South Carolina Gov. Henry McMaster issued an Executive Order Monday evening closing all public access to waterways in the state, to include public beaches, boat ramps, boat landings, piers, docks and wharfs, for the duration of the current State of Emergency, which was declared March 13, in response to the global coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.

The governor’s order does not affect commercial fishermen with valid fishing licenses or permits or boats launched from privately owned access points.

Governor McMaster also ordered “that the beaching or rafting of boats, whether on a sandbar, lakeshore, riverbank, or island, is prohibited for the duration of the State of Emergency. Vessels must remain underway at all times unless exigent circumstances exist. Anchoring to fish is allowed; however, rafting is prohibited under all circumstances.”

The following locations in Beaufort County are now closed to the public:

BOAT RAMPS AND LANDINGS

• Alljoy Boat Landing
• Bluffton Oyster Factory Park
• Brickyard Creek Boat Landing
• Broad River Boat Landing
• Buckingham Boat Landing
• Buddy and Zoo Boat Landing
• Butcher’s Island Boat Landing
• C.C. Haigh, Jr. Boat Landing
• Cross Island Boat Landing
• Daufuskie Island Boat Landing
• Eddings Point Boat Landing
• Edgar Glenn Boat Landing
• Grays Hill Boat Landing
• H.E. Trask Sr. Boat Landing
• Marshland Boat Landing
• Paige Point Boat Landing
• Parris Island Boat Landing
• Port Royal Boat Landing (The Sands)
• Russ Point Boat Landing
• Sams Point Boat Landing
• Steel Bridge Boat Landing
• Sugar Hill Boat Landing
• Wallace Boat Landing
• White Hall Boat Landing
• Wimbee Boat Landing

PUBLIC BEACH AND WATERWAY ACCESS

• Alljoy Beach
• Bermuda Bluff
• Bloody Point
• Coosaw Island
• Lands End Overlooks
• New Daufuskie Beach Access
• Old Daufuskie Beach Access
• Pappy’s Landing
• The Sands

PIERS AND DOCKS

• Bluffton Public Dock
• Broad River Fishing Pier
• Camp St. Mary’s Fishing Pier
• C.C. Haigh, Jr. Landing Fixed Pier
• Daufuskie Landing Fixed Pier
• Factory Creek Fishing Pier
• Jenkins Island Pier
• Old House Creek Pier
• Whale Branch Fishing Pier
• Wimbee Creek Fishing Pier

The governor’s order does not include Beaufort County public parks or trails. County-maintained parks and trails remain open.

Beaufort County thanks all residents for continuing to practice physical or social distancing and following CDC guidelines on hand-washing to help prevent and slow the spread of coronavirus.

For more information about locations of boat ramps, landings and piers in Beaufort County, click here.