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Boston Harbor Islands National Park Area

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Hours:Open seasonally from May to October.
Ages:Kids, Teens, Adults
In/Outdoor:Outdoor
Cost:see below
Category:Parks & Nature
Other Ideas: Stage Fort Park Beaches; New England Botanic Garden at Tower Hill; Purgatory Chasm State Reservation; Massachusetts DCR State Parks; Castle Hill on the Crane Estate


boston harbor islands national park area photoYou don't have to head to the suburbs for a day in nature. Take a short ferry ride to one of Boston's many harbor islands. Enjoy hiking trails, fishing and picnic areas, and lots more.

34 islands make up the cluster of islands situated in Boston Harbor. Explore tide pools, walk through a Civil War fort, climb a lighthouse, hike lush trails, camp, fish, picnic or swim - all a short distance from downtown Boston.

The Boston Harbor Islands offer countless opportunities for visitors to tour historical sites, observe wildlife, and participate in recreational activities such as hiking, camping, swimming, and fishing or perhaps to enjoy a relaxing picnic lunch amid the spectacular scenery. Guided and self-guided tours are available.

Gateway Pavillion
Visit the new Gateway Pavilion on the Rose Kennedy Greenway where you buy ferry tickets, consult with park rangers, learn about the park’s natural and historic resources and wander a 2,000-square-foot granite topographical map of the harbor’s islands.

The pavilion is the latest in a series of park improvements. A new visitor center and an outpost of Jasper White’s Summer Shack restaurant opened last summer on Georges Island. A new museum highlights the history of the island’s Fort Warren, including its role in housing Confederate prisoners during the Civil War.

Also, ferry service and camping return to Peddocks Island this summer, making it the fourth island on which campers can pitch tents under the stars and the lights of the Boston skyline.

View this year's Events Schedule.

Boston Harbor Islands include:
Dear Island, Spectacle Island, Thompson Island, Peddocks Island, Georges Island, Lovells Island, Great Brewster Island, Little Brewster Island, Bumpkin Island and Grape Island.

Getting There is Half the Fun:
Most people arrive at the Boston Harbor Islands (Spectacle & George's) via a brief ferry ride from Long Wharf-North in Boston. The ferry system gets you to the islands (and home again) quickly and easily.

Going to Lovells, Grape, or Bumpkin Transfer at Georges, or leave the mainland from the South Shore. Thompson Island is served by its own ferry, from Spectacle Island or South Boston.

Boaters and outdoor enthusiasts can also choose arrive at several of these islands via their own boats, including motorboats, sailboats, and sea kayaks.

Looking for more fun daytrips near Boston? Check out our handy guide for some great ideas of places to go within an hour or two of Boston.

COST↑ top

Adult round-trip ferry tickets cost $15, Seniors $11, and Kids 11 and under cost $9. Under 3 ride free. Purchase tickets & View Ferry Schedule

WEBSITE↑ top

www.bostonislands.com

LOCATION↑ top

66 Long Wharf, Boston, MA, 02110 map
Phone: 617-223-8666

66 Long Wharf (at Christopher Columbus Park)
Boston, MA 02110

Take take the T to the Blue Line Aquarium Stop and catch a Harbor Islands Express Ferry to Georges Island. From Georges you can board a free water shuttle to one of five other islands.

View the current Harbor Islands Express ferry schedule.

RELATED LINKS↑ top

Info changes frequently. We cannot warrant it. Verify with Boston Harbor Islands National Park Area before making the trek. If you find an error, please report it...
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