A diverse group of islands in Boston Harbor. A couple of the Islands are accessible by car, and most are accessible from park ferries and harbor tour companies. A few of the islands are only accessible by private boat. Check out the page on Getting to the Boston Harbor Islands for more details.

The Islands:

Bumpkin Island's slate and shell beaches surround open fields and trails lined with wildflowers.

Deer Island is now connected to Winthrop and offers 4.5 miles of trails along the shore and around the hills. It also house a large waste-water treatment plant, so this is probably the least scenic island. Even still, it's accessible by car and offers great views of Boston Harbor.

Gallops Island has a large rabbit population and historic ruins.

George's Island has Fort Warren, built in 1847, and was used to hold Confederate prisoner's during the Civil War.

Grape Island is a wildlife haven with it's abundance of wild berries.

Great Brewster Island has 100-foot tall cliffs offering great views of the inner islands, Boston Harbor, and 4 different lighthouses. The remains of several buildings are on the island - a military bunker, an observation post and several summer cottages.

Little Brewster Island is a 2-acre island which hosts Boston Light, the oldest operational lighthouse in the nation.

Lovells Island is a favorite camping location and has the remains of Fort Standish.

Peddock's Island is the largest in the harbor at 188 acres, and has hiking trails, a pond and a marsh. The island was heavily used for active harbor defense from 1904 to World War II. 26 buildings of Fort Andrews remain.

Thompson Island consists of a drumlin and a moraine. It has open fields, wildflowers, and berry bushes; a pond; and 50 acres of salt marsh. It is home to many animals, including killdeer, herons, and hermit crabs.

Webb State Park consists of two drumlins jutting into the harbor and is accessible by car from Hingham.

World's End is also accessible by car from Hingham.

Features

islands, forts, ruins, historic ruins, wildlife, wildflowers, birding, scenic views

Homepage

Boston Harbor Islands - Boston Harbor Islands Visitor's Guide

Location Map

Map of the Islands - Clickable map with descriptions of each Island

Directions

Check the link on Getting to the Islands for full details.

Here's a PDF of the ferry and island shuttle schedule from the National Park Service.

Boston Harbor Cruises offers boat trips to several islands from Long Wharf. They also offer sightseeing cruises and whale watch cruises.

Street Map

Hours & Admission

Check the Hours and Seasons page for full details.

Notes & Comments

The Boston Harbor Islands are truly incredible. A wildly diverse mix of things and scenic views make several visits to the islands a must.

Boston Harbor Islands