Gulf Islands Wilderness
Gulf Islands Wilderness emerges from the depths of the Gulf of Mexico as dynamic ropes of white sand originating from the Appalachian Mountains. Horn and Petit Bois Islands, together known as Gulf Islands...
Description from Wilderness Connect (wilderness.net), where the full text continues.
| Designation | Wilderness |
| Managed by | National Park Service |
| State | Mississippi |
| Size | 4,630 acres (Wilderness Connect) |
| Designated | 1978, by Congress |
| Center point | 30.2298, -88.6325 |
| Night sky | About as dark as the ground gets (Black Marble reading 7) |
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.
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.
Fire nearby
- WildfireHurricane
33 mi from the center point · 16 acres
Distance is to the reported incident point, not the fire edge, and is measured from the center of a boundary that may be many miles across. Check the agency page for closures.
Explore
Nearby on the other atlases
- 4.4 miRound Island Lighthouse ↗Pascagoula, MS
- 5.1 miMoss Point Historic District ↗Moss Point, MS
- 6.8 miFrench Warehouse Site ↗Ocean Springs, MS
- 8.3 miLevin, Leonard, House ↗Pascagoula, MS
- 8.3 miOlsen, Lena, House ↗Pascagoula, MS
- 8.4 miBrash, Anna C., House ↗Pascagoula, MS
- 8.4 miGautier, Walter, House ↗Pascagoula, MS
- 8.4 miKrebs, Agnes V., House ↗Pascagoula, MS
Landmarks are listed first, then by distance from the boundary.
Reference
Questions people ask
How big is Gulf Islands Wilderness?
4,630 acres.
Source: Wilderness Connect
Who manages Gulf Islands Wilderness?
The National Park Service.
Source: Wilderness Connect
What state is Gulf Islands Wilderness in?
Mississippi.
Source: Wilderness Connect
When was Gulf Islands Wilderness designated?
Congress designated it in 1978.
Source: Wilderness Connect
Can I camp at Gulf Islands Wilderness?
No federal campground is within ten miles of the boundary in the Campsite Atlas index. Camping inside a wilderness is usually allowed away from roads, with no facilities; the managing agency page has the permit rules.
Source: Wilderness Connect
How do I get to Gulf Islands Wilderness?
A point inside the boundary is at 30.230, -88.632. The official page carries directions and the office address.
Source: Wilderness Connect
Is there a fire near Gulf Islands Wilderness right now?
1 active incident within 50 miles as of 2026-09-17, the nearest Hurricane at 33 miles. Distance is to the reported incident point, not the fire edge.
Source: Fire nearby
How dark is the night sky at Gulf Islands Wilderness?
NASA’s Black Marble night-lights image reads 7 on a 0 to 255 scale at the center point, about as dark as the ground gets.
Source: NASA Black Marble
Are there historic places near Gulf Islands Wilderness?
82 National Register listings within 15 miles, including Round Island Lighthouse and Moss Point Historic District.
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.