Chandeleur Islands

The Chandeleur Islands are a narrow chain of low-lying barrier islands off the coast of Louisiana in the Gulf of Mexico, noted for their role as barrier beaches and bird habitat.

The island chain is formed and continually reshaped by sediments carried from the Mississippi River and by coastal processes. The Chandeleurs have been heavily eroded and altered by major hurricanes and storms in recent decades, which have reduced island area and changed island configuration.

The islands lie offshore of southeastern Louisiana in the northern Gulf of Mexico, extending northeast from the Mississippi delta; access is by boat or air from the Louisiana coast.

• Protection status: Managed as part of the Breton National Wildlife Refuge and an important nesting area for seabirds and shorebirds.
• Access: No visitor facilities are present; islands are remote and visited only by private boat or expedition vessels.

Access requires a seaworthy vessel and an experienced captain; charters operate from New Orleans, Grand Isle, or Venice, Louisiana. The islands lie roughly 50-100 miles offshore depending on the landing site and are exposed to Gulf weather; check marine forecasts and NOAA navigation advisories.

• Charter an experienced local captain from Venice Marina or Grand Isle; the sandbars shift and charts are often out of date.
• Bring protective clothing and sunscreen - the islands are exposed and there is minimal shade.
• Respect nesting seasons for shorebirds; some parts are seasonal wildlife sanctuaries with restricted landings.