• Beach walkway to white sandy beach and bluegreen waters

    Gulf Islands

    National Seashore FL,MS

There are park alerts in effect.
show Alerts »

  • Partial Closure on Horn Island

    Small portion of Horn Island, Mississippi, closed to entry due to discovery of asbestos and possible other bio hazards. Click on more for map and press release. More »

  • Park Closures

    Restrooms, and Visitor Center closures due to the impact of Seqestration. More »

Park Significance

Gulf Islands National Seashore:

  • The largest seashore encompassing 160 miles from Santa Rosa Island, Florida to Cat Island, Mississippi.
  • Comprised of six barrier islands - some of the most dynamic landforms in the world.
  • Land and marine archeological resource that represents a continuum of human occupation dating back approximately 5,000 years in this coastal environment.
  • Habitat for approximately 25 endangered and threatened animals in diverse ecosystems.
  • Stop-over habitat for migratory birds.
  • Critical nursery habitat for marine flora and fauna.
  • Rare combination of recreational opportunities on publicly accessible undeveloped barrier islands, two of which are designated as wilderness.

Did You Know?

A view of the Advanced Redoubt drawbridge.

The Third System fortifications consisted of 42 forts built between 1816 and 1870.  They were used to guard all the principal harbors, rivers, and naval yards of the United States.  Only the Advanced Redoubt of Fort Barrancas at Gulf Islands National Seashore was built entirely  for land defense.