J.N. "Ding" Darling Wilderness
Jay Norwood "Ding" Darling, the Pulitzer Prize-winning cartoonist, helped pioneer the conservation movement, serving as head of the U.S. Biological Survey (forerunner of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service), creating the Federal Duck Stamp Program, starting the Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit Program, and providing strong support for the expansion and administration of the National Wildlife Refuge System. Today, more than half of the 12-mile subtropical barrier island called Sanibel Island has been protected and bears witness to the legacy of the conservation visionary J. N. "Ding" Darling, through the National Wildlife Refuge named in his honor and the private conservation foundation he inspired.
Description from Wilderness Connect (wilderness.net).
| Designation | Wilderness |
| Managed by | U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service |
| State | Florida |
| Size | 2,619 acres |
| Designated | 1976, by Congress |
| Center point | 26.46° N, 82.10° W |
| Night sky | Very dark ground, a faint glow at most (Black Marble reading 30) |
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 miSanibel Colored School ↗Sanibel, FL
- 2.5 miSanibel Lighthouse and Keeper's Quarters ↗Sanibel, FL
- 3 miTween Waters Inn Historic District ↗Captiva, FL
- 3.7 mi
- 4.6 miFish Cabin at White Rock Shoals ↗St. James City, FL
- 7.2 miFort Myers Beach School ↗Fort Myers Beach, FL
- 7.9 miMound House ↗Fort Meyers Beach, FL
- 8.8 miPunta Gorda Fish Company Ice House ↗North Captiva Island, 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 J.N. "Ding" Darling Wilderness?
2,619 acres.
Source: Wilderness Connect
Who manages J.N. "Ding" Darling Wilderness?
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
Source: Wilderness Connect
What state is J.N. "Ding" Darling Wilderness in?
Florida.
Source: Wilderness Connect
When was J.N. "Ding" Darling Wilderness designated?
Congress designated it in 1976.
Source: Wilderness Connect
How do I get to J.N. "Ding" Darling Wilderness?
A point inside the boundary is at 26.461° N, 82.104° W. The official page carries directions and the office address.
Source: Wilderness Connect
Are there historic places near J.N. "Ding" Darling Wilderness?
The National Register has 18 listings within 15 miles, including Sanibel Colored School and Sanibel Lighthouse and Keeper's Quarters.
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.