Eliot VanOtteren
Cannon's Point
Boys love to explore and there’s plenty of opportunity to do that on St. Simons Island. Of course, you’ll want to load up with essential provisions for a day out first. If you need something to keep your drinks and snacks chilled, stop in Island ACE Hardware to peruse their YETI and Stanley selections or check out the Scout bags and coolers at St. Simons Drug Co. You can also find bug scarves and repellent, plus lots of other handy supplies for picnics or an impromptu cook-out on grills at the park, as well as some great gourmet goodies. To fill up with a quick breakfast before you hit the trail or to pack wraps, salads, or sandwiches for a grab-and-go lunch, drop by Three Little Birds, Fly-In, Fly-Out. For proper shoes to navigate the trails and comfy outdoor attire, our friends at Gentlemen Outfitters, Bullington, and Saltwater Boys can gear up your guys from head to toe.
Now you're ready to wander the wilderness. The St. Simons Land Trust's protected properties are a fantastic place to spend some time unplugged. Since their founding in 2000, the Land Trust been committed to protecting and preserving the natural beauty of our marshes, maritime forest, and other significant greenspace on the island. They are currently the stewards of 35 protected properties, totaling nearly 1,400 acres. That’s nearly 14% of the island! These protected areas include greenspaces, iconic spaces, nature trails, partner parks, and preserves.
Home to some of the last intact maritime forest on St. Simons Island, Cannon’s Point Preserve is a 644-acre peninsula that boasts more than six miles of river shoreline, tidal creek, and salt marsh. Open from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 pm. Saturday, Sunday, and Monday, visitors can bike or hike along trails and paths on the south end, take a break in the guest pavilion, fish or kayak at the waterfront, and stand among the forest canopy at the south-end observation tower. They can also walk or bike the two and a half miles to the north end, where the path is surrounded by undisturbed habitat and ends at the site of the remains of John Couper’s 18th century home. Here guests can climb another observation tower to view archaeological ruins of the former Couper Plantation, including outbuildings and slave quarters built in the early 1800s.
Nearby, and easily accessible from the bike path along Lawrence Road, the 258-acre Guale Preserve is a wilderness oasis in the heart of the island. The preserve offers roughly three miles of trails for passive recreation. These hiking trails guide you through maritime forest, old dune ridges with scrub live oaks, and stands of pond pines (a unique pine tree only found on older parts of barrier islands). Interpretive signs throughout the property provide information about the various habitats inside the Preserve, share quotes from early naturalist William Bartram, and display incredible artwork by Philip Juras. A family fishing platform is currently being installed on the waterfront, so add that to your angling opportunities when it’s complete!
The Land Trust’s most recent acquisition is Spears Preserve at Harrington, a 15+ acre tract at 440 North Harrington Road. Although the property is not currently open to the public, once the planned Elouise Spears Heritage and Nature Trail is completed, visitors will be able to travel an earthen path that weaves through the property’s maritime forest providing opportunities for birding, hiking, and learning more about an invaluable piece of history for both the island and our region. For more information about the St. Simon Land Trust and more of its protected properties, visit sslt.org.
