An Adventure to Sapelo Island

What a wonderful day on Sapelo Island! A big thank you to the Georgia Department of Natural Resources (DNR) and Sapelo Island National Estuarine Research Reserve team for showing us around. Sapelo Island is the closest point of land to Gray’s Reef National Marine Sanctuary, about 19 miles off shore.

Sapelo is a state-managed barrier island, the fourth largest in the chain of Coastal Georgia islands. Accessible only by passenger ferry, Sapelo Island provides a number of educational and exploratory opportunities.

The Georgia DNR manages the island, operates the ferry service and serves as state liaison for the Sapelo Island National Estuarine Research Reserve, the University of Georgia Marine Institute, and the civilian Hog Hammock community, permanent home to about 70 full-time residents, many of whom are descended from the enslaved people of Sapelo’s plantations.

Check out tracks in the sand from one of the many sea turtle nests – Sapelo Island is a nesting site for logger head sea turtles.

Join a public tour of Sapelo Island to learn more about this incredible treasure!