Boston Harbor Islands -

Boston Harbor Islands

781-740-1605 ext. 205

mass.parks@state.ma.us

This 17-island state park is part of the 34-island Boston Harbor Islands National Park Area. They are a wonderful natural resource, only 45 minutes by ferry from downtown Boston. Seventeen of the islands are managed the Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR). Six of the 17 islands, and Webb State Park, a 36-acre peninsula in Weymouth, are staffed and open for public use daily during the summer and weekends in the spring and fall.

Visitors to the park enjoy shell and slate beaches, easy hiking paths, old hay fields gone wild with bayberry, raspberry and elderberry, and old roadways to historic foundations and forts. Shade is found at picnic sites, trailside benches, and on wooded trails. There are many historic and scenic harbor vistas such as Dorchester, Quincy, Hull and Hingham Bays, the Blue Hills, Boston's skyline, 34 islands, and outward to Massachusetts Bay. Resident Park Managers/ Interpreters live on-island during the visiting season. They provide island supervision, give island tours, and. offer ongoing educational programs and special events. Check Boston Harbor Islands for schedules of island openings and special event listings.

Click here to see a map of the Boston Harbor Islands

Things to know before you go.

Visitors must use a carry in and carry out policy. There is no drinking water or food store available on the island. Please plan accordingly. Composting toilets are available. Pets are not allowed on any islands within the Boston Harbor Islands National Park Area. Day use permits are required for groups of 25 or more and may require a fee. Call the DCR park office at 781-740-1605 or 617-727-7676 for permits for Grape, Bumpkin, Great Brewster, Georges, Lovells and Peddocks islands.

Directions

Ferry Service: For Ferry Service information and events, please call (617) 223 8666, or go to www.bostonislands.com and click on Trip Planning.

Moorings: Limited docking space is available for private boats at Georges Island on a first-come, first-served basis. On all other islands, docks are available for off-loading only. Small prams are available for anchoring off-shore. For information on moorings for private boats at Bumpkin, Georges, Peddocks and other Boston Harbor Islands, Call 617-223-8666. For reservations and technical information, call 617-241-9640 or email: moorings@bosport.com.

Camping

Overnight camping is permited only on designated islands, including Grape, Bumpkin, Lovells, from late June to early September. Camping is by reservation only and a fee is charged. Camping on the islands is a primitive camping experience. Weather conditions are variable and temperatures in the harbor are usually cooler than those on the mainland. There is no water or food available on the islands, so please plan accordingly. See ferry information above for transportation to the islands. Camping on Grape, Bumpkin, and Lovells: To reserve campsites on Grape, Bumpkin, or Lovells call toll free 1-877-422-6762 or reserve on the web at www.reserveamerica.com. PLEASE NOTE: PEDDOCKS ISLAND IS NOT AVAILABLE FOR CAMPING IN 2008.

Georges Island
This 30-acre island is dominated by Fort Warren, a National Historic Landmark. Constructed of granite between 1833 and 1869, Fort Warren was used during the Civil War for training Union soldiers and later as a prison for captured Confederates. George's Island now serves as the entrance to the Boston Harbor Islands State Park and provides free inter-island water taxi service, rest room facilities, running water and concession stand. George's is open to the public from May to mid-October. Park Rangers offer guided fort tours and historical and nautical programs: special events such as the Civil War Encampment are scheduled on an annual basis and school curriculum packets are available. Contact the park office for a schedule of events. The island has large picnic areas, a snack bar and an information booth. A free water taxi to the other islands departs from the pier at George's on a frequent schedule.

Spectacle Island
Spectacle Island features a marina, visitors center, two sandy beaches, and five miles of walking trails that will lead visitors to the crest of a 157 foot-high hill, offering magnificent panoramic views of the harbor and the city. Supervised swimming is offered daily.

The Spectacle Island visitor center demonstrates renewable energy, oriented with a roofline facing south so a solar electric (photo voltaic) system could be installed with maximum solar gain. These photo voltaic panels produce enough energy to keep a small fleet of electric vehicles operational on the island as well as to send clean electricity to the electric utility company's power grid for use throughout the area.

Lovells Island
Characterized by its curved beaches and diverse wildlife, Lovell's is a peaceful and primitive island. Visitors can enjoy exploring the remains of Fort Standish and walk along trails that pass by dunes and salt-marsh woods. Along its shores there are rocky tide pools, sand dunes and some of the best views of the outer harbor. The island offers picnic areas, scenic overlooks, 11 campsites and a swimming beach. Special events and daily programs in the summer months bring alive the military history, folklore, geology, water quality, plants and birds of the island. For camping reservations, call toll free at 1-877 422-6762.

Peddocks Island

PLEASE NOTE: CAMPING ON PEDDOCKS ISLAND IS CLOSED TO THE PUBLIC IN 2008. CAMPING IS ONLY AVAILABLE ON GRAPE, BUMPKIN AND LOVELLS ISLANDS.

At 188 acres, Peddocks is one of the largest, most diverse islands in the harbor. The island's East Head contains the remains of Fort Andrews, active in harbor defense from 1904 to the end of World War II. The island has 10 campsites and its trails pass by a salt marsh, a pond and mature coastal forests. Peddocks Visitor's Center has educational displays on the island's natural and military history. Park Rangers offer island walks, fort tours, and special events that highlight the military use, folklore and natural history of the island and the harbor. For camping reservations, call toll free at 1-877 422-6762.

Bumpkin Island
Wildflowers grow along the trails that lead visitors to the remains of a children's hospital and stone farmhouse. The island's slate and shell beaches and open fields provide a relaxing atmosphere. One group and 10 individual campsites are available on this 35-acre island. For camping reservations, call toll free at 1-877 422-6762.

Grape Island
Grape was once used by Native Americans and colonial farmers. The island's 50 acres are a haven for wildlife. Wild blackberries, bayberries and rose hips proliferate on the island, providing food for a wide variety of birds and hours of delight for naturalists. Grape is one of the few Boston Harbor islands without historic structures. Other features include picnic areas, 1 group and 10 individual campsites, and many wooded trails. For camping reservations, call toll free at 1-877 422-6762.

Great Brewster Island
Great vistas out to Massachusetts Bay and in to all of Boston Harbor can be seen from its 100-foot height of glacial till. This island played a great role throughout the history of Massachusetts' coastal defense. Great Brewster Island is available for Day-Use only. Visitor facilities on this twenty-three acre island include Picnic tables, self-guided trail, a composting toilet, and a small weather shelter.

Webb Memorial State Park
This 36-acre peninsula in Weymouth features scenic walking trails, harbor vistas, tables, grills and a picnic pavilion During the Cold War, this area served as a Nike missile site. Call (781) 740-1605 for pavilion reservations.

Gallops Island
CURRENTLY CLOSED TO THE PUBLIC
Gallops Island is closed to visitors during 2002. Portions of Gallops Island were closed in 2000 due to the presence of asbestos-containing building debris. The DCR has determined that the island will be closed to the public until visitors can be welcomed back safely.