Hilton Head Island - ICW Mile 553 to Mile 565

A bustling but beautiful year-round resort, Hilton Head Island, is probably the best known of South Carolina's Sea Islands. As one of the largest barrier islands on the Atlantic Coast, it is amply endowed by nature and history and offers something nearly year-round for everyone including a choice of excellent marina resorts. The ICW amenities offered on Hilton Head range from the ultra-luxurious to comfortable casual.

The numerous ferry boats plying the waters of Calibogue Sound between Hilton Head and Daufuskie Island can leave large wakes. The ferries usually slow down to "no-wake speed" when passing recreational boats. Wilton J. Graves (U.S. 278) Hwy. Bridges (65-foot fixed vertical clearance) at Mile 557.8 provide the only automobile access to and from Hilton Head Island.

Just opposite the spot where the ICW leaves Calibogue Sound for the Cooper River (Mile 565) is beautiful Broad Creek. To the north handsome houses, many with their own docks, line the creek at Shelter Cove. Oyster beds line the banks, crab pot markers dot the marsh flats and fishing drops are at the entrance to tidal streams along the way.

Navigation: Use NOAA Chart 11507

Markers lead past oyster beds until Mile 555 where the first of Hilton Head Island's several marinas shows to port. At Safe Harbor Skull Creek Marina slack tide is 2 hours after slack tide at the south end of Skull Creek. Watch for the shoal just in front of the marina to the north.

The proper entrance to Broad Creek and more dockage options is at green daybeacon "1." Give the marker a rather wide berth at low tide and enter between it and red daybeacon "2" on the opposite side. The shoal extends northeast of green daybeacon "1" so use caution. Once you are inside Broad Creek runs deep to its banks all the way to the marinas well upstream. Be aware that ferries to Daufuskie and other destinations use this creek.

Dockage:

Safe Harbor Skull Creek Marina offers slips on modern concrete floating docks and can accommodate vessels to 200 feet. They also offer repairs. There is a restaurant a short walk from the docks. Other services will require transportation.

At Mile 557 Hilton Head Harbor Marina has an easily accessed fuel dock right on the ICW. The independently owned marina offers dockage in an enclosed basin and is also a luxury RV resort with resort amenities. They are also pet friendly. Car rentals and shuttle service are available upon request. Note the direction and velocity of the current carefully as you approach the marina. When approaching from the north favor flashing green daybeacon "19" and give red daybeacon "20" just below the entrance channel a fair berth. A bar extends well up from the daybeacon.

In Calibogue Sound on the port side (to the east) before Jarvis Creek a pier marks the entrance to the lock leading into Windmill Harbour Marina, which lies in one of two secure, tide-free, lock-controlled harbors along the ICW. (The other is at the private Wexford Plantation, also on Hilton Head.) The harbormaster monitors the lock and stands by on VHF Channels 14 and 16. This harbor is home to the South Carolina Yacht Club and is surrounded by the well-maintained grounds of a gated residential community with a pool, restaurant and bar. Be aware that this is a sizable harbor (over 15 acres) and depending on where you are docked, it may be a hike to the bathhouse or to the club's dining room.

Perhaps one of the best-known features along this stretch of the ICW is the red and white striped 90-foot-tall lighthouse located east of Mile 564 and south of the entrance to Broad Creek. This marks Harbour Town Yacht Basin and the entrance to the original residential development on Hilton Head Island, Sea Pines. Enter between two jetties (the one to port is an observation pier) into Harbour Town's circular basin with its floating concrete docks. Villas, shops and multiple restaurants rim the circular basin. This is a full-service marina with many amenities plus beach access and a pool as well as fitness center access.

Palmetto Bay Marina is before the Cross Island Parkway (U.S. 278) Bridge (65-foot fixed vertical clearance) in Broad Creek. They offer over 7,190 linear feet of dockage, three restaurants and bars, fuel, laundry and showers, and complete yacht services.

On the starboard side of Broad Creek beyond the bridge is the private Wexford Plantation. You must be a member of a reciprocal yacht club to stay here. Broad Creek Marina on the port side offers wet slips and dry storage plus both a mechanical shop and body shop. They also have a popular on-site restaurant, Up the Creek Pub & Grill (843-681-3625).

Shelter Cove Harbour & Marina across from Palmetto Dunes Oceanfront Resort is an oasis for waterfront shopping, dining, water activities and tours and has spectacular water views. The marina offers resort amenities for vessels to 160 feet and a full-service marina store with boating gear, the latest coastal merchandise, snacks, convenience items, bait, tackle and more.

To find marinas, anchorages, and navigation alerts for Hilton Head Island, view our destination page, here.

For more information on cruising Hilton Head and surrounding areas on the ICW, purchase a Print Waterway Guide Atlantic ICW 2023 Edition, or a Print + Digital Subscription.