Pelican Island Wilderness
President Theodore Roosevelt set aside tiny Pelican Island as a bird haven on March 14, 1903, ordering the first federal land dedication to wildlife and thus creating the National Wildlife Refuge System....
Description from Wilderness Connect (wilderness.net), where the full text continues.
| Designation | Wilderness |
| Managed by | U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service |
| State | Florida |
| Size | 5 acres (Wilderness Connect) |
| Designated | 1970, by Congress |
| Center point | 27.7964, -80.4329 |
| Night sky | Noticeable light pollution (Black Marble reading 90) |
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
- 2.4 miLawson, Bamma Vickers, House ↗Sebastian, FL
- 2.6 miOld Town Sebastian Historic District East ↗Sebastian, FL
- 2.8 miOld Town Sebastian Historic District, West ↗Sebastian, FL
- 3 miSebastian Grammar and Junior High School ↗Sebastian, FL
- 3.4 miSmith, Archie, Wholesale Fish Company ↗Sebastian, FL
- 4 mi
- 9.8 miTreasure Hammock Ranch Farmstead ↗Vero Beach, FL
- 10.4 miFirst Methodist Episcopal Church ↗Fellsmere, FL
Landmarks are listed first, then by distance from the boundary.
Reference
Questions people ask
How big is Pelican Island Wilderness?
5 acres.
Source: Wilderness Connect
Who manages Pelican Island Wilderness?
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
Source: Wilderness Connect
What state is Pelican Island Wilderness in?
Florida.
Source: Wilderness Connect
When was Pelican Island Wilderness designated?
Congress designated it in 1970.
Source: Wilderness Connect
Can I camp at Pelican 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 Pelican Island Wilderness?
A point inside the boundary is at 27.796, -80.433. The official page carries directions and the office address.
Source: Wilderness Connect
How dark is the night sky at Pelican Island Wilderness?
NASA’s Black Marble night-lights image reads 90 on a 0 to 255 scale at the center point, noticeable light pollution.
Source: NASA Black Marble
Are there historic places near Pelican Island Wilderness?
25 National Register listings within 15 miles, including Lawson, Bamma Vickers, House and Old Town Sebastian Historic District East.
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.