Morris Island & Its Lighthouse: How To See It Or Visit The Island
The Morris Island Lighthouse, situated just off Morris Island at the mouth of the Charleston harbor, is one of the area’s most iconic landmarks, and is a favorite sight for photographers.
Morris Island itself is a popular kayaking and boating destination, especially in the summer months, offering long stretches of beach, a good spot for shelling and fossil-hunting, and views of the lighthouse.
If you want to see the lighthouse or visit Morris Island, there are several choices of how to do so. For views and photography of the Morris Island Lighthouse, the easiest option is the beaches off the northeastern end of Folly Island.
Alternatively, it is possible to make the trip out to (or near) the island by kayak or by boat. A wide variety of guided boat tours and kayak tours to Morris Island are available locally, and for most, this is the simplest and safest way to visit the island (sunset and specialized fossil-hunting tours are also available).
For experienced paddlers or boaters, it is also possible to make the trip out yourself, with the easiest access to Morris Island being via the creeks to its rear and south.
The Department of Natural Resources, which oversees the island, officially forbids camping on Morris Island, although some locals do so anyway. If you want to camp, a nearby legal spot is the campground at James Island County Park.
See also:
– Things to do in Charleston
– How to get to Folly Beach from Charleston
!The waters around Morris Island are dangerous, due to strong currents and high tidal variation. Always consult the weather and other conditions, and seek local advice, before undertaking a self-guided trip. DO NOT attempt to swim or wade to Morris Island or its lighthouse.
Morris Island Lighthouse Views From Folly Beach
The best viewing location on Folly Beach from which to see the Morris Island Lighthouse is the beach at the very eastern tip of the island, accessible via the Lighthouse Inlet Heritage Preserve (at the former Coast Guard base), open daily from sunrise to sunset.
Entrance to the Heritage Preserve is via East Ashley Street. Limited parking is available at the end of the street (alternatively, it is also a nice bike ride along Folly Beach). There is a kiosk at which you can contribute $1 per person to the upkeep of the preserve.
From the parking area at the end of East Ashley Street there is a short walk along an old road until you get to the beach. The lighthouse is visible as you approach. This is one of Folly’s most secluded beaches, and a great place to visit around sunrise and sunset for photography and for undisturbed beach walks.
For different aspects on the lighthouse and adjacent Morris Island, you can walk a long way up or down this beach. How close you can get to the lighthouse itself depends on the tides, with the lowest tides opening a wide expanse of beach that stretches to a few hundred yards from the tower.
Although it may look as though you can wade across to the lighthouse from the beach at low tide, do not attempt this! It is dangerous to walk out onto the inlet’s sandbars on account of rapid tidal changes and strong currents in the channel. Swimming is forbidden off this beach.
How To Get To Morris Island
How To Get To Morris Island By Boat
The easiest (and safest) way to get to Morris Island by boat is to take one of the several commercial boat tours operated out of the Charleston area, with departures available from Folly Beach, Bowens Island, Mount Pleasant and elsewhere.
If you have your own boat of suitable size and draft, the necessary navigational experience and a good map, however, it is only a short trip over to Morris Island. Access is easiest via the creeks to the rear and south of the island.
Coming from the Charleston harbor, Morris Island should be accessible at all but the lowest tides, although the channel can be difficult to find for inexperienced boaters.
Alternative boat routes to Morris Island include via the creeks accessible from the rear of Folly Beach, or from off Lighthouse Inlet. Again, these trips should not be undertaken at lower tides due to the likelihood of running aground.
Access by boat from the ocean side of Morris Island is technically possible but carries the highest chance of becoming stranded in shallow waters. You can approach the island either coming through the dynamite hole in the jetties, or around the outer limits of the jetties and back in.
The waters in this area (which used to be part of the island, before it eroded away) can be extremely shallow, and especially near the lighthouse itself it is exceptionally easy to run aground. This route is only suitable at the highest tides, and is best avoided by all but experienced boaters.
Kayaking To Morris Island
The paddle out to Morris Island from Folly Beach is mostly through sheltered waters, and though quite long (4 miles each way, about 2 hours of paddling), it is on a technical level suitable for beginners. The paddle is scenic too, and you can often see dolphins in the creeks, along with a variety of birds, sometimes catching fish.
Take a guided tour if you don’t have much experience of paddling in the area: kayakers have died attempting to reach Morris Island. Currents can be unexpectedly strong, and there are other hazards such as the sharp oyster beds and high tidal range to consider.
Guided tours, and kayak rentals for experienced paddlers, are available out of Folly Beach or from Bowens Island. It is also possible to kayak from James Island, passing (and if you want, landing at) Fort Sumter along the way.
You will often be able to orient yourself by keeping the lighthouse in sight, but a map is a must because the network of creeks is complicated (inquire with the company from which you rent your kayaks if you don’t have one). Remember to consider the tides when planning your trip, to take ample water and sun protection, and never to kayak alone.
Seeing The Morris Island Lighthouse Up Close
The only safe way to see Morris Island Lighthouse close up is in a boat. The trip should be made at high tide unless the boat is of exceptionally shallow draft; even then it is easy to run aground. Entry to the lighthouse itself is forbidden.
Do not attempt to wade or swim out to the lighthouse, even if it appears easy. The currents and tides nearby are strong, especially near Lighthouse Inlet, and have taken lives. It is possible to kayak to the lighthouse, but again, be aware of the currents.