USFWS · Georgia

Blackbeard Island Wilderness

Edward "Blackbeard" Teach, a notorious pirate feared by many for his murderous, plundering raids, supposedly came here to "bank" some of his ill-gained fortune. Despite myths about it's name, Blackbeard...

Description from Wilderness Connect (wilderness.net), where the full text continues.

Official page at Wilderness Connect ↗
Blackbeard Island Wilderness
Photo from Wilderness Connect, wilderness.net
DesignationWilderness
Managed byU.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
StateGeorgia
Size3,000 acres (Wilderness Connect)
Designated1975, by Congress
Center point31.4923, -81.2175
Night skyAbout as dark as the ground gets (Black Marble reading 8)

Boundary map

2 outlines

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

NOAA climate normals →
Weather by month near Blackbeard Island Wilderness50°60°70°80°90°January: 3.62 inches of precipitationFebruary: 3.09 inches of precipitationMarch: 3.27 inches of precipitationApril: 3.54 inches of precipitationMay: 2.90 inches of precipitationJune: 6.61 inches of precipitationJuly: 4.37 inches of precipitationAugust: 6.66 inches of precipitationSeptember: 5.87 inches of precipitationOctober: 4.68 inches of precipitationNovember: 2.32 inches of precipitationDecember: 3.02 inches of precipitationJanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecJanuary: 52.3°F averageFebruary: 54.8°F averageMarch: 60.5°F averageApril: 67.1°F averageMay: 74.8°F averageJune: 80.3°F averageJuly: 83.0°F averageAugust: 82.1°F averageSeptember: 78.6°F averageOctober: 70.4°F averageNovember: 61.5°F averageDecember: 55.1°F average0 in2 in4 in6 in8 inTemp °FInches
The line is the average temperature and the bars are average precipitation at Sapelo Is, 8 miles from the center point at 10 feet, station USC00097808 in the NOAA monthly climate normals for 1991 to 2020. Precipitation totals about 50 inches a year.

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

Campsite Atlas →

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

National Park System units within 30 miles · Park Atlas
National Register listings within 15 miles · 2 in all · Register Atlas

Landmarks are listed first, then by distance from the boundary.

Reference

Questions people ask

How big is Blackbeard Island Wilderness?

3,000 acres.

Source: Wilderness Connect

Who manages Blackbeard Island Wilderness?

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

Source: Wilderness Connect

What state is Blackbeard Island Wilderness in?

Georgia.

Source: Wilderness Connect

When was Blackbeard Island Wilderness designated?

Congress designated it in 1975.

Source: Wilderness Connect

Can I camp at Blackbeard Island Wilderness?

No federal campground is within ten miles of the boundary in the Campsite Atlas index. Camping inside a wilderness is usually allowed away from roads, with no facilities; the managing agency page has the permit rules.

Source: Wilderness Connect

How do I get to Blackbeard Island Wilderness?

A point inside the boundary is at 31.492, -81.218. Fort Frederica National Monument is 18 miles away. The official page carries directions and the office address.

Source: Wilderness Connect

How dark is the night sky at Blackbeard Island Wilderness?

NASA’s Black Marble night-lights image reads 8 on a 0 to 255 scale at the center point, about as dark as the ground gets.

Source: NASA Black Marble

Which national parks are near Blackbeard Island Wilderness?

Fort Frederica National Monument (18 mi). Park Atlas has fees, hours and alerts for each.

Source: Nearby on the other atlases

Are there historic places near Blackbeard Island Wilderness?

2 National Register listings within 15 miles, including First African Baptist Church at Raccoon Bluff and Behavior Cemetery.

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.