The Boston Harbor Islands
34 rugged islands and peninsulas — the harbor's outer defensive ring and its most expansive recreational retreat, from Spectacle Island's drumlins to Fort Warren on Georges to yurts on Peddocks.
The Contested Larders
In 1775 and 1776, the drumlin islands that now host picnic blankets and campground yurts were vital lookout posts and contested larders in the struggle for Boston. Cut off from the mainland by the American siege lines, the British garrison in the town depended on the scattered island farms — pastures on Noddle's, Hog, Long, Deer, Peddocks, and the Brewsters — for fresh beef, mutton, milk, and, above all, the hay their cavalry horses and draft animals needed to survive the winter.
At a Glance
- Route
- Long Wharf North → Spectacle Island → Georges Island (Fort Warren)
- Distance
- Full-day ferry itinerary
- Duration
- 4–6 hours
- Difficulty
- Easy–Moderate · trail hiking
Getting Here
- Ferry
- Boston Harbor City Cruises from Long Wharf North; Peddocks from Hingham Ferry Terminal
Amenities
- Admission
- Ferry tickets required · Library Passes 50% off · EBT/WIC $4
- Key Contacts
- bostonharborislands.org · Camping via ReserveAmerica
The Journey
Offshore from the wharves of downtown and the drumlin coast of the South Shore lies the Boston Harbor Islands National and State Park — a rugged archipelago of 34 islands and peninsulas that make up one of the world's only drowned drumlin fields. Each island is the exposed crest of a glacial till hill left behind by the last ice sheet, ringed by cobble beaches, eroding bluffs, and pocket salt marshes where the tide has been chewing at the till for the last 12,000 years. Together they form both the harbor's outer defensive line and its most expansive recreational retreat.
Visible as green mounds and rocky outcrops from Castle Island, Webb Memorial, and World's End, these islands are an urban wilderness minutes from the city. Their history runs from Massachusett fishing and shell-midden sites through 18th-century farms and pastures — the 'larders' the Continental militia raided in 1775 — to 19th-century masonry forts, immigration and quarantine stations, a city almshouse, and a landfill that has since been capped and reforested at Spectacle. Today the park draws roughly half a million visitors a year while remaining ecologically inseparable from the harbor's salt marshes, eelgrass beds, and shipping channels.
Gateway Hubs
- 1
Long Wharf North (Departure)
Primary departure for Spectacle and Georges — Boston Harbor City Cruises ferry hub.
- 2
Spectacle Island
114 acres. Once farming, resort hotels, and eventually a city dump — now a premier park destination just four miles from downtown. Five miles of trails including a 1.5-mile ADA-compliant perimeter loop, plus programming like Jazz on the Porch and Sunset Lobster Clam Bakes.
- 3
Georges Island (Fort Warren)
Home to the Civil War-era Fort Warren, a National Historic Landmark. Famous for its granite architecture and the 'Lady in Black' legend — twice-daily ranger-led tours and Sunday Fundays with Civil War-era lawn games and music.
Biodiversity & Special Access
- 4
Peddocks Island
Diverse geography of drumlins — increasingly framed as a 'living laboratory' for biodiversity and birding. A primary destination for camping, including yurts.
- 5
Cathleen Stone Island (Thompson Island)
Traditionally a restricted educational campus — starting in 2026, limited seasonal weekend public access is available via specific boats and programs.
- 6
Boston Light
The oldest lighthouse site in the United States — still an active aid to navigation, visible from the seaward side of the harbor loop.
Alternate Access
- 7
Hingham Ferry Terminal
Primary access for Peddocks Island — connects to the South Shore route (Journey 9).