Hunting Island State Park and beach will be reopening this Friday along with the other 46 state parks across South Carolina, and there will be some new restrictions, new rules, new hours, more changes when Hunting Island reopens.
If you’re venturing out to your favorite slice of Lowcountry sea island paradise, there are some things you need to know ahead of time.
Here’s a list:
Hunting Island Beach
The new hours of operation for Hunting Island beach will be from 10am until 7pm daily.
The bathhouses will be open at the North and South beach parking areas.
The Visitors Center, Nature Center and Park Office will not be open.
The gift shop/convenience store near the Lighthouse will not be open.
The Lighthouse will not be open for tours or for climbing.
There are 4 beach access points at north beach where a walkway is roped off over the dunes. One at the first parking lot, behind the bathhouse, there are two at the end of the sidewalk by the lighthouse, and one in front of Parking Lot D.
These are the only place to access the beach at the North end.
There are 5 access points at the South Beach parking areas. One is at F parking, one is in front of the bathhouse, and the other 3 are spread across the rest of the parking lots and are marked.
These are the only way to cross over the dunes to the beach at the South end.
Park officials as that you please follow the social distancing guidelines, with no groups larger than 3 people (unless members of a single household) on or off the beach.
Please remember to keep off the dunes!
The dunes are currently roped off and are vital to the future survival of the island and its susceptibility to beach erosion.
The dunes are also vital to nesting sea turtles.
Hunting Island Campground
Camp Hosts will be on duty to check campers in, and only vehicles with current camping hang tags and arriving campers with reservations will be allowed in the campground area.
Campsites will not be available on a “walk-in” basis.
The campground store will not be open, and the playground will be closed and unavailable for use.
The bathhouses will be open.
There are 4 beach access points in the campground. One is by the path that runs behind sites 89-95. One is to the right of the store parking lot, where you will see the end of the new dune line. Another is behind the campground store, and the fourth access point is directly behind the bathhouse in the rustic tent site area.
These are the only spots to access the beach from the campground.
Again, please, stay off of the dunes.
Please follow the social distancing guidelines while at the campground, with no groups larger than 3 people (unless members of a single household).
The entrance to the park could be closed at any time, without notice, when admission numbers swell to high to be able to maintain proper social distancing protocols.
State park Visitor Centers are scheduled to reopen on Monday, May 11, and will feature proper signage, physical indicators and barriers in place to ensure the safety of staff and visitors.
All retail stores and spaces likely will open by Friday, May 15. State Parks social distancing practices will include both physical and operational measures to limit contact between staff and visitors.
We need to be thankful that our beloved beach is reopening on May 1st.
Please remember to use it responsibly, and to look out for your neighbors.
