant and follow Highway 17N until you come to the Isle of Palms Connector. Directions: Capers Island is only accessible by boat and anchoring at the dock on Capers Inlet (Marker 99 ICWW). "styles": { A camper may remain in one location no more than five consecutive nights. function ShopifyBuyInit() { Access by the general public to the Jocassee Gorges by motorized vehicles will follow a seasonal schedule. From the marina you can reach Caper's Island in approximately 2 hours paddling at a moderate pace. node: document.getElementById('product-component-1667408342563'), Capers Island is a classic, undeveloped barrier island located about 15 miles north of Charleston between Dewees Island and the Cape Romain National Wildlife Refuge. All public use of this type will be by foot travel only. It is separated from the mainland by salt marshes and the Intracoastal Waterway. Temporary primitive camping will be available to organized groups by permit. "styles": { Enjoy a relaxing adventure by paddling to Capers Island for a day trip or overnight. Horse riding is allowed on roads open for use by motorized vehicles. Late fall or winter and/or mid-week would probably be a much more crowd free trip. After setting up camp and getting my gear packed away I made dinner and tried to enjoy one of the muggier & buggier nights I have endured in a tent. Site design by 5th Spark LLC, Events in Charleston Friday - Sunday, January 22 - 24, Events In Charleston This Friday - Sunday. Horse riding is allowed only on roadways, firebreaks and established trails. } If you are going to need any food or drink while you are out on Capers, make sure to bring it with you. Launch from the Isle of Palms Marina, and head east up the Intracoastal Waterway. Capers Island Heritage Preserve Property Location Awendaw, SC 29429 Latitude: 32.852 Longitude: -79.697 County: Charleston Property Type: Heritage Preserve - Natural NO Hunting Allowed on Property Hours of Operation This area is open during daylight hours year-round. Explore the water, trails, and beaches of this beautiful coastal island minutes from Charleston, South Carolina. than 5 horses. PO Box 2063 Mount Pleasant, SC 29465. var client = ShopifyBuy.buildClient({ Tour can include hiking on the beach or the island's interior, depending on trip length. "contents": { Find adventures and camping on the go, share photos, use GPX tracks, and download maps for offline use. We had another no-current assisted paddle back to the marina, which was now an incredible zoo of boats, humanity, cars and trailers. $72 . unplugging from the modern world can have psychological benefits. Remember to get a camping permit from the DNR before you go. They had a total disregard for no-wake zones and frankly we were much happier when it was pouring down rain and all the fruits were home watching sports on television. Most people put in at Garris Landing (for a longer paddle route to Capers) or Gadsenville Public Boat Landing. This is an incredible island that is certainly one of the more unique places to be found on our coast, and there's no better time to visit it than now. Find unique places to stay with local hosts in 191 countries. The beach is awesome and there is a lot of wildlife and natural beauty to be seen. "product": { If you don't have your own kayak, you can rent one from Nature Adventures Outfitters. Camping is allowed by permit only. With so many people living so close to such a jewel it is really inundated on the weekends. The Outbound works best with JavaScript enabled. } All roads with red gates are closed to vehicular traffic. loadScript(); Miraculously, the rain stopped right as we reached Capers and we didn't have another drop for the entire balance of the weekend! Roads open to year round public access include a section of Horsepasture to Laurel Fork Gap (from Highway 178 only). The animals that inhabit Capers are as diverse as the habitats. than 5 horses. Primitive camping only is allowed. "total": "Subtotal", We quickly unloaded our boats, set-up camp and hauled our kayaks up above the high-tide line. if (window.ShopifyBuy) { } Cross Copahee Sound to the Intracoastal and head north along Dewees Island to Capers Inlet. Motorized and non motorized vehicle access to the Jocassee Gorges is limited. For a great local kayak guide company, check out, Live like a Charleston local whenever, wherever, Outdoor destinations + local stories & exclusive outdoor events. Other activities include kayaking and camping underneath a bright and starry night while the waves crashing rock you to sleep. script.src = scriptURL; } The return trip proved to be just as enjoyable as the paddle out. "text": { 850 acres of coastal upland forest, 214 acres of shoreline, 1,090 acres of salt marsh, and over 100 acres of brackish ponds make up the island's diverse ecosystems. Capers Island is a state-owned barrier island on the Atlantic Ocean in Charleston County, South Carolina about 15 miles north of the city of Charleston. "toggle": {} These 80 people may be divided into no more than 20 different groups. Drive to the Isle of Palms, take a left and stay continue on until you see the signs for the marina. Whether you are running this path just as the sun sets or watching the hustle and bustle of city life in the middle of the day, there is never a time this spot isn't absolutely gorgeous. Persons without permits must be off the island by one hour after sunset. As you can imagine, fishing on Capers Island is one of the main attractions. Manifest Your Paddling Dreams for This Year Through Emotional Goal Setting, 13 Bucket List Paddling Destinations in the USA, Stand Up Paddling for Beginners: How to Get Started and Essential Gear. Permits will be issued on a first come first served basis. Live like a Charleston local whenever, wherever, Outdoor destinations + local stories & exclusive outdoor events. Backcountry camping is defined as minimal impact camping. } /**/. Youll cruise through tidal creeks and find diverse wildlife living among the salt marsh. feeding in the ICW, tons of birds, and thanks to the heavy rain, not a single motorboat! Capers Island Wildlife Exploration Book Now Adult (13+) $ 55 Child (3-12) $ 45 Infant (2 & under) Free Quick Details Duration: 3.5 hours Availability: Offered year round from 9-12:30 Immerse yourself in the beauty and wildlife of Capers Island on our eco tour! James Island County Park Campground . to download the reader and then return here. We should have taken his advice right away, but we had already set-up camp and were hesitant to move all our gear. Primitive camping only is allowed. Fishing will be allowed during the hours of from 8:00 a.m. until 5:00 p.m., Monday through Saturday, and from 1:00 p.m. until 5:00 p.m. on Sunday. Rated 4.0 /5 based on 1 reviews 4.0/5 based on 1 reviews Save. Remember to get a camping permit from the DNR before you go. We offer the best quailty crawl space moisture control and repair work out of anyone in the Lowcounty! "button": false, (document.getElementsByTagName('head')[0] || document.getElementsByTagName('body')[0]).appendChild(script); Camping is allowed by permit only. Directions from Charleston: Take Hwy 17 N to the Isle of Palms Connector. "imgWithCarousel": true, As you walk on this path you will come across camera-toting tourists, horse drawn carriages and incredible Charleston architecture. The island is beautiful and we camped on the north side. } "@media (min-width: 601px)": { If there is one backpacking/paddling trip you should take this season, it should be to Capers Island, and here's how to do it. Either way, you will feel like you are in the middle of nowhere. A Professional theme for architects, construction and interior designers (document.getElementsByTagName('head')[0] || document.getElementsByTagName('body')[0]).appendChild(script); This area is open during daylight hours year-round. by guest-paddler A self-supported trip created by guest-paddler . We were unpacked and headed home shortly thereafter. Campers will love it for its seclusion from the city and the unadulterated presence of the stars. script.onload = ShopifyBuyInit; Camping is only allowed on either the south or north end of the island. "products": { Primitive camping only is allowed. } } Camping is restricted to primitive camping in designated areas only. })(); script.async = true; Horse riding is not allowed on firebreaks and trails. Use of the Foothills Trail shall be limited to hiking and primitive camping. "productSet": { I'd love to do it again, but only at high tide and only through Toomer's Creek. "product": { I chose to follow the Intracoastal Waterway since this was my first trip to Caper's and I didn't have much daylight to spend navigating the wetland creeks. Top that off with waking up at sunrise on the beach, and you have yourself one good camping trip. Photo submitted by John Martin. Details. The Department may open and close any road at any time and for such duration as deemed necessary by the Department to manage the property. In one scenario, you're misusing a public park, disregarding it's restrictions on public use. of Natural Resources . You will need it about 8 months out of the year. And arguably one of the best places to do so is Capers Island. Owned by the state of South Carolina, Capers Island is an undeveloped barrier island in the Atlantic Ocean about 15 miles north of the city of Charleston. Overnight camping tours also available. multiple times, sent multiple emails, but got no response. Horse riding is prohibited during all deer hunts. Capers Island Tour, 4-8hrs With Nature Adventures. SECTION 50-11-2200. Paddling distance to the island is approximately 4 miles from the boat landing (8 mile round trip). You're in for roughly a 4.5 mile paddle, so bring plenty of water for the trip, as you won't be able to get fresh water on the island. a first-come first-serve basis during regular business hours M-F 8:30-5pm "buttonDestination": "modal", Is it possible to bring your dog to Capers Island. How it works is that these lanternsvaporize allethrin, which is a synthetic copy of the active ingredient in chrysanthemum flowers that repels mosquitoes, black flies, and no-see-ums. Fishing is permitted from the Santee River dock and the Hog Pen impoundment except during scheduled hunts. They roared all over the place in everything from jet-skis to 50 foot yachts. The use of hang gliders, parachutes, or similar devices is not allowed and may be deemed abuse of Department land. } The operation of a motorized vehicle behind any closed gate is prohibited. } Prior arrangements must be made with the Reserve manager to use observation blinds for waterfowl. . Added by Jason Erdman. During scheduled big game hunts, bicycles and all terrain vehicles are prohibited except as used by legal hunters and anglers. Garmin GPSMap 76, DeLorme and Garmin maps. We're talking campsites with surreal ocean views, interrupted only by petrified trees, and the shade of centuries-old live oak canopies. "total": "Subtotal", files. Many times we witnessed what we came to describe as "Attention Deficit Disorder Shell Collecting": a power boat would pull up and a bunch of people would spring out with beers in hand, walk a hundred yards down the beach and back, hop back in the boat and roar off back into the ICW. 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Only by petrified trees, and head east up the Intracoastal Waterway for 4.5 miles area and on. = scriptURL ; } ) ( ) ; script.async = true ; horse riding allowed... Based in Charleston, South Carolina you name it: Boneyard beach, horses! Year round public access include a section of Horsepasture to Laurel Fork Gap from! Palms Connector in droves much more crowd free trip, so break your hikes up by.