Boating, Fishing, and Travel Information for Fripps Inlet, SC
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A salt marsh on Fripp Island. Credit: Will Thomas.
Fripps Inlet is located in Beaufort County between Hunting Island and Fripp Island, two barrier islands off of St. Helena Island. Hunting Island is home to the Hunting Island State Park. The inlet leads inland to Harbor River. Fripp Inlet Bridge crosses the inlet connecting Hunting Island and Fripp Island. Fripp Island is popular as a a residential vacation resort. On the other side of the inlet, Hunting Island State Park is the most visited state park facility in South Carolina and is one of the few undeveloped islands remaining in the Sea Islands.
On Old House Creek, about 0.3 mile westward of the bridge and on the south side of the inlet, is a marina where gasoline, diesel fuel, water, ice, a launching ramp, some marine supplies, and a 2-ton mobile hoist are available. In 1983, the reported controlling depth was 6 feet from the entrance to the marina 1.6 miles above the mouth and 12 feet alongside the float.
Just southeastward of the marina is the Fripp Island Sea Rescue Heliport. In cases of emergency, the heliport can be contacted through the marina or Fripp Island security on VHF-FM channel 16; telephone 843-838-2832, 843-838-2334.
Navigation:
Click the “Map View” button above to see a chart of this location.
Fripp Inlet, reported to be marked by private buoys, is south of St. Helena Sound between Hunting Island and Fripp Island. Two spherical water tanks on cylindrical supports, on Fripp Island southwestward of the inlet, are prominent. The entrance is well defined by breakers, and flats which show at low water. The entrance is subject to continual change; entrance should not be attempted without local knowledge. A highway bridge across the inlet has a fixed span with a clearance of 15 feet.
Harbor River, at the head of the inlet, connects with St. Helena Sound to the eastward, and Story River connects the inlet with Trenchards Inlet and Station Creek to the westward. In 1983, the reported controlling depth was 5 feet in Harbor River and 5 feet in Story River. U.S. Route 21 highway bridge over Harbor River, 0.5 mile above the mouth, has a swing span with a clearance of 15 feet. An overhead power cable crossing along the southwest side of the bridge has a clearance of 110-feet.