Boston’s Top 10 : Boston Harbor Islands

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May– Oct ferries sail from Long Wharf to Georges Island where there’s a shuttle service to other islands (call 617 223 8666)


Islands are open 9am to sunset daily, closed in winter. Camping is permitted on Grape, Bumpkin, and Lovells by special permit



  1. Georges Island

    As
    the terminal for the harbor islands ferry and water shuttles to other
    islands, Georges Island is the gateway to the Boston Harbor Islands
    National Park Area. This undeveloped archipelago of 30 islands consists
    of 1,200 acres (485 ha) spread over 50 sq miles (80 sq km) and is made
    up primarily of drumlins, or piles of glacial debris. The prime
    attraction on Georges Island is the massive Fort Warren, a prison for
    Confederate soldiers during the Civil War.

    • Islands open May–Oct (information booths at Fan Pier and Long Wharf)

    • 617 223 8666


    • www.bostonislands.org




    Fort Warren, Georges Island

  2. Grape & Bumpkin Islands

    Both
    these islands are naturalist’s delights – Bumpkin for its wildflowers,
    raspberries, and bayberries, Grape for its wild roses and bird life. On
    Bumpkin Island, hiking trails pass the ruins of a farmhouse and
    19th-century children’s hospital, which also housed German prisoners
    rescued from Boston Harbor in World War I.

  3. Lovells Island

    Known
    for its extensive dunes, Lovells also has a supervised swimming beach.
    Extensive hiking trails lead across dunes and through woodlands. The
    remains of Fort Standish, which was active during the Spanish American
    War and World War I, can also be explored.

  4. Peddocks Island

    Peddocks
    is one of Boston Harbor’s largest and most diverse islands. Hiking
    trails circle a pond, salt marsh, and coastal forest and pass numerous
    buildings of interest including Fort Andrews, active in harbor defense
    from 1904 through to World War II. The island is known for its black
    crowned night herons and for the beach plums and wild roses which bloom
    profusely in the dunes.




    Peddocks Island

  5. Deer Island

    Accessed
    by a causeway attaching the island to the mainland, 60 acres (24 ha) of
    the island were recently opened for recreation and walking – with
    dramatic views of the Boston skyline. Deer Island is also known for its
    impressive, state-of-the-art $3.8 billion sewage treatment plant.
    Distinguished by 12 gigantic egg-shaped digesters, it was key to
    cleaning up Boston Harbor.




    View of Deer Island from Georges Island

  6. Spectacle Island

    Vastly enlarged by fill from the Big Dig,
    Spectacle Island has some of the highest peaks of the harbor islands
    and the best Boston skyline view. The construction of a new café and
    visitor center has made it one of the most popular of the harbor
    islands. Visitors enjoy 5 miles (8 km) of trails and swimming beaches
    with lifeguards.

  7. Little Brewster Island

    Boston
    Light, the first US lighthouse, was constructed here in 1716 and it
    remains the last staffed offshore lighthouse in the country. Limited
    tours visit the small museum and lead visitors up the 76 spiral steps
    and two ladders to reach the top.

    • Island accessible by tour only Jun–mid-Oct: Thu–Sun

    • Call for schedule

    • Reservations essential 617 223 8666

    • Adm




    Boston Light, Little Brewster Island

  8. Gallops Island

    Once
    the site of a popular summer resort, Gallops also served as quarters
    for Civil War soldiers, including the Massachusetts 54th Regiment.
    The island has an extensive sandy beach, a picnic area, hiking paths,
    and historic ruins of a former quarantine and immigration station. The
    Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation has closed the
    island indefinitely for a thorough environmental clean up.

  9. Thompson Island

    A
    learning center since the 1830s, Thompson is the site of an Outward
    Bound program serving more than 5,000 students annually. The island’s
    diverse geography includes rocky and sandy shores, a large salt marsh,
    and a hardwood forest. Killdeer, herons, and shorebirds abound.

    • Open Jun–Aug: Sat

    • 617 328 3900 ext. 918 for guided tours

    • Ferries depart from EDIC Pier on Summer Street

    • Adm

  10. World’s End

    This
    244-acre (99 ha) peninsula overlooking Hingham Bay is a geological
    sibling of the harbor islands, with its two glacial drumlins, rocky
    beaches, ledges, cliffs, and both salt and freshwater marshes. Frederick
    Law Olmsted laid out the grounds for a homestead development here in
    the late 19th century. The homes were never built, but paths, formal
    plantings, and hedgerows remain. World’s End is accessed by road by
    driving through Hingham.

    • Operated by Trustees of Reservations: 1 781 740 6665

    • Adm to non-members