Driftwood on Boneyard Beach, Hunting Island, South Carolina  Jun 27, 2026

At Boneyard Beach within Hunting Island State Park, South Carolina, the first thing you notice is the trees. Then comes the question: why are bleached trunks and exposed roots scattered across the sand like a scene paused midway through collapse? Since the 1980s, Hunting Island has experienced major beach erosion, with some of the highest rates along the US East Coast—reaching up to 30 feet per year in certain areas.

© Frances/Adobe Stock

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