You can't explain Cumberland, you experience it. Time moves to the rhythm of nature. The majestic sweep of deserted sandy beach is dotted with shells and usually deserted, except for the wild horses roaming at will. The dramatic slope of the dunes is a constant work in progress, sculpted by wind and sea. Inland, the moss shrouded live oak and pine maritime forests provide ample habitat for a wide array of wildlife, including a diverse bird population.
Resurrection fern are the most abundant air plants, a natural island barometer.
The salt marsh environment is criscrossed by myriad creeks, attracting shorebirds and long legged waders. Located on the western shore facing the Intracoastal Waterway, is Greyfield Inn, the rambling old home of Margaret Ferguson, daughter of Thomas and Lucy Carnegie, built in 1900. The Greyfield Inn compound includes over 200 privately owned acres on Cumberland, which is America's largest wilderness island and now designated a National Seashore.