Driftwood Beach- Jekyll Island, GA
The United States has one impressive collection of beaches. From the craggy cliffs of Maine, to the white powder sand of Florida’s Gulf Coast, East Coast beaches alone vary widely based on local geology. One of the most unique beaches without a doubt is Jekyll Island’s Driftwood Beach. Ongoing erosion has created a ghostly gray graveyard, with fallen scrub soldiers littering the beach.
Located on the north end of Jekyll Island, erosion and salt water slowly overcome trees growing on the edge of Driftwood Beach. Beautifully windswept in life, fallen trees weather and bleach to stunning gray sculptures in death; silvering as they slowly succumb to the elements. The resulting harsh, stark landscape is certainly something to behold.
Although technically not driftwood, the uprooted trees do resemble haphazardly deposited sea detritus. Unlike most driftwood however, the trees remain remarkably intact. The beach’s haunting, desolate beauty has made it a favorite for not only bathers, but photographers who use the bleached beauties as backdrops. The changing light provides gorgeous scenery throughout the day, but sunrise is a particularly popular time for shutterbugs.
The wide packed sand beach is perfect for biking or lounging; it is the Atlantic however, so don’t expect crystal clear, stunning blue water. Although not the most attractive, the water is shallow and calm, so while it certainly isn’t a surfer’s paradise, it is great for wading.
On the rockier portions of the beach inhabitants include sea roaches, which are as awful as they sound. That said, they are easily avoided, as they seem to prefer protected areas. Fortunately, the waterbirds that feed on the ancient arthropods are much more pleasant, and include pipers and plovers. Although it would not be my first choice for a bathing beach, it is a unique example of barrier island erosion, and is visually stunning.
