Breton Wilderness
Located off the delta of the great Mississippi River, Breton Island actually consists of two adjacent islands (north and south) with a combined length of about three miles and a width of less than one mile. Part of a long chain of barrier islands, the two islands comprise only a small section of Breton National Wildlife Refuge. The greater portion of the refuge consists of the Chandeleur Islands, an approximately 20-mile-long crescent of land lying north of Breton. Between Breton and Chandeleur are more islands owned by the state and managed by the refuge. Geologically young, these unstable islands were created by the erosion and reshaping of a former Mississippi River delta.
Description from Wilderness Connect (wilderness.net).
| Designation | Wilderness |
| Managed by | U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service |
| State | Louisiana |
| Size | 5,000 acres |
| Designated | 1975, by Congress |
| Center point | 29.67° N, 88.93° W |
| Night sky | About as dark as the ground gets (Black Marble reading 6) |
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
- under 0.1 miChandeleur Light ↗New Orleans, LA
- 12.5 miFrench Warehouse Site ↗Ocean Springs, MS
Landmarks are listed first, then by distance from the boundary.
Guidebooks for Louisiana and the South
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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 Breton Wilderness?
5,000 acres.
Source: Wilderness Connect
Who manages Breton Wilderness?
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
Source: Wilderness Connect
What state is Breton Wilderness in?
Louisiana.
Source: Wilderness Connect
When was Breton Wilderness designated?
Congress designated it in 1975.
Source: Wilderness Connect
How do I get to Breton Wilderness?
A point inside the boundary is at 29.673° N, 88.934° W. The official page carries directions and the office address.
Source: Wilderness Connect
Are there historic places near Breton Wilderness?
The National Register has 2 listings within 15 miles, including Chandeleur Light and French Warehouse Site.
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.