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I never miss a chance to visit a lighthouse and Morris Island Lighthouse is a must see on a visit to Folly Beach. What makes this lighthouse so unique is that it stands on an island that is submerged under water. The lighthouse, which closed in 1962, is in a state of disrepair, but still stands a proud beauty. Morris Island is north of Folly Beach. To view the lighthouse, drive north to the end of the island. There is limited street parking at the entrance to the beach. You must park completely off the pavement to avoid a ticket. There is no charge to park or enter the beach park. We followed a graffiti filled quarter mile paved trail to see the lighthouse. There is a short climb to the beach where exquisite views of the lighthouse await. On our December visit, we were the only visitors to the picturesque beach.
While you can't actually "visit" the Morris Island Lighthouse, you'll find that it's totally worth taking the time to come here for a look-see. At one time the lighthouse was on land, but now it's several hundred feet offshore; it's a piece of history, and totally worth seeing as picture of Charleston rich history. Picture the countless ships that were guided into the harbor over the years. Imagine the battles and the hurricanes that this landmark has weathered. This lighthouse is a symbol of survival and strength that you can almost feel when you're in the vicinity :-) On the downside, it isn't easy to find parking and you have to walk a ways after entering the park to get to the beach, but to me it was totally worth making the trek. Tip: Be sure to bring one dollar per person for beach admission.
Beautiful place to play tourist and get some great pics. Interesting walk down to the beach as the paved road is adorned with graffiti.
This is a secluded beach way on the west end of the island. You have to walk about 1/4 mile from the parking area to get there. The beach is kind of dirty and there is a lot of graffiti. You do get a good view of the old lighthouse which used to be on land but is now surrounded by water.
Great for dolphin watching and relaxing! Don't forget your bug spray though, those sand gnats are no joke out here. We walked the graffiti road on Folly to get to the beach and that was also very fun.
Every time I come to Folly Beach I walk the stretch of beach where the Morris Island Lighthouse Site is. It is a beautiful walk and at some points makes you feel like you are in a swampland. It's beautiful, secluded, peaceful, and out of the norm. My advice (Perfect Date Spot) - on a pretty day around 2pm I would head that way w/ a cooler full of drinks and food for a picnic and other things like towels. And remember don't litter! I promise you won't be disappointed. My trip today I saw a family of Dolphins swimming in a cove, super cool. They were within 25 feet of me and I was on land. The only thing to warn you about is if you walk out far on the island like I do, then make sure you get back to the normal side before the tide rises, otherwise you might find yourself stuck. Otherwise I hope you enjoy this lovely peaceful little private park like I do! Cheers & Enjoy!
I checked another item off my bucket list today. We caught the sunrise (in 40 degree weather) at Folly Beach and saw the morning gleam off the Morris Island Lighthouse. There are no words to describe how beautiful it was. To think that the same sun I saw christen the shore lines of Folly Beach this crisp early dawn is the same sun that had just left the European continent. I stood in awe of its beauty and took in how one, over looked, and taken-for-granted sunrise can put everything into focus. Society moves at such a fast pace that sometimes it's good to stop, remove yourself from the blur and to give thanks for the simple things like another day that the sun has risen to cast out the darkness one more time.
Amazing stretch of beautiful unspoiled litter free beach. Take a left on Ashley as you enter the town of Folly. Drive all the way to Cul de Sac. There is paid parking $7.00) It's an all day flat rate! on the right near the cul de sac although I managed to secure street parking. Then I paid $1.00 park fee. It's honour system & headed to see the beach & lighthouse. Lots of people on bicycles. It's about a ten min stroll until you hit the hot hot sand. Worth it for that breathtaking view. Wow, quiet, serene picturesque place. No swimming allowed but I have to admit I did sit at the shore to cool off. Lots of locals fishing here. Make sure to check the Tides before you go. It needs to be low tide or you will not enjoy the full experience it had to offer plus of course you could get stranded, say you went for a beach stroll. Be very careful. Go, experience this amazing place.
This is my 500th Review!!! Do I make it long...short....in between...? Do I go witty, professional, charming or lay out the whole kitchen sink? So much pressure.. Ok deep breath. All calm, focus, mute Netflix and think long and hard how you want to formulate this milestone review. I think I wore myself out just prepping. I can do it. Get your head in the game Mark. Morris Island Lighthouse. To some it is the great escape. Just past Folly Beach and The Washout, is a piece of natural beachfront with a long rock formation, dead trees embedded into the sand, a metal foundation with Love spray painted and one of the most beautiful lighthouses in the Southeast. With a half a mile walk just to get to the spot, this place challenges its patrons. Why do people go through all the effort to see this? 1. Fishing 2. Sunsets and sunrises 3. Pondering life on the rocks 4. Engagement pictures 5. Intimate wedding spot 6. Quiet beach picnic 7. Photographers dream 8. Drone photographers dream There are many reasons people come to this quiet escape. For me, it is the natural wonder of the imagery all around. When the clouds linger over the lighthouse as the sun sets bringing an ominous blue to the sky, there aren't words. There are many favorite places in Charleston and even as the area evolves, this remains as one of them.
Worth the drive to see. Oldest lighthouse in South Carolina. It's about 1/4 mile walk to get to the lookout point but there is a nice little portion of semi secluded beach to soak up some sun. No swimming in that area due to deadly currants but nice place to layout and enjoy the sounds of the ocean.
Awesome spot at the west end of Folly Beach Island, very historic Morris Island light house, awesome spot for photography, it is a great private part of the beach with lots of natural dune space, the walk is a bit farther then you think and the soft sand at the end can wear you out if you are older and not in great shape so try to early in the mornings before it gets too hot!!! If you have every seen the Civil War movie "Glory" Morris Island was the last battle scene of that movie, this really is a historic spot and a must see when visiting Charleston and guess what, it's free!!!
Nice walk to the lighthouse (1/4 mile of paved and beach walking). Low tide is the best time to go, to really enjoy the beach and a longer walk. High tide can limit how much you're able to walk (and collect shells). Don't go during prime beach time as parking near the entrance is limited, but not a deterrent from going. I've been here a handful of times already and will continue to come visit. Great for photography as well.
You can parallel park right before the cul de sac. They do not allow dogs in there so you would have to leave your pets in the car. The walk to see the lighthouse is about 10 minutes. But that's just to SEE the lighthouse. On the pathway to the beach there were a lot of peace like graffiti on the pavement. From Hearts to the words like "I love you" and some structures with stairs. Once you reach the end you'll see the beach. You can just chill on the beach and on the rocks which is the best place to take pictures! The lighthouse was actually further than I thought so I didn't walk all the way up there. However from far away it didn't look as nice as the lighthouses on the outer banks. But it's still a nice view.
1 year ago
The lighthouse is not accessible from land and you can't even get there directly from Morris Island! That said, if you're willing to drive a half hour or so from Charleston across James Island and across the Folly Island causeway and then a couple of miles parallel to Folly Beach to get to the gate at the entrance to the Lighthouse Inlet Heritage Preserve https://www.yelp.com/biz/lighthouse-inlet-heritage-preserve-folly-beach?hrid=fwYKXGE-nutYG9bRU9dKgw and then walk a half mile or so down a graffiti road and then a few hundred yards of sand, you can get to a point where you can actually SEE the lighthouse. Was all of that journey worth it? Unquestionably so. A great addition to my Lighthouses collection https://www.yelp.com/collection/GLWJhPZloUBCLUFSYgLw4g. Standing at the entrance to Charleston harbor since 1767 and updated many times since then, the lighthouse has suffered from the erosion caused by rerouting the Ashley, Cooper and Wando Rivers. It used to be *on* the island and now it *is* the island. It's also been damaged by storms including Hurricane Hugo in 1989 and Hurricane Irma in 2017. The lighthouse is closed to the public and as far as I know, the small amount of space at the base is also off limits. But you can sure appreciate it from the tip of Folly Beach or perhaps you're on a boat. Definitely check it out. [Review 19513 overall - 1084 in South Carolina - 483 of 2023.] read more
1 year ago
5 years ago
I never miss a chance to visit a lighthouse and Morris Island Lighthouse is a must see on a visit to Folly Beach. What makes this lighthouse so unique is that it stands on an island that is submerged under water. The lighthouse, which closed in 1962, is in a state of disrepair, but still stands a proud beauty. Morris Island is north of Folly Beach. To view the lighthouse, drive north to the end of the island. There is limited street parking at the entrance to the beach. You must park completely off the pavement to avoid a ticket. There is no charge to park or enter the beach park. We followed a graffiti filled quarter mile paved trail to see the lighthouse. There is a short climb to the beach where exquisite views of the lighthouse await. On our December visit, we were the only visitors to the picturesque beach. read more
2 years ago
6 years ago
While you can't actually "visit" the Morris Island Lighthouse, you'll find that it's totally worth taking the time to come here for a look-see. At one time the lighthouse was on land, but now it's several hundred feet offshore; it's a piece of history, and totally worth seeing as picture of Charleston rich history. Picture the countless ships that were guided into the harbor over the years. Imagine the battles and the hurricanes that this landmark has weathered. This lighthouse is a symbol of survival and strength that you can almost feel when you're in the vicinity :-) On the downside, it isn't easy to find parking and you have to walk a ways after entering the park to get to the beach, but to me it was totally worth making the trek. Tip: Be sure to bring one dollar per person for beach admission. read more
3 years ago
Beautiful place to play tourist and get some great pics. Interesting walk down to the beach as the paved road is adorned with graffiti. read more
This is a secluded beach way on the west end of the island. You have to walk about 1/4 mile from the parking area to get there. The beach is kind of dirty and there is a lot of graffiti. You do get a good view of the old lighthouse which used to be on land but is now surrounded by water. read more
3 years ago
5 years ago
Great for dolphin watching and relaxing! Don't forget your bug spray though, those sand gnats are no joke out here. We walked the graffiti road on Folly to get to the beach and that was also very fun. read more
Every time I come to Folly Beach I walk the stretch of beach where the Morris Island Lighthouse Site is. It is a beautiful walk and at some points makes you feel like you are in a swampland. It's beautiful, secluded, peaceful, and out of the norm. My advice (Perfect Date Spot) - on a pretty day around 2pm I would head that way w/ a cooler full of drinks and food for a picnic and other things like towels. And remember don't litter! I promise you won't be disappointed. My trip today I saw a family of Dolphins swimming in a cove, super cool. They were within 25 feet of me and I was on land. The only thing to warn you about is if you walk out far on the island like I do, then make sure you get back to the normal side before the tide rises, otherwise you might find yourself stuck. Otherwise I hope you enjoy this lovely peaceful little private park like I do! Cheers & Enjoy! read more
I checked another item off my bucket list today. We caught the sunrise (in 40 degree weather) at Folly Beach and saw the morning gleam off the Morris Island Lighthouse. There are no words to describe how beautiful it was. To think that the same sun I saw christen the shore lines of Folly Beach this crisp early dawn is the same sun that had just left the European continent. I stood in awe of its beauty and took in how one, over looked, and taken-for-granted sunrise can put everything into focus. Society moves at such a fast pace that sometimes it's good to stop, remove yourself from the blur and to give thanks for the simple things like another day that the sun has risen to cast out the darkness one more time. read more
Amazing stretch of beautiful unspoiled litter free beach. Take a left on Ashley as you enter the town of Folly. Drive all the way to Cul de Sac. There is paid parking $7.00) It's an all day flat rate! on the right near the cul de sac although I managed to secure street parking. Then I paid $1.00 park fee. It's honour system & headed to see the beach & lighthouse. Lots of people on bicycles. It's about a ten min stroll until you hit the hot hot sand. Worth it for that breathtaking view. Wow, quiet, serene picturesque place. No swimming allowed but I have to admit I did sit at the shore to cool off. Lots of locals fishing here. Make sure to check the Tides before you go. It needs to be low tide or you will not enjoy the full experience it had to offer plus of course you could get stranded, say you went for a beach stroll. Be very careful. Go, experience this amazing place. read more
5 years ago
This is my 500th Review!!! Do I make it long...short....in between...? Do I go witty, professional, charming or lay out the whole kitchen sink? So much pressure.. Ok deep breath. All calm, focus, mute Netflix and think long and hard how you want to formulate this milestone review. I think I wore myself out just prepping. I can do it. Get your head in the game Mark. Morris Island Lighthouse. To some it is the great escape. Just past Folly Beach and The Washout, is a piece of natural beachfront with a long rock formation, dead trees embedded into the sand, a metal foundation with Love spray painted and one of the most beautiful lighthouses in the Southeast. With a half a mile walk just to get to the spot, this place challenges its patrons. Why do people go through all the effort to see this? 1. Fishing 2. Sunsets and sunrises 3. Pondering life on the rocks 4. Engagement pictures 5. Intimate wedding spot 6. Quiet beach picnic 7. Photographers dream 8. Drone photographers dream There are many reasons people come to this quiet escape. For me, it is the natural wonder of the imagery all around. When the clouds linger over the lighthouse as the sun sets bringing an ominous blue to the sky, there aren't words. There are many favorite places in Charleston and even as the area evolves, this remains as one of them. read more
Worth the drive to see. Oldest lighthouse in South Carolina. It's about 1/4 mile walk to get to the lookout point but there is a nice little portion of semi secluded beach to soak up some sun. No swimming in that area due to deadly currants but nice place to layout and enjoy the sounds of the ocean. read more
Awesome spot at the west end of Folly Beach Island, very historic Morris Island light house, awesome spot for photography, it is a great private part of the beach with lots of natural dune space, the walk is a bit farther then you think and the soft sand at the end can wear you out if you are older and not in great shape so try to early in the mornings before it gets too hot!!! If you have every seen the Civil War movie "Glory" Morris Island was the last battle scene of that movie, this really is a historic spot and a must see when visiting Charleston and guess what, it's free!!! read more
11 years ago
Nice walk to the lighthouse (1/4 mile of paved and beach walking). Low tide is the best time to go, to really enjoy the beach and a longer walk. High tide can limit how much you're able to walk (and collect shells). Don't go during prime beach time as parking near the entrance is limited, but not a deterrent from going. I've been here a handful of times already and will continue to come visit. Great for photography as well. read more
You can parallel park right before the cul de sac. They do not allow dogs in there so you would have to leave your pets in the car. The walk to see the lighthouse is about 10 minutes. But that's just to SEE the lighthouse. On the pathway to the beach there were a lot of peace like graffiti on the pavement. From Hearts to the words like "I love you" and some structures with stairs. Once you reach the end you'll see the beach. You can just chill on the beach and on the rocks which is the best place to take pictures! The lighthouse was actually further than I thought so I didn't walk all the way up there. However from far away it didn't look as nice as the lighthouses on the outer banks. But it's still a nice view. read more
One of SC oldest lighthouses at the end of Folly Beach with parking in designated spots don't block people's driveways. A decent walk to the see this old gem, I suggest morning while it is cool in the summer. It is an awesome spot to see dolphins up close. Folks also fish out here and collect sea shells as they differ a little from the main beach due to the rough currents. I've heard it's a better spot for finding sharks teeth but I didn't find any in my two trips. I suggest 45 mins to an hour or more depending how many pictures you will be taking. In my book it's a must see built in 1874 I believe with conservation projects designed on preserving it for future generations to see. read more
4 years ago
4 years ago
We went to Folly 2 or 3 times before we learned about this gem! Drive all the way to the end of the island to the dead end. You can park on the grass for free or in a paid lot. There is a paved trail that takes you to the lighthouse inlet. The walk was fine for us, though small children or elderly people might have some difficulty in the heat. It's not shaded. But once you get to the end, boy is it worth it! The beach is very quiet, and we didn't encounter tons of people. There are huge rocks and a cool tree line. The view of the lighthouse was pretty neat. We had a lot of fun looking for shells. There are signs saying not to swim or wade, so I'd advise swimmers move down to the main section of the beach. But this quiet nook of beach was a gorgeous must-see! read more
5 years ago
11 years ago
This is my favorite spot on Folly Beach. It's so secluded and basically private, depending on what time of day you visit. I'm a sucker for lighthouses, and this one doesn't disappoint. Seeing this part of the beach at sunset is seriously magical. If you're even in Folly for one day, make a point to check this guy out. You'll be glad you did! read more
12 years ago
Definitely worth the trip to the edge of Folly island. A picturesque setting on a more secluded beach. We visited in March, and there weren't many others on the beach. The views are amazing. Just a heads up for dog owners, pets are NOT allowed on this part of the island and there is no swimming or wading allowed. A great spot for spectacular views of a beautifully aged lighthouse! read more
8 years ago
The other reviews capture the Lighthouse Inlet Heritage Preserve very well. If you start on the beach side path instead of the old paved road, and if you go all the way around to the end of Rat Island (no longer an island to itself) and then back, that's near enough 4 miles - and 4 miles of sand is not like 4 miles of paths or sidewalks. The trek is great for combing, walking, running, and cycling. Shells are plentiful, and you might find some great driftwood or odd debris. The swimming here is often dangerous, with powerful rip currents, but if you're strong, enjoy. The sense of space here is amazing for Charleston, particularly away from the beaten paths on Rat along the Inlet. Even on the busiest holiday these beaches are relatively wide open, and all other times, you might see 20 people or less, sometimes no one. This preserve has been my most frequented and best place to get away from it all, walk/run, and take photos. See you there :) read more
I wish you could camp out here. We parked where it seemed safe and walked out to the beach. We wish we could have gotten closer but oh well. Beautiful haunting scenery. Worth the walk. Park carefully or get a ticket I hear. Loved the silent beauty of the place. read more
11 years ago
Awesome views! Don't forget your camera with the big telescopic lens! I will definitely go back with my Nikon next time...maybe even an easel and some paints. :) read more
8 years ago
12 years ago
11 years ago
8 years ago
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