Wilderness Connect

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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, they 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. On the Gulf of Mexico side of the islands you'll find low sandy beaches tapering into a maze of ponds, inlets, and saltwater marshes.

Hundreds of thousands of seabirds use these islands as nesting and wintering habitat. Approximately five percent of the islands are used by nesting birds. Endangered brown pelicans have made a dramatic return under careful refuge management. Human visitors are common, sometimes coming for bird watching but primarily for surf fishing.

Leave No Trace

How to follow the seven standard Leave No Trace principles differs in different parts of the country (desert vs. Rocky Mountains). Click on any of the principles listed below to learn more about how they apply in the Breton Wilderness.

Plan Ahead and Prepare
Travel and Camp on Durable Surfaces
Dispose of Waste Properly
Leave What You Find
Minimize Campfire Impacts
Respect Wildlife
Be Considerate of Other Visitors

For more information on Leave No Trace, Visit the Leave No Trace, Inc. website.

Location

Latitude: 29.853945
Longitude: 88.830762

Maps

Digital and paper maps are critical tools for wilderness visitors. Online maps can help you plan and prepare for your visit ahead of time. You can also carry digital maps with you on your GPS unit or other handheld GPS device. Having a paper map with you in the backcountry, as well as solid orienteering skills, however, ensures that you can still route-find in the event that your electronic device fails.

Online Maps

Interactive Map of the Breton Wilderness
Google Earth

Louisiana Wildernesses

Printed Maps

Fetching MyTopo from Database

USGS Store

Rules & Regulations

Motorized equipment and equipment used for mechanical transport is generally prohibited in all wilderness areas. This includes the use of motor vehicles, motorboats, motorized equipment, bicycles, hang gliders, wagons, carts, portage wheels, and the landing of aircraft including helicopters.

Wilderness-Specific Regulations

Learn more about why regulations may be necessary in wilderness.

Contacts

Applicable Wilderness Law(s)

Public Law 93-632

Date: January 3, 1975
Acreage: 5,000 acres

(No official title, designates Fish and Wildlife Service wildernesses) - Public law 93-632 (1/3/1975) Designation of wilderness areas within the National Widlife Refuge System

For more information (To download or see all affected Wilderness areas) visit our law library for 93-632 or legislative history for 93-632.

General Trip Planning Information

The refuge is located in the Gulf of Mexico and is accessible only by boat. Most visitors depart from either the Mississippi Gulf Coast or Venice, LA.

Recreational Opportunities

Public use centers around fishing and wildlife viewing.

Climate and Special Equipment Needs

Barrier islands are compose of open sand and shell beaches and overwash and marsh and dune grasses and vegetation. There is no shade present. There are few places where a boat can actually reach the island, visitors must wade through shallow waters, sometime for a considerable distance. Visitors should plan on wearing light clothing and a wide brimmed hat in summer and carry plenty of sun screen and fresh water.

Safety and Current Conditions

Stingrays and small to medium size sharks are present in the shallow flats surrounding the islands.

Want to Volunteer for Wilderness?

Citizens who volunteer their time to steward our wilderness areas are an essential part of wilderness management. Contact the following groups to inquire about volunteer opportunities.