Georgia · National Seashore trail

River Trail Stop 5

in Georgia · centroid 31 mi from Jacksonville

Stop #5: Muscadine grapes (Vitus rotundifolia) The muscadine is a woody vine and can be found growing on top of the saw palmetto and other plants on the west side of the trail. It can also be seen hanging down from above. In late summer, look for the purple fruit of the muscadine grape.

While there are several varieties of grape on Cumberland Island, muscadine is the most common. The vines seek the sunlight at the top of the forest canopy, often twining around the oak limbs and making the grapes hard to reach. Grapes ripen in July and August and were gathered for food and the vine tendrils were often nibbled as a refreshing snack.

Raccoon and turkey are often seen munching on the purple fruit. People today use muscadine grapes in wines and jellies. The vines of muscadine were also used to make baskets.

States: Georgia
Trail type: National Seashore trail
Centroid nearest city: Jacksonville, FL · 31 mi · ~55 min drive
Centroid coords: 30.7578°, -81.4716°

About Cumberland Island National Seashore

National Seashore

This trail is inside Cumberland Island National Seashore, a national seashore managed by the U.S. National Park Service. Conditions, road status, trail closures, and reservation requirements are published on the park's NPS page — check it before driving in, especially in winter or during major weather events.

Entrance fee: $15 per vehicle (verify current rate on the park page). An America the Beautiful annual pass ($80) covers entrance to all NPS units.

Official NPS trail page: https://www.nps.gov/places/river-trail-stop-5.htm

Park homepage: https://www.nps.gov/cuis/index.htm

Plan your hike

Practical notes

Maps + permits: long-distance trails like this often require permits for through-hiking, backcountry camping, or specific sections (especially in National Parks). Check with the maintaining organisation listed above and the relevant land manager before booking travel.

Water + supplies: water sources vary seasonally on most U.S. trails. Carry a filter and consult current trail-condition reports — through-hiker journals (PCT-L, AT Reddit, etc.) and the maintaining organisation publish regular updates.

When to go: hiking seasons vary widely with elevation, latitude, and snowpack. Through-hikers traditionally start the AT in March-April (Springer northbound) and the PCT in late April (Campo northbound). High-elevation western trails (CDT, JMT, Wonderland) generally aren't passable until July.

If you've hiked River Trail Stop 5 and have current notes (water sources, trail closures, permit changes), tell us at /contact — we update pages as we learn.

Stay nearby

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