Private Beach

Dewees Island has almost 3 miles of sandy beaches

Most days you’ll run into fewer than 10 other people on the beach.  On big holidays, such as the 4th of July, you might 50 or 60 people; but nothing like the crowds you would encounter on so many other South Carolina beaches.

You can walk, jog or ride a bike on the beach.  You can read a book or sunbathe.  The beach slopes at a reasonable pace to the ocean.  It’s neither steep or flat.  Between 50 and 100 feet into the water, an adult will be standing chest deep in the water.

Beach cruiser bicycle on the beach

There is good swimming and body surfing.  Some people use skim and boogie boards.  The waves come straight into the beach most of the time, reducing the opportunity for long surfing runs.  Most surfing is done on 34th Avenue on the Isle of Palms or on the other side of Charleston on Folly Beach.

The shelling on Dewees is excellent, especially on the north end of the island.  The island community asks that you limit yourself to 3 beach treasures per day.  This can create a fun game as you ask yourself, “what are the 3 very best shells I found today?” You might find dozens of key hole urchins (a close relative of the Florida sand dollar) or lighting whelks or lettered olives.

Sea star among many other beach treasures you can find on Dewees

People get to the front beach via six beach access paths.  Each path offers golf cart parking as well as trash and recycling collection.  The different access paths each have their own special feel.  Please stay on the marked paths to protect the fragile dunes and eggs of nesting shorebirds.  There is also a beach access pass out to the north end of the island.

When you arrive at the beach make sure to take a moment to look back at where you came from.  The beach is so private that it can sometimes be difficult to find the access path if you haven’t taken in your surroundings.  The paths are marked with vertical wooden posts, which are easy to find if you’re aware of what to look for.

Sometimes boaters beach their watercraft below the high tide line on the north and south ends of the island.  Below the tide line, South Carolina is public property.  Boaters avoid the ocean side of the beach because of the waves.

a typical day on the Dewees beach at low tide

When you’re out walking the beach, be sure to check out the tidal pools.  There are many amazing things in the tidal pools.  The Island’s nature staff will be happy to explain the names and special adaptations of the creatures you find in the tide pools (or anywhere on Dewees).  Please leave live fish and sea creatures where you found them.

Barrier islands are dynamic and ever changing.  They go through cycles of accretion (growth) and erosion.  Over the last 18 to 24 months, the island has had some erosion in the middle of the beach.  The erosion has exposed some old tree trunks.  This type of beach is sometimes called a “bone yard” beach.  It can be lots of fun to explore.   A new sandbar has attached itself to the island north of Osprey Walk.  At low tide, you walk out into the ocean while staying dry.  Over the next few years, the sandbar will likely be redistributed by mother nature.  The sand will likely cause the middle of the beach to begin growing again. Be careful on sandbars, sometimes the currents are tricky.

Islanders can often be found on the private because enjoying quiet games of bocce or dammitball.  Occasionally, a game of soccer will break out.

During the summer months you might come across loggerhead turtle tracks.  If you do, please contact a turtle team volunteer or the nature center staff.  You can volunteer to walk the beach at 6 a.m. to look for tracks, if you want to be part of the team.  The turtles come up on the beach to lay their nests.  The eggs hatch about 55 days later, depending on the temperatures.

At the end of the day, please be sure to take your things with you so that others can enjoy the beach undisturbed.