Camping Journal

This was one of the nicest parks we have visited this year. The campground was nearly deserted (except for the sites directly on the ocean). It is probable that most people were afraid of cold weather, but due to the unseasonably warm weather we enjoyed the park almost by ourselves.

The park has over a hundred sites divided up into individual loops with a bathhouse for each. The bathhouse was clean with plenty of hot water, but I noted that there was no heat or air conditioning, just open screen windows. In hot or cold weather some may find them uncomfortable.

While it rained every day of our visit, there was sufficient clear time to walk in the woods surrounding the campground and walk on the beach. I think the wide open beach was one of the most enjoyable aspects of this park. But walking on the beach reminded of the power of mother nature. Sticking up from the sand dunes and the beach were ghostly reminders of mans folly in building in coastal areas. The remnants of a camping loop, long reclaimed by the ocean were readily apparent. Water pipes, electrical cable and other parts of the loop stick up in areas of the beach. A road, clearly the access to a camping loop now ends on the sand of the beach.

Only one small area of the campground allows reservations, with the rest first come first served. Most sites are wide with sufficient under-story to shield you from your neighbors. Care should be taken in that several sites marked as pull through are only suitable for tents and obstructions would not allow a vehicle to pull into the site. During slow periods the staff closes off unused loops to allow closing of unneeded bath houses.

Location: Hunting Island State Park, SC	Date: 12/8/2001
Miles Towed: 650	Weather: H 60's L 30's