Gulf Islands Wilderness
The Gulf Islands Wilderness comprises Horn and Petit Bois Islands, offering a place of solitude and self-reliance. Here, the undeveloped islands remain wild, with minimal signs of modern human impact, preserving their natural coastal beauty. The islands are continuously shaped by powerful oceanic and weather forces. The dynamic landscape intricate ecosystems, including rolling dunes, dense maritime forests, and unique wetlands is home to diverse adapted wildlife and plant species, including sea oats, live oaks, saw palmetto, prickly pear cactus, southeastern snowy plovers, southern bald eagles, American alligators, ghost crabs, and various snake species.
Description from Wilderness Connect (wilderness.net).
| Designation | Wilderness |
| Managed by | National Park Service |
| State | Mississippi |
| Size | 4,630 acres |
| Designated | 1978, by Congress |
| Center point | 30.23° N, 88.63° W |
| 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.
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
- 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.
Guidebooks for Mississippi
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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 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
How do I get to Gulf Islands Wilderness?
A point inside the boundary is at 30.230° N, 88.632° W. The official page carries directions and the office address.
Source: Wilderness Connect
Are there historic places near Gulf Islands Wilderness?
The National Register has 82 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.