May River Sand Bar
Sand Bars are the ultimate; now you see me, now you don’t attraction here on Hilton Head Island. These tidal treats only appear at low tide – and sometimes you need to have an in with a local to find them. Almost all bodies of water have these unique places – with great names like – The Playpen, the Sand Box, Pretty Channel, the Redneck Riviera, and beyond. They are places where those in the know experience the beach and do not have to deal with the crazy crush of crowds, parking, traffic, or that 5,000-yard walk to the beach with all your family’s belongings. When the tides are right and the schedule is clear – we locals tend to run to our boats and head for the good times of the local sand bar.
Here on Hilton Head Island, we have three such places within striking distance of any dock. Depending on what you are after – solitude, complete wonder, or a flat-out party – these hidden beaches have something to offer even the most discerning boater. What’s really interesting, though, are the different flavors or experiences each Sand Bar gives you.
Let’s start with the most popular of them – the May River Sand Bar. Imagine it’s the summer, and the weather is good on a low-tide weekend. In that case, you can count on the May River Sand Bar as the prime destination for anybody with a boat – or even better, a friend with a boat.
This little slice of paradise sits between Bluffton and Palmetto Bluff up on the May River. This Sand Bar is a great place to beach or anchor your boat and is comprised of both sand and pluff mud. This means the kids will invariably cover themselves from head to toe in the muck and come looking for you! It’s a fantastic spot with cool things to offer adults and kids alike. On any given low tide weekend, you will find families, friends, barbecue, water toys, and a whole lot of festivity to go with it.
This Sand Bar is my go-to when trying to get somebody to move to the area. I am batting an even 1000% on that. It got my sister here, my best friend and his wife, and my wife’s best friend and her husband. We plan to host 6 couples here on Hilton Head this summer, and the key determining factor in picking a date was – is it a low tide / May River Sand Bar weekend? It’s good to have your priorities in order.
The Colleton River Sand Bar is now on the opposite side of the Sand Bar spectrum. This beauty is found between the north end of Hilton Head Island and Bluffton on the Port Royal side of the Island. The Colleton River Sand Bar is for you if you want total peace, tranquility, and super sparse crowds. This Sand Bar stretches for nearly a mile and is just off the shoreline of the Colleton River community. From the sand, when you plop down your chair, you can see clearly across the Sound and pick out Parris Island, Dolphin Head, Bay Point Island, and the Atlantic Ocean.
This Sand Bar is excellent for couples and families, and for me, it is the best place to take your dog to toss a ball. You can throw the ball on the shallower side of the Sand Bar so that they don’t get too far out in the water. With the dog – you know there are few people they can annoy, and there is no place to escape to – so having them off a leash isn’t a problem.
Finally, we have the locally famous “Disappearing Island.” As a private charter boat captain, I know this is the Sand Bar everybody has heard of and wants to visit. It sits just off Daufuskie Island in the Calibogue Sound. Disappearing Island during a king ride is absolutely massive. It is easily the most extensive Sand Bar of the three. The cool thing about this place is that you have stunning and clear views of Daufuskie, Hilton Head, the Harbour Town Lighthouse, and Tybee Island – Georgia. On a clear non-hazy day – Tybee Island looks so close you feel like you could almost touch it.
The Disappearing Island also can attract a fair number of people. All of the charter boats on the Island will flock to it when the tides are right. It is close to Harbour Town, Broad Creek, and South Beach Marina – where 90+% of those operations run out. So, it is common to see charter groups like Island Head, H2O water Sports, Outside Hilton Head, and many more out there.
Here’s the great thing – no matter which Sand Bar you pick, it is a uniquely low country experience with the lush greenery surrounding you, getting your toes in the sand. You will often even find a pod of dolphins cruising close by!
At Hilton Head Boat Charters, we have a two-hour Hilton Head boat tour that can get you to any of these Sand Bars for a fantastic experience with your Group. So, if adventure is in your future, give us a holler or check us out at www.hhiboatcharters.com.
Hilton Head Boat Charters – Tour Experiences:
- 2-hour Hilton Head Sunset Cruise
- 2-hour Hilton Head Dolphin Cruise
- 2-Hour Large Group (up to 20 people) Hilton Head Dolphin Tours
- 2-Hour Large Group (up to 20 people) Sunset Cruise Hilton Head
- 4-hour large Group (up to 20 people) Hilton Head Bachelorette Party cruise
- 6-hour Savannah Run
- And many more
