Cumberland Island Walking Tour: Haunting Ruins and Wild Horses
Cumberland Island’s highest-rated daily walking tour!
The only daily tour of the Dungeness Mansion area!
Wild horses. Elegant mansions. Unbridled nature.
On this leisurely Cumberland Island tour of the Dungeness Area, learn the tumultuous history of this island, inhabited over the last 500 years by Native Americans, Spanish, British, and Americans, as you travel down palmetto-lined trails past wild horses and expansive marshes.
- See the haunting ruins of the Carnegies’ Gilded-Aged mansion.
- Enter the vast servants’ quarters where over one hundred laborers catered to the Carnegies.
- Pause at the marsh-side gravesite of Revolutionary War general Light-Horse Harry Lee and learn why he was buried here far from his Virginia home.
- View the oldest building on the island, built by the family of Revolutionary War hero Nathanael Greene over 200 years ago.
Your experienced tour guide will tell tales of famous figures who have surprising links to the island.
Ancient live oak trees, snow-white dunes, and a variety of wildlife provide an enchanting natural backdrop to this island’s deep and fascinating history.
Cost: $40 per person, $25 per child (ages 5-12)
Starting Location: Dungeness Dock, the first ferry stop on Cumberland Island
Time: 12:30 to 2:30 p.m., every day the ferry runs
(The ferry operates 7 days per week except December through February, when it operates 5 days per week.)
Recommended ferries to book for this tour: 11:45 and 2:45 (when it is running from March through September).
Distance: About 1 mile walked (over flat terrain at a leisurely pace) with many chances to sit in the shade
NOTE: You must book tour tickets in advance.
Important Notes:
Cumberland Island Walking Tour fee does NOT include the ferry ticket or entrance to Cumberland Island National Seashore.
Recommended ferries to book for this tour: 11:45 and 2:45 (when it is running from March through September).
For park entrance fee information, click here
Cumberland Tour Information:
For the Cumberland Island Walking Tour, please arrive at the Dungeness Dock on Cumberland Island promptly at 12:30, upon the arrival of the 11:45 ferry. The tour begins only after the ferry arrives and after all guests have had a chance to use the restroom.
The tour ends at 2:30, leaving you time to catch the 2:45 ferry (when it is running March 1 through September 30, Monday to Saturday).
We finish near the Dungeness ruins, allowing you to continue exploring on your own.
What to Bring to Cumberland Island:
- Water
- Food
- Sunscreen
- Good walking/hiking shoes
- Rain gear
- Hat
- Sunglasses
- Bug spray
There are two restrooms and two water fountains in the Dungeness Area. Our tour group has a chance to use the restroom and refill water bottles halfway through the tour.
Be aware there is NOTHING to purchase once you arrive on the island.
All of your trash is pack in, pack out.
Interested in a private Cumberland Island tour for your group? Find more information on private Cumberland Island tours here or call us at 904-735-8243.
Group Discounts: Groups of 10 or more receive a discount of $35 per person. Enter Discount Code GROUP when booking.
Looking for ways to fill your free time on the island? Find a guide to fun island activities here.
Questions? Check out these Frequently Asked Questions, our “How To” Guides, or contact us here!
Booking multiple tours with us means discounts! Book two tours and receive a 10% discount with code 2TOURS. Book three and receive 15% off with code 3TOURS! Contact us here or call 904-735-8243 with questions.
Check out our other tours such as our St. Marys Murder, Mayhem, and Martinis Walking Tour or our Fugitives, Fighters, and Fudge: St Marys Walking Tour!
We require a minimum of three people to operate this tour. If fewer than three people have booked, we may contact you the day before to discuss other options, including rebooking to another date, upgrading to a private tour, or cancelling and receiving a full refund.
Tours run rain or shine, except in the case of inclement weather such as hurricanes. If the Cumberland Island ferry is running its service, so are we.
You MUST book Cumberland Island Walking Tour tour tickets in advance.
Cancellation Policy
Customers who cancel or rebook their tour 48 hours or more before their reserved tour time will receive a full refund or may rebook to the date of their choice.
Customers will also receive a full refund or credit in case of operator cancellation due to inclement weather, such as hurricanes, or other unforeseen circumstances.
No-shows will be charged the full price.
Email mollysoldsouth@gmail.com or contact us here for cancellation and rebooking questions.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long is the Cumberland Island Tour?
The Cumberland Island Walking Tour lasts two hours, giving you free time before or after the tour to explore on your own.
How do you get onto Cumberland Island?
The only way to arrive on the island is by ferry from St. Marys. Find information on departure times and pricing for the Cumberland Island Ferry here.
Is food available on Cumberland Island?
No, no food is available on Cumberland Island. In fact, there are not even trash cans on the island, which means everything is pack in, pack out. However, there IS running water on the island for restrooms and water bottle refills.
Can you drive a car on Cumberland Island?
No, visitors to the island cannot drive a car. The only allowed modes of transportation are walking and biking. Bikes must be brought over on the ferry.
How long is the ferry ride to Cumberland Island?
The ferry ride to Cumberland Island lasts about 45 minutes.
Is Cumberland Island walkable?
Flat, sandy, and shaded, Cumberland Island is a wonderful place to walk around. However, at 18 miles long, the island is not walkable in a day. Campers may be able to cover much of the island over a few days, and bikers can cover about half of the island in one day.
Do you have more questions? Check out this Frequently Asked Questions page!