cape romain national wildlife refuge

See my review of Bulls Island Ferry which takes you to Bulls Island which is part of the refuge. Great way to spend a day in nature, beautiful beach and also nature trails with alligators.

The newish and little know visitor center was fun even though we aren't kids. There is an enclosure with red wolves which are very cool. We did the 1 mile hike which was a little boring and there were a lot of misquitos!!

Wonderful barrier island which has successfully not been spoiled with globs of facilities. For the most part it has been left natural for the wildlife. They do mow the trails which helps a bit with walking but know that the trails are in sand. You can go over on the morning fairy and return in late afternoon - you need the whole day to see the many parts of the island. Take plenty of water & some food. A real treasure to experience

we took a one day trip to bulls island. Excellent overall with very good and friendly guide on the ferry.

I would recommend a visit to this area but give yourself lots of time. There are many areas to visit and so much to see and do. It is a safe haven for migratory birds, so if you are interested in birding, shelling, visiting a tranquil paradise, put this on your must do list.

How does 45 miles of untouched shoreline sound? Over a quarter of a million acres untouched by man, only access is by boat. Great for birders, photographers and travelers who enjoy being off the beaten path.

We took the Coastal Expeditions ferry out to Bull's Island. We had a great day! Lots of walking but worth it. Take the "grand loop" out to the observation tower, then Alligator Alley to Boneyard Beach (WOW!), walk the beach back to the Beach Road and walk out to the observation platform on your way back to the boat. Take the early ferry at 9 or you won't have enough time to see everything!! Pay attention to the website and take lots of water, insect repellant and sun screen.The highlight for us were a pair of roseate spoonbills but lots of other shorebirds and tons of alligators.

It's well worth the effort to get over here. Lots of others have posted photos so you can see what it is like. Take the ferry over. It's a scenic ride. But the best is when you get to the NWR. Today we saw a variety of birds including bald eagles, as well as bobcats and deer. Carry in everything you'll need. Plan on walking quite a bit. If you want to see what the coast looked like before there was any development, this is a great place to go. The fee for the attraction is related to the cost of the ferry to get there. Like all NWRs that I've been to before, there is no fee to get in. Be forewarned, bathroom facilities are basically nonexistent, as are any other kind of facilities. This is wild and rustic.

We kayaked to Capers island, played with dolphins on the way. Left kayaks on the shore of Bulls island and walked 4 miles North along the shore to the entrance in to woods of the Island, proceeded to alligator alley where we counted 17 alligators on a spot of 200 Square feet. We explored the island and came back to our kayaks, had a short paddle to Capers Island where we set up the camp. Next morning we walked another 3 miles South along the beach. The ocean is swallowing the forest creating fantastic tangle of roots & branches. Paradise for creative photographer and wood designer. On the way back we paddled through marshes for about another 3 hours and by 5 PM we landed. It was unforgettable experience!!

Then go to Bulls Island! It is really worth the trip. Nice "ferry" (small boat) ride to get there with a knowledgeable marine biologist pointing out the interesting growth and birds. The island itself is very primitive - bring everything with you that you will need: food, water and INSECT REPELLANT! The reviewers are not exaggerating here! 4 days later and I'm still itching! But to be on that beach and to see so many alligators! To be one of only 5 people on an island. That is really worth the bites. Try to allow for the full day there so you can cover more ground. If you arrive for the 1/2 day you can only see a small part of the island, which may be enough depending on your tolerance for being bit.

Yes, a visit to Bull Island can include heat, walking, and biting insects - but it's worth it! You are in a Class I Wilderness so don't expect the hike around this barrier island to be easy. You will be rewarded with a silence only filled with the chirrup of insects, the sight of ibis, egrets, brown pelicans, and gulls, a walk along deep sandy trails, the possibility of alligator-sightings, and an hour or two along the lonely, spectacular Boneyard Beach. Bull Island is one of the last undeveloped barrier islands along the Carolina Coast, although it was settled and farmed in earlier times. The beach on the Atlantic side of the island has a ghostly forest of dead trees marching up and down the fine white sand. Constant onshore winds and waves bury the maritime forest in sand and salt spray, killing the trees. The bones of this dead forest are bleached white and smooth except where they have sprouted barnacles. You can swim or collect shells or just wander up and down the beach with your camera, taking photos of trees that look like sculptures. The island is reached after a 30-minute ride on a private ferry that carries a naturalist who gives background on the island. If you return to the mainland hot, sore, sandy and itchy, limp over to the SeeWee Restaurant at the beginning of the access road to the ferry. You'll find a restaurant converted from an old grocery store and lots off great food, including free hushpuppies.

...you are prepared for the following:1). Biting deer flies, mosquitos, etc. on the island will penetrate clothing. My husband has about 50 insect bites on his back and shoulders where his skin was covered by a Cotton T-shirt, and I have about 40 bites in areas that were covered by a polyester T-shirt but no insect repellant. 2). Mosquitos on the island will not be deterred by anything less than 40% or more DEET in your insect repellant. 3). The deer flies are ruthless and their bite is much more painful than a mosquito bite. My husband and I got bit my numerous deer flies even though we sprayed ourselves down with an insect repellent containing 40% DEET.4). If riding a bicycle, be aware that the roads and trails may prove to be very difficult for you as the terrain is soft and full of sand. We took our bikes to ensure we could explore much of the island in a limited time frame.My husband and I enjoyed seeing an array of birds (ibis, egrets, avocets, rails, etc) at the observation tower at the end of Sheep's Head Road and the alligators in Alligator Alley; however, much of the experience was tarnished by the feeling that we were running for our lives to try to limit the number of insect bites.We believe this is a beautiful, pristine environment for viewing wildlife. Just be prepared by wearing light, loose-fitting, long-sleeve shirts and long pants of polyester fabric in addition to using insect repellant if you want to fully enjoy the experience. If you enjoy taking photos of wildlife, we suggest you take the Coastal Expeditions sunrise photography tour which includes a boat trip to the island and a van ride to boneyard beach to avoid the insect biting walk or bike ride.

cypress trees on Bull Island are like monuments to the sea.

It is a great place to kayak. Landing on the islands is fun. Bull island has some awesome gators. I saw one over 15 feet long.