Wassaw National Wildlife Refuge - Member Hike
| Hike Name: | Wassaw National Wildlife Refuge |
|---|---|
| Country: | United States |
| State: | Georgia |
| Nearby Town: | Savannah, Tybee Island, Richmond Hill |
| Rating: |  |
| Directions: | Wassaw National Wildlife Refuge is reachable only by boat. Novice boaters may want to charter a nature cruise from a charter service out of the marinas listed here. It can be confusing trying to navigate the various tidal rivers, so a nautical chart is a must. The closest marina to Wassaw Island is Delegal Creek Marina, phone (912) 598-0023 or Salt Water Charter, phone (912) 598-1814. Many visiting Wassaw launch from the Isle of Hope and unload at the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service dock on Wassaw Creek on the interior of the island, then anchor in the creek. Isle of Hope Marina, 50 Bluff Drive, phone (912) 354-8187. Wassaw Island can also be approached at the northern end by boating up the Wilmington River from Hogan's Marina on Wilmington Island, phone (912) 897-3474. Map: http://www.sherpaguides.com/georgia/coast/northern_coast/wassaw_island_map.html |
| Total Hike Distance: | 27.00 miles |
| Hike Difficulty: | Easy |
| Permit Required: | No |
| Hike Type: | In & Out, Backtrack Hike |
| Hike Starts/Ends: | At the dock |
| Trails Used: | Roads and beach |
| Backcountry Campsites: | No |
| Backcountry Water Sources: | Springs |
| Management: | National Park Service |
| Contact Information: | Savannah Coastal Refuges Parkway Business Center 1000 Business Center Drive, Suite 10 Savannah, Georgia 31405 Email: savannahcoastal@fws.gov |
| Best Season: | Winter, Spring, Summer, Fall |
| Users: | Hikers, Bikers |
| Road Conditions: | Maintained Gravel or Dirt Roads, Unmaintained Gravel or Dirt Roads |
| Hike Summary: | My Commander and I went fishing in this area and we decided, since the fish weren't biting, to check it out. You have got to hike this island. At the Northern end of the island is Fort Morgan, a Spanish-American War fort. Built in 1898 into the dunes on the north end of Wassaw, it was part of the Endicott system of coastal forts. Today, erosion has removed the dunes, and high tides now are working against the remains of the fort—a huge, slumping block of poured concrete, oyster tabby, and North Georgia granite—which probably won't see a second 100 years. Constructed by civilians supervised by U.S. Army Corps of Engineers under 24-year-old Second Lieutenant Henry Sims Morgan, this fort was part of the military buildup that produced Fort Screven on the north end of Tybee. Armed with two 4.7-inch rapid-fire guns, it was the largest single fortification built in Georgia specifically for the Spanish-American War, and it was designed to protect the southern approach to Savannah by way of the Wilmington River. Lieutenant Morgan was later assigned to help build the batteries on the north end of Tybee, where he lost his life attempting to rescue shipwrecked sailors in Tybee Roads during the hurricane of 1898. Some historians have suggested the battery be named Fort Morgan in his honor. A monument dedicated to him is found in the parking lot of the Tybee Island Museum. According to the posted signs, there is no camping and the refuge is day use only. There are a lot of alligators present in the warmer months and we saw evidence of a few, and about a million raccoons. I would imagine snakes like the area as well. The roads are wide and the trails are very cool. We're going to try and arrange a unit function at the refuge to play paintball, I'll hike and do some fishing instead. More information can be found here: http://www.sherpaguides.com/georgia/coast/northern_coast/wassaw_island.html April: Shore and song bird spring migration. May-August: Loggerhead sea-turtle nesting. May-September: Caretta research project. September: Coast Week, shore and song bird fall migration. October: National Wildlife Refuge Week, archery/primitive weapons deer hunt. November: gun hunt for deer. |
One reply on “Wassaw National Wildlife Refuge - Member Hike”
In the text, marinas are listed which offer access to the island. I would like to add one more option: SaltyDawg Adventures.com which offers eco-tours and charters to Ossabaw and Wassaw.