Why is Folly Beach tide so high?

If you're out and about around Folly and the water along our coastline seems extremely high, it could be when king tides are in town. A natural phenomenon that occurs a few times a year, these tides can reach 7 ft. or higher — bringing with them the distinct possibility of coastal flooding.



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Surrounded by the Atlantic Ocean and the Folly River, visitors enjoy six miles of wide beaches, surfing, fishing, biking, kayaking, boating, eco-tours, and sea wildlife including several endangered species.

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Little is known about her pre-Civil War days. Early maps show that Folly was once called “Coffin Land,” possibly because ships would often leave plague or cholera victims on barrier islands before approaching a large port.

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The Folly Beach Monster is the nickname given to a globster that was found on Friday, March 22nd, 2012, on Folly Beach in South Carolina. Initially believed by locals to have been a sea monster, it was quickly discovered to be nothing more than the carcass of a rare fish.

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About Folly Beach Surf Travel Like a lot of surf spots along the East Coast, it can be downright epic under the right conditions, most notably powerful hurricane swells and wicked nor'easters, but it also is subject to its fair share of averageness.

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It was here at Burntcoat Head that the highest tides ever at 53.6 feet were recorded on the Bay of Fundy. The Guinness Book World Records declared in 1975 that this unique place on the bay has the highest tidal range in the world. The range at high tide swings between 47.5 and 53.6 feet. This is a great place to visit.

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The Folly Beach Fishing Pier is a mecca for a diverse group of Lowcountry pier fisherman. The pier is 1,045 feet long and, at the end during high tide, the water is 25 feet deep.

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The water along Folly Beach went from brown to a brilliant blue. Some are comparing it to the waters along South Florida and the explanation is actually quite simple. According to a local geology professor, it's thanks in part to the $30-million renourishment project.

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Beginning in the 1930s, the islands quickly began losing shoreline. In order to resolve the issue of the rapidly-eroding islands, the 1940s saw groins, or large rocks, placed within the waters of Folly Beach in an attempt to prevent further erosion.

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Swim in the designated area only. There is no swimming allowed within 200 feet of the pier, per Charleston County Parks rules.

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The sand will also appear darker at first, but will be eventually bleached by the sun. The darker color is due to moisture and organic content in the sand. There may also be drop-offs that you will notice at the high tide line.

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Teeth on Folly Beach range in size from that of a fingernail to the length of an adult finger. However, in some areas, much larger teeth can occasionally be found, such as that of the prehistoric Megalodon (whose name means “giant tooth”), an extinct shark that inhabited the oceans millions of years ago.

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