Isle au Haut

Photo Credit: Peter Ralston

About Isle au Haut

The Wabanaki called Isle au Haut "Sulessik", seashell place, and lived and fished seasonally here for thousands of years before Europeans arrived and began settling into year round communities in the 1600s.  The explorer Samuel Champlain is responsible for its current name, “High Island”, as Isle au Haut boasts the highest point in Penobscot Bay.

While many current residents continue to work on the water and fish, primarily for lobster, our year-round population is just over 60 residents. In the summer months, seasonal residents and visitors join us, bringing a welcome but noticeable increase in activity to our small island.

Isle au Haut is about six miles long and two miles wide, with nearly half the island protected as part of Acadia National Park.

We value both our natural beauty and our traditional way of life.

 

Planning Your Visit

There are two harbors on Isle au Haut where you can take the ferry: Duck Harbor (seasonal) and Town Landing.

Duck Harbor: For visitors coming for the day* to hike and explore Acadia National Park, we strongly encourage taking the ferry directly to Duck Harbor Landing on Isle au Haut. Duck Harbor provides the most direct access to the campground and National Park trailheads and is the best starting point to experience the natural beauty of the Island. Duck Harbor is approximately four miles by road or wooded trail to Town Landing. Restrooms are available at Duck Harbor and at the National Park Service Ranger Station (0.3 miles from the Town Landing).

*Advance reservations are required for camping. For full campground and trail information, visit the Acadia National Park website.

Town Landing: The Town Landing is the center of our small, year-round residential community. The harbor is a working waterfront serving local fishing boats and island residents. Within walking distance are the Post Office, Island Store, Congregational Church, Revere Memorial Hall (home to Town offices and the library), and our K–8 school. Services in Town are limited. During the summer, the Lunch Pail, parked outside the Island Store, sells sandwiches and drinks several days a week. 

Photo Credit: Sean Hobson

The Boat Ride to Isle au Haut

While traveling to Duck Harbor or the Town of Isle au Haut, passengers enjoy views of the Merchant’s Row archipelago, cruise through the Isle au Haut Thorofare, and glimpse the spire of the village church, Island Store, and Town Landing from the water. The 10:00 AM and late afternoon trips stop at Town Landing and continue on to Duck Harbor, offering a longer ride with more of the island’s coastline to enjoy.

Keep your eyes open for classic life on Maine coastal waters: lobstermen at work, seals and porpoises, and plenty of seabirds including cormorants, eider ducks, guillemots, and seagulls. Passengers can also enjoy views of Kimball Island, the Isle au Haut Lighthouse, and the working harbor.

Our trips are a relaxed and scenic way to experience Western Penobscot Bay— perfect for first-time visitors, photographers, and anyone who wants to enjoy the beauty of Downeast Maine from the water while traveling alongside local and seasonal residents, as well as park visitors.

Ticket Options

The Isle au Haut ferry runs all year from our Stonington wharf. Tickets and parking are purchased in person at our Ticket Booth May-October and on the boat during the winter season. Don’t forget to read our Information section for frequently asked questions.

There are two ways to experience Isle Au Haut:

Round Trip Cruise

Travel to Isle au Haut aboard our regularly scheduled ferry trips and enjoy the island scenery from the comfort of the boat — all at a discounted round-trip fare when you stay on the same boat for the return journey. On some trips, you may have the option to disembark and stretch your legs briefly at Town Landing.

Round Trip Ticket

If you are planning an hours-long stay either at Duck Harbor or in Town, or are visiting the Island for multiple nights, purchase a regular round trip ticket from the Ticket Booth on the Stonington dock.

There is no Ticket Booth on the Isle au Haut side.

Plan Your Visit

Click on these links to learn more about our Schedule, Tickets & Rates, Getting Here & Parking, and Important Guidelines