Morris Island Camping Trip

Saltwater Inshore Discussion
1

I have been camping before, obviously boating before, but never camping via boat before so I’m asking for a little help.

I am trying to plan a weekend trip for some friends and I to Morris Island to camp for one night over a saturday and sunday. There might be about 10 of us more or less.

Where can I find definitive information on the legalities of it? campfires? Alcohol, etc? Tents? Most of what I’ve seen online is just people posting about it like this. I was wondering if Charleston County has any official stance on camping on the island.

Also, I’m asking for help on deciding where to launch from and land on the island. My boat is a 22’ walk around w/twin 120s, and it is not the shallowest drafting of boats.

I have yet to launch from the ramp on folly, but it seems reasonable that I could launch from there, drop people/stuff off on the lighthouse inlet side of morris, and anchor the boat in the sheltered creek on the south end of morris island overnight. Does anyone has specific knowledge about that creek and how shallow it is or how bad the oysters are at low tide?

Either that or launch from Wappoo Cut, and land near the area where I have seen party people anchored up before near/on sandbars. I’d like to avoid crowds as well as it’s supposed to be a camping trip, not a social boozefest.

Do either of those launches allow overnight parking? I honestly can’t recall, but I don’t think the folly one allows overnight parking.

On google earth, it appears that the best area for camping may be near the south end of the island where it appears there is a large area of sand or maybe dunes that is not molested by the high tides. Is that a good spot?

I’d love some specific advice on any particular areas that I should avoid when anchoring my boat. Also, if there are any really neat areas I should check out while I’m on the island, please let me know, Thanks.

2

Apparently, typing Morris Island somehow hyperlinked to an ebay ad??? not sure how that happened… i’m not trying to sell anything here.

3

what the heck is with these hyperlinks? typing the word e.b.a.y. was somehow hyperlinked? any way I can stop that from happening?

4

They are automatically added via VigLink so that the site can pay for itself.

5

I know the city of Charleston does not allow camping (drinking, golfing, fireworks and a bunch of other stupid crap) on the Cummings Point (Northeast) end of the island…getting to the South (Lighthouse) end either via Rat Island Creek (via the Folly River) or behind Morris Island through the Clark sound is very, very tricky if you have never done it before…the South facing sandy area on Lighthouse Creek has many unmarked oyster beds that are only visible a couple hours on either side of high tide…

The Morris Island Lighthouse www.savethelight.org

6

Thanks Bonzo, I’ve heard it’s tricky back there, and I did not know about the oyster beds on the south facing sandy area (which is basically exactly where I wanted to drop people and stuff off) so that definitely helps. Is there a particular area you would recommend landing? I’m looking for shallow, sandy, and relatively oyster free waters. calm water would be preferable, but I could deal with a little current as long as it is shallow enough to stand without being in danger of being swept out an inlet.

I am also not very good with the creek names in this area, but I am pretty sure I was thinking about going through what you call rat island creek, but not clark sound.

Thanks again for the answers to silly questions, I’d really rather just figure this stuff out for myself, but time is kind of an issue. Also, since its my first time island camping, and I’d have other people with me, I’d rather know before I go for safety’s sake as the other people I’m with may not as readily recognize an unsafe situation near an inlet.

Also, thanks for the link to savethelight. However, I wasn’t able to gather much information from that website about visiting the island. I did however, send them an email

7
quote:
Originally posted by twslade

They are automatically added via VigLink so that the site can pay for itself.

Oh okay, thanks for the explanation. other forums’ i have been on frown on people posting self-promoting hyperlinks in their posts (if they are not a paid advertiser), but it makes sense here. Thanks

8
quote:
Originally posted by millacd

Also, thanks for the link to savethelight. However, I wasn’t able to gather much information from that website about visiting the island. I did however, send them an email

the link is part of my signature…I serve on the board of Save The Light…I didn’t mean it as an avenue for camping info, but Miss Patty will probably email you back and might even refer your email to me anyway! check your private messages…

The Morris Island Lighthouse www.savethelight.org