NOTICE: Gulf Islands National Seashore is still recovering from damage from Hurricane Ivan in September 2004 and Hurricane Katrina in August 2005. Clean up efforts continue. Visitors should watch out for hazardous debris when visiting the park. Wear shoes when walking on the beach or in the water.
Gulf Islands National Seashore is open year-round, although operating hours vary seasonally and from unit to unit.
The Fort Pickens campground remains closed.
Fort Pickens is open to walkers, cyclists and boaters. Please be aware that it is 14 miles round trip from the Fort Pickens Entrance Gate to the fort. There is approximately 1 mile of clear road beginning at the gate then 1 mile of sand before the road begins again. Please wear hats, sunscreen and bring plenty of water to drink.
Perdido Key is open and offers primitive camping. It is approximately a 2.25 mile hike to the beach area open to camping. Road repairs are in progress and should be completed Summer 2006. The Perdidio Key Discovery Trail is wheelchair accessible.
The Santa Rosa area is open for day use only. The road is closed to vehicular traffic but open to walkers, cyclists and boaters. The road ends at Park East. Please bring plenty of water to drink, wear hats and sunscreen. Be aware that there is still hazardous debris in the water and along the shore, wear shoes when walking on the beach or in the water. No camping, fires or pets are allowed at this time. Mississippi Islands
Wind and salt burn have browned most of the vegetation on the islands, although many live oaks and some pines are starting to re-sprout. Sand dunes were flattened on both north and south beaches.
West Ship Island is opened for day use. The 30-foot storm surge destroyed all the buildings except Fort Massachusetts and the range tower. The pier and boardwalk have been rebuilt. Both close at sunset. There are no public restrooms, water or shade shelters. Visitors must be prepared for current island conditions. For ferry schedule and trip information please call Ship Island Excursions at 1-800-466-7386.
The Davis Bayou, MS campground is closed.
There is a temporary Davis Bayou visitor contact station in Ocean Springs, MS. It is open daily to the public from 8:30 am to 4:30 pm. The station houses a book sales area, exhibits, children's area and auditorium.
The Davis Bayou and Nature's Way Trails, picnic areas, boat launch and pavilions are open to the public. Pavilions #1,3,5 available for reservations call 228-875-3962. Pavilion #4 is available on a first come, first served basis.
East Ship Island: Opened. Most of the east and west tips are gone; the island has been cut back to the tree line. There is no suitable camping on the island.
Horn Island: Opened with the exception of the government corridor. The Arcturus Flats and Chimney areas are still accessible. Visitors can walk the West Cross Island Trail; however 75% of the trail treads are gone. About one mile of the east tip is gone and portions of the west tip have been cut.
Petit Bois: Opened. Portions of the east tip are gone. Most of the interior marshes are filled with sand.
Spoil or Sand Island: Opened. Be aware of nesting birds.
Cat Island: Two miles of the western tip of Cat Island is opened to private boaters. Cat Island’s southern tip remains closed at this time. Other areas of Cat Island are private property. Visitors, please respect the owners by not trespassing.
NOTICE: Fort Pickens and Santa Rosa Areas are currently closed to vehicular traffic.
To get to Naval Live Oaks take U.S. 98 east from Pensacola, Florida. The Naval Live Oaks Area is just east of Gulf Breeze on U.S. 98. The Okaloosa Area is on U.S. 98 east of Fort Walton Beach. To reach the mainland forts on board Pensacola Naval Air Station use Blue Angel Parkway (Florida Route 173). Florida Route 292 leads southwest from Pensacola to Perdido Key Area. On the island turn left onto Johnson Beach Road.
Mississippi District. Use exits 50 or 57 south from I-10. The Davis Bayou Area is on US-90, east of downtown Ocean Springs. Seasonal passenger ferry to West Ship Island leaves from the Gulfport Yacht Harbor near the intersection of US-90 and US-49 in Gulfport, MS. Call 228-864-1014 for information.
The Escambia County Area Transit (ECAT)runs 7 days a week. They are in the process of revising their schedules and routes. For more information please call 850-595-3228 or visit their website at http://www.goecat.com.
Coast Transit Authority (CTA) buses stop outside the entrance to Davis Bayou at the Sav-A-Center on US-90 and Ocean Springs, MS Road. For more information please call 228-896-8080 or visit their website at http://www.coasttransit.com/.
