There are many small, uninhabited islands off the coast of Maine to explore and look for sea glass and other treasures. In general, anytime you are invited to get out on the water, you should enthusiastically accept! Recently, friends invited us to spend a day on Marshall Island in Maine, off the coast of Swans. We started out of Northeast Harbor and ran at a fast pace for about 45 minutes on flat seas. Marine conditions can change this timeline significantly; we had perfect conditions.
- Updated: 27 Sept 2024
About Marshall Island
Why do you want to spend a day on Marshall Island in Maine? First, it is one of the largest islands and has trails to explore. There is also a sand beach which is unique along Maine’s rocky coastline.
The Maine Coast Heritage Trust manages it, so there is some infrastructure. For example, there is a picnic table, a cornhole game (b.y.o. beanbags), a map, and a bulletin board. There are also campsites and platforms with picnic tables for those who want to spend more time.
Getting to Marshall Island
You will need a boat and a launch. Charters are available from either Southwest Harbor, Northeast Harbor, Bass Harbor, or Stonington, and they are a great way to spend the day. You can get closer by taking the ferry to Frenchboro or Swans Island, but you will still need a charter and will be locked into the ferry schedules. I can’t recommend any particular charter company, so read the reviews.
There is a mooring at Sand Cove. We arrived just before high tide, so it was far from shore. A break line near shore washed over the bow of the launch, drenching me, but thankfully, the gear stayed dry.
Hiking to the Outlook
There is a lovely path through the moss to a rocky shore. It took longer than expected, and we had to bushwhack to the Overlook and pick up a lot of storm debris along the way. There are clippers and trash bags at the kiosk – bring them along! Downed trees block the path, and sometimes, the markers seem to be pointing in the wrong direction. We had enough signal and a picture of the map to figure it out without too much trouble, and it is a small island – how lost can you get?
What to Bring
It’s a good idea to travel light on a boat trip, but there are several things to consider before spending a day on Marshall Island in Maine.
CAMERA
This is optional. I usually take my cell phone on long hikes, but sometimes, I want pictures with the good camera more than the workout. I had a lot of gear on this voyage but only used my cell phone camera, although I was ready for anything.
WATER & FOOD
I don’t need as much water in the fall as in the summer, but I always need a snack. Occasionally, rather suddenly, I get low blood sugar. We brought lunch and drinks since we planned to spend the day.
LAYERS
A day on Marshall Island is a boating and hiking day, so you should be prepared to get wet but also have sturdy shoes. You need water shoes to get from the launch to the shore, then dry shoes and socks for the hike. I had water shoes and did the hike in them, but having more tread would have been better. We took a wave over the bow of the inflatable, and I was in wet clothes all day. It’s part of the adventure.
BACKPACK
I bought a small day pack this year that I like very much, it’s very light, and doesn’t throw me off balance. It’s an Osprey Tempest 24, in Tidal Atlas. Inside you will want a small first aid kit, sunscreen, water, and bug repellent. The mosquitos in Maine are notorious.
POLES
This is optional, there are some times when I would like the stability, but usually I’m fine and I don’t carry poles. It is a good idea on rocky, slippery paths.
Finding the Waypoints
Start at the Kiosk
At the kiosk, you will find a map of the island and all the trails, yard clippers, and construction waste bags, and you will need all of these things! Don’t forget to take a picture of the map or load my All Trails map; grab the clippers and a bag, then look for the trail to the left along the water. There will be a blue and red mark on a tree.
Choose the longer or shorter route
Waypoint 1: We chose to head right, more directly toward Boxam Cove, and then to the Overlook. We planned to take the South Loop Trail along the shore on the way back, but the hike took longer than planned, and we were all hungry. So, we ended up returning on the same route.aypoint
Sign to the Overlook
Waypoint 2: We followed the blue trail to Boxam Cove. It said Overlook, so it was a bit confusing. We were glad we had the map because it was important to follow the blue markers, not the red, to get to Boxam Cove. As we got closer, buoys were hanging from the trees, pointing us to the turnoff.
Boxam Cove Turnoff
At this point, you can see the cove, so it’s not much of a trick. We spent 20 minutes or so gathering trash, stacking it away from the water, and taking away what we could carry. Since we were returning on the same route, we left the trash from the cove near waypoint 3 and continued on to the Overlook.
Right Turn, Clyde
Waypoint 4: This is the most confusing of the markers because the Overlook is found by following the red trail in the opposite direction of Sand Cove, NOT by following the sign marked Overlook. (Right Turn, Clyde is a reference to an old movie – See a Clip)
Are We There Yet?
Waypoint 5: We found the black markers and the Overlook, but it was a slog with lots of debris and downed trees. It also took much longer than expected, but we made it and were rewarded with beautiful views. The Overlook is over that downed tree and several others about .1 mile from the waypoint.
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