Blackbeard Island Wilderness
Edward "Blackbeard" Teach, a notorious pirate feared by many for his murderous, plundering raids, supposedly came here to "bank" some of his ill-gained fortune. Despite myths about it's name, Blackbeard Island was acquired by the Navy Department at public auction in 1800 as a source of naval stores for shipbuilding. It is one of the oldest properties in continuous Federal ownership in the country. Preserved as a part of the Bureau of Biological Survey in 1924, this maritime forest, salt marsh, freshwater marsh, and beach habitat became Blackbeard Island National Wildlife Refuge in 1940. Shorebirds, gulls, and terns utilize the refuge year-round, with spring and fall bringing warblers and sandpipers.
Description from Wilderness Connect (wilderness.net).
| Designation | Wilderness |
| Managed by | U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service |
| State | Georgia |
| Size | 3,000 acres |
| Designated | 1975, by Congress |
| Center point | 31.49° N, 81.22° W |
| Night sky | About as dark as the ground gets (Black Marble reading 8) |
Boundary map
Boundary, simplified to about 0.005 degrees
The outline is the agency boundary simplified for display, so small parcels and inholdings may not show. The agency page has the authoritative map.
Weather by month
Large units span more than one climate. The station stands in for the center point, and the outer parts of the boundary can be warmer or colder.
Where to camp
No federal campground is within ten miles of the boundary in the Campsite Atlas index. Camping inside a wilderness is usually allowed away from trails and water, with no facilities; the managing agency page has the permit and group-size rules.
Explore
Nearby on the other atlases
- 0.3 miFirst African Baptist Church at Raccoon Bluff ↗Hog Hammock, GA
- 3.2 miBehavior Cemetery ↗Hog Hammock, GA
Landmarks are listed first, then by distance from the boundary.
Guidebooks for Georgia
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Titles come from Open Library's catalog, matched by subject heading or by title.
Reference
Questions people ask
How big is Blackbeard Island Wilderness?
3,000 acres.
Source: Wilderness Connect
Who manages Blackbeard Island Wilderness?
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
Source: Wilderness Connect
What state is Blackbeard Island Wilderness in?
Georgia.
Source: Wilderness Connect
When was Blackbeard Island Wilderness designated?
Congress designated it in 1975.
Source: Wilderness Connect
How do I get to Blackbeard Island Wilderness?
A point inside the boundary is at 31.492° N, 81.218° W. Fort Frederica National Monument is 18 miles away. The official page carries directions and the office address.
Source: Wilderness Connect
Which national parks are near Blackbeard Island Wilderness?
Fort Frederica National Monument (18 mi). Park Atlas has fees, hours and alerts for each.
Source: Nearby on the other atlases
Are there historic places near Blackbeard Island Wilderness?
The National Register has 2 listings within 15 miles, including First African Baptist Church at Raccoon Bluff and Behavior Cemetery.
Source: Register Atlas
Sources
- Boundary, name, acreage, designation year, states and description: Wilderness Connect.
- Campgrounds: the Campsite Atlas index of federal campgrounds, matched to this boundary at build time.
- Trailheads and sites: the Forest Service Recreation Opportunities layer, points inside the boundary.
- Night sky: NASA Black Marble (VIIRS, 2016 composite) sampled at zoom 6 around the center point.
- Weather, alerts, air quality, river flow and earthquakes load live in your browser from NWS, AirNow, USGS and iNaturalist when you open the page.