Mississippi’s Barrier Islands

Stretching 160 miles across the coasts of Mississippi, Alabama, and Florida, the Gulf Islands National Seashore is America’s fifth most-visited national park. At its wild western edge lie four remote and undeveloped barrier islands: Petit Bois, Ship, Horn, and Cat.

Accessible only by boat, these islands offer rare encounters with undisturbed wilderness, windswept dunes, maritime forests, and nesting sea turtles, with no roads, buildings, or noise beyond wind and waves. Horn Island, like Petit Bois, is a designated wilderness area, while Cat Island is partially protected through state and federal programs.

For generations, artists, anglers, hikers, and nature lovers have drawn inspiration from these otherworldly shores. And for coastal Mississippi, these islands are more than scenic—they’re a crucial natural shield, buffering communities from hurricane storm surge that threatens lives, infrastructure and the economy.

When these barrier islands were privately owned, their future as a public refuge, wildlife haven, and storm buffer was not guaranteed. By securing more than 800 combined acres on Cat and Horn islands, and transferring them to the National Park Service, TPL helped Mississippi’s coastal communities strengthen their storm resilience and conserve the awe-inspiring beauty of their barrier islands for future generations to enjoy.