Bulls Island Ferry Adventure: Cape Romain Wildlife Tour

Wildlife refuge tour with guided trails to beaches and dolphin, osprey, and sea turtle sightings

The Bulls Island Ferry Adventure is a guided tour from South Carolina that combines a 30-minute boat ride into Cape Romain National Wildlife Refuge with self-guided exploration of Bulls Island's trails and beaches. A naturalist travels with you on the ferry, pointing out dolphins, sea turtles, ospreys and over 293 bird species as you cross saltmarsh and tidal creeks. Once on the island, you wander miles of trails at your own pace, including the distinctive Boneyard Beach of weathered oaks and cedars. The tour runs Tuesday through Saturday, March to November, and Saturdays December to March, and takes three to four hours total.

Step-by-step itinerary

Ferry ride and island exploration

• Board ferry to Cape Romain Refuge
• Observe dolphins and birds from ferry
• Explore trails on Bulls Island
• Visit Boneyard Beach

The experience

If you have a free afternoon and want to step into a working wildlife refuge without a car, the ferry does the heavy lifting. The boat leaves the dock and carries you through saltmarsh and tidal creeks for 30 minutes while your naturalist guide points out what lives here: dolphins moving through the shallows, ospreys hunting overhead, migrating shorebirds that stop to feed. The refuge itself protects barrier islands, saltwater estuaries and maritime forests, so the landscape you're crossing through is the reason sea turtles nest here and over 293 bird species pass through or stay year-round.

Once you step onto Bulls Island, the trails are yours to walk. Miles of them wind through the protected wilderness to serene beaches and the island's most distinctive site: Boneyard Beach, where weathered oaks and cedars lie scattered across the sand like the remains of a forest the island used to hold. You set the pace and choose which trails to follow. The guide's job was the boat ride, naming what you saw crossing the refuge. Families with children move slower and stop often. Solo travelers or experienced hikers cover more ground. A pram or stroller works on the trails if you're traveling with infants or small children.

The ferry runs Tuesday through Saturday from March through November, then Saturdays only December through March. Plan for three to four hours total, which includes the boat ride both ways and your time on the island. The boat itself is wheelchair accessible, and transportation to the dock can be arranged if you need it.

What’s included

• Guide service on the ferry with naturalist commentary.
• round-trip ferry ride to Bulls Island in Cape Romain National Wildlife Refuge.
• self-guided access to miles of trails and beaches on the island, including Boneyard Beach.

Before you book

Days and timesTuesday, Thursday, Friday and SaturdayDepartures at 09:00 and 12:30Last departure this season: 28 Nov

Book up to4h before

AgesAdult (13 and older) · Youth (3 to 12 years): free · Child (under 3)

GroupUp to 49

Live guideEnglish

Meeting point and pickupNo hotel pickup: you go to the meeting point. Ends back at the starting point.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Prices and times updated today

Good to know

Low physical effortWheelchair accessibleAccessible transportStroller-friendlyNot recommended during pregnancyNot recommended with heart problems

Operated by Coastal Expeditions

Is this one for you?Small groups and families travel together on the ferry, so you'll share the boat with other nature enthusiasts, but once on the island you explore the trails at your own pace. This works well if you want the wildlife knowledge a guide brings without being tied to a group schedule on land.

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Top questions

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Youth (3 to 12 years): free; Child (under 3).

What happens if it rains?

It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund. Free cancellation up to 24 h before the start.

What wildlife will I actually see on the ferry ride to Bulls Island?

Dolphins, sea turtles, ospreys and migrating shorebirds are common sightings as you cross the saltmarsh and tidal creeks of Cape Romain National Wildlife Refuge. Your naturalist guide points them out and explains what you're looking at. Over 293 bird species use the refuge, so what you see depends on the season and time of day.

Can I walk the trails on Bulls Island on my own, or does the guide lead a group hike?

The trails are self-guided once you're on the island. Your naturalist travels with you on the ferry to explain the refuge ecosystem, but on Bulls Island you explore at your own pace and choose which trails to follow. This works well for families who want to move slowly or travelers who prefer to wander independently.

What is Boneyard Beach, and is it easy to reach from the ferry landing?

Boneyard Beach is Bulls Island's most distinctive site: a stretch of sand scattered with weathered oaks and cedars that once grew on the island. It's reachable by trail from the ferry landing. The distance and difficulty depend on which route you choose, and your guide can point you toward it when you arrive.

When does the ferry run, and how much time should I plan for the whole trip?

The ferry operates Tuesday through Saturday, March to November, then Saturdays only December to March. Plan for three to four hours total, including the 30-minute boat ride each way and your time exploring the island's trails and beaches.

Is the ferry accessible if I use a wheelchair?

The ferry boat itself is wheelchair accessible. Transportation to the dock can be arranged if you need it, so ask when you book about pickup options and any assistance you'll need boarding.