Sunrise, Sandbars & Solitude: Why Cherry Grove Point Is NMB’s Best-Kept Secret

The tide is out and you’re standing on a sandbar that wasn’t here two hours ago. Warm water laps at your shins. A hermit crab drags its shell across the rippled sand at your feet. Behind you, the inlet narrows to a shallow crossing you could wade in your sleep; ahead, the wild dune grass of Bird Island shimmers in the heat — no houses, no umbrellas, no people. The only sounds are the slap of tiny waves against the bar and the cry of an osprey circling overhead.

This is Cherry Grove Point, North Myrtle Beach — a shifting, tide-dependent spit of sand at the very northern tip of the Grand Strand that most visitors never find. It’s about 20 minutes from our condo at Ocean Keyes, and it might be the most beautiful spot on the entire coast.

What Makes Cherry Grove Point Special

The Sandbars

At low tide, Cherry Grove Point transforms. Sandbars rise out of the shallows, creating shallow pools and wide stretches of exposed sand that feel like your own private island. Kids splash in the tidal pools, shells accumulate on the sandbars, and the water stays shallow and calm — perfect for wading, shell collecting, and just sitting in ankle-deep water watching the inlet.

High tide covers the sandbars completely. The experience is entirely dependent on timing, which is part of what makes it feel like a secret — you have to know when to go.

Bird Island Views

From the point, you look directly across Hog Inlet to Bird Island — a small, undeveloped barrier island that’s protected as a nature preserve. No houses, no development, no people (though you can walk across at very low tide if conditions allow). The view of untouched maritime forest and wild dune grass against the Atlantic is a reminder of what this entire coastline looked like before development.

Bird Island is also the home of the famous “Kindred Spirit Mailbox” — a mailbox in the dunes where visitors leave letters, poems, and reflections. If you cross at low tide (check conditions and be cautious of the inlet current), the mailbox is a roughly 1.5-mile walk down the island.

The Solitude

The main NMB beaches draw the crowds. Cherry Grove Point doesn’t. Even during peak summer, this spot stays relatively uncrowded because it’s at the far end of Cherry Grove, away from the main beach access points. Early morning and late afternoon are the quietest — you might have the entire point to yourself.

How to Get There

Cherry Grove Point is at the northernmost tip of Cherry Grove Beach. There are a few ways to reach it:

By car: Drive to the end of Ocean Boulevard in Cherry Grove. Park near the public access points at the far north end. From there, walk north along the beach toward the inlet. As the land narrows, you’ll see the point opening up ahead of you.

From 601 Hillside Dr N: It’s about a 15-minute drive from the condo to the Cherry Grove area. Once you park and walk to the point, budget about 15–20 minutes of beach walking depending on where you find parking.

By beach walk: If you’re feeling ambitious, you can walk the beach all the way from Crescent Beach north through Ocean Drive and into Cherry Grove. It’s a long walk (a few miles) but beautiful — pack water and sunscreen.

When to Go

Timing is everything at Cherry Grove Point. The experience depends almost entirely on the tide:

• Low tide: This is when the sandbars emerge and the point is at its most magical. Check the tide chart before you go and plan to arrive about an hour before low tide. You’ll have 2–3 hours of prime sandbar time.
• High tide: The sandbars disappear and the point narrows significantly. It’s still pretty, but you’ll miss the main attraction.
• Sunrise at low tide: The ultimate Cherry Grove Point experience. Arrive before dawn, watch the sun come up over the Atlantic from the sandbars, and enjoy the point in near-total solitude.

Seasonal note: The point is accessible year-round, but spring and fall offer the best combination of comfortable temperatures and thin crowds. Summer mornings work well too — just get there early before the day heats up.

What to Bring

• Water and snacks — There’s no food or drink available at the point
• Sunscreen and a hat — No shade out here
• A mesh bag for shells — The sandbars accumulate beautiful shells
• A camera — The Bird Island views and sunrise are worth capturing
• Water shoes — Helpful for walking the sandbars and inlet edges
• Binoculars — Osprey, pelicans, herons, and other shorebirds are abundant

The Cherry Grove Area

While you’re in Cherry Grove, there’s more worth exploring:

• Cherry Grove Pier — The historic fishing pier where a world record tiger shark was caught in 1964. Pole rentals available, great for a casual fishing session.
• Heritage Shores Nature Preserve — A 7-acre preserve with walking trails through maritime forest and salt marsh, just inland from the beach.
• Salt marsh kayaking — The tidal marshes behind Cherry Grove are some of the best kayaking on the Grand Strand. Dolphins, turtles, and osprey are regular companions.
• Surf fishing — Cherry Grove is popular with surf fishermen year-round.

For a perfect Cherry Grove day: sunrise at the point, mid-morning kayak through the salt marsh, lunch in town, afternoon fishing from the pier.

After a Sunrise on Those Sandbars, You’ll Want a Place Worth Coming Back To

You’ve watched the sun climb over the Atlantic from a sandbar that barely exists at high tide. You’ve counted the shells in your mesh bag and watched the pelicans dive off Bird Island. Now it’s 8:30 AM and the rest of your group is still sleeping. Cherry Grove Point is a 15-minute drive from our 3BR/2BA condo at 601 Hillside Dr N in Ocean Keyes — close enough for a solo dawn expedition, far enough to feel like you’ve discovered something secret.

Come back, make coffee in the full kitchen, and let them wonder why you’re smiling.

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