Sea Kayak Tenting on the Islands of the Maine Coast

The islands of Maine are a few of the greatest locations for sea kayaking and tenting on the earth. To paddle out to an island and keep in a single day is an unimaginable outside journey. I discovered certainly one of my favourite quotes about sea kayak tenting on a plaque inside a cabin on an island off the coast of Maine.

“If after getting slept on an island

You’ll by no means be fairly the identical.“

— Rachel Subject

In a single day adventures on islands on the Maine coast are potential as a result of devoted efforts of many conservation teams. The 375-mile Maine Island Path is among the premier water trails for boaters within the US. Extending from the New Hampshire border to Canada, there are over 200 islands to go to and camp on. Having your personal ocean-front campsite is thrilling.

Associated submit -> The Greatest Downeast Maine Out of doors Adventures Past Acadia

The campsites are primitive, and you’ll want to carry in and perform every thing, together with human waste. Some islands are closed throughout sure intervals of the yr to guard nesting birds. To have entry to the free tenting islands, be part of the Maine Island Path Affiliation (MITA). Upon signing up with the $45 registration price, you’ll obtain a guidebook itemizing descriptions and instructions to all of the islands.

The next areas alongside the Maine coast stand out for in a single day journeys. The urged tenting islands are open to the general public. There are additionally MITA islands within the areas to camp on to increase your journey. The islands are very ecologically fragile so use the most effective Go away No Hint practices.

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Associated submit -> 25 Greatest Kayaking Day Journeys within the US

Gear for Maine Sea Kayak Tenting

The right gear for sea kayak tenting makes a giant distinction in consolation and security. Like backpacking, every thing you deliver ought to be small and compact. Nonetheless, in contrast to backpacking, you don’t have to be so weight-conscious. Sea kayaks are a melange of wierd, tight areas. Due to this fact, pack gear in compact dry bag models that may be stuffed in each out there area.

Sea Kayak Tenting Gear Methods

I take advantage of a methods method to what I deliver on a sea kayaking in a single day tenting journey. My submit on The Greatest Gear for Incredible Sea Kayaking Tenting Adventures will clarify the methods in better element. Briefly, that is the tools I deliver on an in a single day tenting journey on the coast of Maine.

Shelter system: Tent and cooking tarp

Sleeping system: Sleeping bag, sleeping pad, camp pillow

Camp kitchen system: Camp range, pot set, kitchen knife, spice package, thermos, camp chair

Storage system: Dry baggage, chart case, cellphone case

Cape Porpoise Islands for Maine Sea Kayak Tenting

The Cape Porpoise Islands space close to Kennebunkport has three beautiful islands for primitive tenting. The Kennebunkport Conservation Belief caretakes the islands and handles on-line reservations. It’s handy to base camp on one island and do day paddling journeys within the Cape Porpoise space.

Vaughn Island is nearest the shore and has a spacious oak tree-shaded campsite. If the climate will get tough, you may stroll again to the mainland at low tide. Trott Island has an easy-to-land web site on the south finish with area for 3 tents within the pine woods. The excessive cobbled seashore is nice for watching the sundown. Cape Island has a tougher touchdown however has a blustery open ocean really feel in the event you stroll across the island.

Make sure you take a day paddle over to Goat Island when tenting within the Cape Porpoise Islands. Strolling on the three.5-acre island is a stroll by means of historical past. Wander by the outdated boathouse in-built 1905. The lighthouse was in-built 1833 and nonetheless capabilities to maintain boats off the rocks. Ask the lighthouse keeper in the event you can tour the lighthouse. From the sunshine tower, you may see the entire expanse of the coast. There may be additionally a superb view of Walker Level, the George Bush household compound.

Goose Rocks Seashore can be a enjoyable paddle. When you find yourself bored with taking part in within the surf waves in your kayak, you may stretch out for some solar on the 3-mile-long tender sand seashore.

Cape Porpoise Islands logistics

Native leases can be found from Coastal Maine Kayak and Bike. The launch web site close to the causeway on Pier Highway is inaccessible at low tide, so ensure that to place in and take out on the highest half of the tide. The close by Pier 77 restaurant has gorgeous views of the harbor. The favored favourite Clam Shack in Kennebunkport serves exquisitely recent seafood.

Keep in close by Kennebunkport to get pleasure from this charming coastal city. The Lodge at Turbot Creek is a brief distance to the launch close to Vaughn Island.

Associated submit -> Wonderful Sea Kayaking Adventures within the Cape Porpoise Islands

Casco Bay Islands for Maine Sea Kayak Tenting

Casco Bay is the southernmost of the massive coastal Maine bays. It extends from Portland to the peninsulas south of Brunswick. There are countless sea kayaking journeys potential in Casco Bay.

Jewell Island, certainly one of Casco Bay’s outermost islands, is a well-liked tenting vacation spot. This huge island as soon as served because the harbor protection set up to guard Portland throughout WW II. Remnants of the outdated army battery are discovered alongside mountaineering trails on the island. These artifacts inform the story of the army historical past of Jewell Island’s fortress. A tower on the south finish of the island has superb views of the expanse of Casco Bay.

There are quite a few campsites with close by privies on the island to select from. A western anchorage at Cocktail Cove usually has many cruising boats, so sea kayakers will discover quieter campsites on the south finish of the island. The publicity to the huge Atlantic Ocean from these campsites is exhilarating. You will be stranded on Jewell for a number of days in a Nor’easter storm. Due to this fact, pay shut consideration to the marine forecast earlier than you enterprise out, or deliver ebook and additional meals to attend it out.

On a peaceful day, Eagle Island is an outstanding day paddle from one of many Casco Bay tenting islands reminiscent of Jewell or Bangs. Eagle Island, the summer time house of Arctic explorer Robert Peary, has a museum and trails on a excessive bluff over the ocean. It’s a 2-3 mile paddle from Bangs or Jewell Island.

The Goslings Islands

For paddlers excited by a kayak journey that’s much less uncovered to the open ocean, the Goslings are charming islands tucked snuggly within the internal bay. Camp on one of many Goslings and discover the opposite as you may stroll throughout the channel at low tide.

Casco Bay Islands logistics

Sea kayak leases can be found to skilled ocean kayakers from Portland Paddle or take certainly one of their guided Casco Bay in a single day journeys. A hand-carry launch at Sandy Level Seashore close to Cousins Island is a few 7-mile paddle to Jewell Island or 5 miles to the Goslings. It’s also possible to put in and take out close to excessive tide at Winslow Memorial Park in Freeport. Should you miss the highest half of the tide, put together to slog by means of the mud for fairly a distance. Been there!

Lodging round Freeport is charming and generally arduous to search out in mid-summer. The Harraseeket Inn is a historic property with an on-site restaurant and tavern. You’ll even have a fire in your room and a pool for taking a swim.

On-shore tenting is at Winslow Park or Wolf’s Neck Oceanfront Tenting in Freeport. Launching in each locations is strictly on the highest half of the tide.

Mid Coast Islands for Maine Sea Kayak Tenting

The massive tidal rivers of the Mid Coast have protected islands snugged between peninsulas for great paddling adventures. Get up on a grassy knoll and watch the lobster boats work when you get pleasure from your morning espresso.

One favourite journey is to camp on Beal Island on the Sasanoa River under Wiscasset after which cross the Sheepscot River to camp on the islands round Isle of Springs the following day.

Beal Island is owned by the Appalachian Mountain Membership (AMC), so that you ebook a campsite by means of them. Beal has a handy ocean-side camp kitchen and campfire ring. Tents are arrange within the spacious meadow above the seashore. A privy is obtainable. Magical trails with goat’s beard moss hanging from the timber wind by means of the forest across the island.

The put-in is at AMC-owned Knubble Bay. Beal Island is one mile from Knubble Bay so it’s a brief paddle in the event you get a late begin to your tenting journey. Areas to discover round Beal are Robinhood Cove and 5 Islands. A partly sunken hull of an outdated shipwreck in Robinhood Cove is enjoyable to paddle by means of.

5 Islands, a quintessential Maine village with a working lobster pound restaurant, is a must-visit vacation spot. Be conscious of the currents in Goose Rock Passage in your paddle there. Should you paddle on an ebbing tide, you’ll have a straightforward trip into the Sheepscot River. At a picnic desk on 5 Islands, nosh on a lobster roll when you admire the picture-perfect harbor and lighthouses within the distance.

Sheepscot River Islands

Cross over the Sheepscot River to search out many tenting islands surrounding the Isle of Springs. Tenting is proscribed on some till July 1 due to nesting ospreys. The Spectacle Islands are a twin dose of magnificence to discover. A tenting space with a picnic desk and campfire ring is on the south island. Don’t miss the beautiful seashore roses alongside the spit becoming a member of the 2 islands at low tide.

Mid Coast Islands Logistics

The clothing store Seaspray Kayaking has boat leases they may ship to Knubble Bay and many of the Mid Coast.

Lodging will be present in Bathtub or Sales space Bay relying on the place you wish to put in. Nonetheless, we discovered the Ocean Gate Resort in Southport to be excellent for a fast sea kayaking trip. The seaside resort has sea kayaks and paddleboards you should use to paddle out to the attractive Isle of Springs islands. We additionally cherished their pool, sizzling tub, and scrumptious home made breakfast each morning.

Muscongus Bay Islands for Maine Sea Kayak Tenting

Muscongus Bay is the following important bay after the nice tidal rivers and is the doorstep to well-known Monhegan Island with its thriving artist neighborhood. Add a day to your trip to take the ferry from New Harbor or Port Clyde to Monhegan. You possibly can browse artwork galleries and stroll the attractive trails to a few of the highest cliff-side overlooks on the Maine coast.

Muscongus is from the Abenaki phrase for “fishing place”. The plethora of lobster entice buoys within the bay attests to its distinctive lobster fishing. The bay has distinct ridges of islands radiating out from the mainland. You possibly can poke round in tiny island coves and channels with emerald-green and blue water just like the Caribbean.

An ideal 3-day journey begins on the Hatchet Cove launch in Friendship. Paddle 4 miles to Crow Island on the west aspect of the bay to camp. Crow is within the shadow of Nationwide Audubon Society-owned Hog island. A fast paddle over to hike the wildlife refuge on Hog is a stunning day journey from Crow.

Spend the following night time on Black Island, a candy spot amid the ridge of islands mid-bay. Hold a hammock on the wooded campsite on the northwest level to get pleasure from ocean breezes and views as you calm down and unplug. Though you’ll by no means wish to depart within the morning, the paddle again to Hatchet Cove is a protected 3.5 miles.

Muscongus Bay Islands Logistics

Midcoast Kayak rents single and tandem sea kayaks to paddlers with rescue expertise. In addition they have leisure kayaks and standup paddleboards for individuals who wish to discover nearer to shore. Should you simply wish to discover the Damariscotta River for a number of hours, you gained’t be dissatisfied.

For lodging earlier than and after your journey, take into account the Hawks Home Inn in Walpole. It’s a quaint farmhouse inn with useful hosts.

Deer Isle Islands for Maine Sea Kayak Tenting

The gorgeous archipelago of islands off Deer Isle close to Stonington is a paddler’s paradise. Service provider Row between Stonington and Isle Au Haut has 65 islands, many open to exploring and tenting.

{The summertime} is extraordinarily busy round Stonington with parking scarce and boat site visitors weaving out and in between islands. It’s such a beautiful place to kayak that it’s well worth the bustle, simply know that you just gained’t discover isolation amid the islands. Due to this fact, this space is especially good within the offseason.

A advisable journey is to place in on the Colwell Boat Ramp in Stonington and head out to one of many many tenting islands. Hell’s Half Acre is a tiny gem for tenting within the thick of Service provider’s Row. From the breezy tent platforms, you may watch the historic two-masted schooners sail by. The schooners’ crews use most of the small islands to have their lobster picnics on the shore. If you’re fortunate sufficient to be on an island they’re utilizing, you could be invited to affix the feast.

Among the islands close to Deer Isle have been quarried for the pink granite utilized in Nineteenth-century public buildings in cities alongside the Japanese seaboard. You possibly can nonetheless see the remnants of those quarries on the islands. Inexperienced Island has a swimmable quarry that gives a refreshing aspect journey in your kayaking journey.

The jewel of Service provider Row is Isle Au Haut, part of Acadia Nationwide Park, with 18 miles of spectacular mountaineering trails. Should you camp on Harbor or Wheat Island you’ll be staged completely to go to Isle Au Haut on a day paddle. With advance reservations, you may also camp on the nationwide park campground at Duck Harbor.

Duck Harbor Campground on Isle Au Haut

I’ve camped in any respect the campgrounds in Acadia Nationwide Park and by far and away essentially the most lovely campground is Duck Harbor. This distant campground is positioned on the gorgeous Isle Au Haut. This beautiful island is positioned in Penobscot Bay. Entry is by mailboat ferry from Stonington. I’ve additionally sea kayaked out to Duck Harbor many instances, launching in Stonington. Many of the south finish of Isle Au Haut is preserved by Acadia Nationwide Park. The campsite is on a cove going through the open ocean. There are 5 distant campsites with wood 3-sided shelters at every one. There’s a water spigot, picnic tables, and a composting outhouse.

Moreover the luxurious oceanfront campsites, the most effective a part of Duck Harbor campground is the proximity to magnificent mountaineering trails. The over 20 miles of trails wind over rocky headlands with views of the crashing surf under, by means of spruce and fir forests, and as much as the very best level on the island.

Whereas not for everybody, Duck Harbor campground will pull on the heartstrings of any outside adventurer in search of the quintessential Maine island expertise.

Deer Isle Islands Logistics

Stonington Paddle has kayak leases for many who are a minimum of intermediate paddlers. Lodging is proscribed within the Stonington space so your greatest wager for locations to remain is in Ellsworth. Tenting on Isle Au Haut on the Duck Harbor campground is pleasant. You possibly can both paddle out to Isle Au Haut on a peaceful day or take the ferry. Both means, you want advance reservations.

Associated submit -> The Most Wonderful Sea Kayaking Adventures of Swan’s Island Maine

Wrap Up of Maine Island Sea Kayak Tenting

I’ve been paddling and tenting on the Maine coast since 1983. Whereas I’ve shared with you a few of the superb islands on the coast of Maine for sea kayak tenting, there are lots of extra I’ve visited and stayed on. After you have sea kayaked on the Maine coast, it’s in your blood. There are countless candy coves to float by means of, islands to arrange camp, sunsets to look at, seals to look at, and tide swimming pools to discover.

Nonetheless, the islands are fragile and well-loved. Observe Go away No Hint particular to Maine’s fragile islands.

Moreover, ensure you have the expertise wanted to sea kayak the waters of the Maine coast. Climate is unpredictable. Know the marine forecast and tides earlier than you enterprise out. Have a versatile itinerary so you may keep placed on an island if the climate and winds worsen. Being windbound is just not an uncommon a part of a sea kayak journey.

Could your winds be honest and your seas be following. Take pleasure in your Maine island sea kayak tenting expertise. Perhaps I’ll see you on the market.

Associated submit -> Sea Kayaking the Daring Coast of Maine