Bulls Island, Cape Romain National Wildlife Refuge

Bulls Island is the southernmost barrier island of Cape Romain National Wildlife Refuge, a 66,000-acre U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service refuge stretching 22 miles up the coast; over half its lands and waters are designated Class I National Wilderness (designated 1975). THE REFUGE DOES NOT CHARGE AN ENTRANCE FEE. The islands and estuaries are accessible only by boat. Open daylight hours only, sunrise to sunset. Camping is prohibited on the refuge except during the two annual archery deer hunts on Bulls Island (first full week of November and first full week of December). Pets are not allowed on refuge islands or on the Garris Landing pier; pets are allowed in boats in the estuary. Bicycles may be ridden only on Bulls Island service roads, not on the beach or hiking trails. On the island: the half-mile Middens Trail, the two-mile Turkey Walk Trail, 16 miles of unpaved service roads, two observation platforms, freshwater impoundments, maritime forest, alligators, and Boneyard Beach on the northeast shore. Marsh Island and White Banks Islands are closed February 15-September 15 to protect nesting birds. Over 293 bird species recorded. Shell collecting is limited to one small bag of unoccupied shells. Refuge HQ open Mon-Fri 8 a.m.-4 p.m. (listed elsewhere as 8:30 a.m.-4 p.m.), 843-928-3264. Sewee Visitor and Environmental Education Center, 5821 Hwy 17 North, Awendaw, open Wed-Sat 9 a.m.-5 p.m., 843-928-3368; grounds, Nebo Trail and Nebo ponds open during daylight even when the building is closed. Awendaw is roughly 20 miles / 30 minutes north of Mount Pleasant on US-17 (approximate).