Island Bay Wilderness
The tangled masses of roots stemming from mangrove trees often intertwine to form islands, a haven for pelicans, herons, and egrets. The four small mangrove islands and two small mangrove points were given protected status by President Theodore Roosevelt when they became what is now known as Island Bay National Wildlife Refuge. J. N. "Ding" Darling National Wildlife Refuge now manages the refuge. The Island Bay Wilderness was established as one of the smallest units in the National Wilderness Preservation System. Several shell mounds pay tribute to the Native Americans who once called the area home.
Description from Wilderness Connect (wilderness.net).
| Designation | Wilderness |
| Managed by | U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service |
| State | Florida |
| Size | 20 acres |
| Designated | 1970, by Congress |
| Center point | 26.81° N, 82.18° W |
| Night sky | About as dark as the ground gets (Black Marble reading 11) |
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
- 0.1 miWillis Fish Cabin at Bull Bay ↗Placida, FL
- 0.1 miIcing Station at Bull Bay ↗Placida, FL
- 0.3 mi
- 3.5 miWhidden's Marina ↗Boca Grande, FL
- 3.6 miLindsley, Halstead and Emily, House ↗Boca Grande, FL
- 3.6 miJourney's End ↗Boca Grande, FL
- 3.7 miBoca Grande Community Center ↗Boca Grande, FL
- 3.7 miFirst Baptist Church of Boca Grande ↗Boca Grande, FL
Landmarks are listed first, then by distance from the boundary.
Guidebooks for Florida
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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 Island Bay Wilderness?
20 acres.
Source: Wilderness Connect
Who manages Island Bay Wilderness?
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
Source: Wilderness Connect
What state is Island Bay Wilderness in?
Florida.
Source: Wilderness Connect
When was Island Bay Wilderness designated?
Congress designated it in 1970.
Source: Wilderness Connect
How do I get to Island Bay Wilderness?
A point inside the boundary is at 26.806° N, 82.180° W. The official page carries directions and the office address.
Source: Wilderness Connect
Are there historic places near Island Bay Wilderness?
The National Register has 33 listings within 15 miles, including Willis Fish Cabin at Bull Bay and Icing Station at Bull Bay.
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.