The Stonington Archipelago is a series of islands between Stonington and Isle au Haut. Over 70 islands are scattered in a 10 square mile area. Many consider this area to be one of the densest archipelagos on the East coast. Many also consider this archipelago to be some of the best sea kayaking on the East Coast. I concur with this as well.

Let me tell you about the Stonington archipelago from the perspective of a sea kayaker: 

Every June for about a week I find a group of kayak guides paddling in the archipelago. We cross paths on Little Camp Island and Webb Cove. I have come to recognize many of them, and they recognize me through our island meet-ups. Two years ago while guiding a small group, I ran into these kayak guides on Little Camp Island. They started chatting with my customers, in which they reiterated that this was the best place to paddle on the coast of Maine. The way they put it is that they are kayak guides and they go to Stonington for their vacation. This made me realize how lucky I am to work in this location. If other kayak guides come to us for vacation, that’s how you know it is a worthwhile location. 

We enjoy working with Maine Island Trail Association (MITA), Maine Coast Heritage Trust, and Island Heritage Trust. These conservation organizations play a pivotal role with stewardship in our area. They also all know the value of our area. MITA stewards a series of islands all up and down the coast of Maine. You can check out the full trail here. Our area has the largest concentration of MITA islands. Amongst our archipelago there are 15-20 islands in our area that you can camp on. No fees or permits needed. Some are nearby such as: Hell’s Half-Acre, Russ Island, and the Sheep Islands. There are great options closer to Isle au Haut for those looking for more of an adventure: Kimball Island, Wheat Island, and Doliver Island. These are just some of the many islands you can camp on. 

Campsite on Hell’s Half-Acre

Each island is unique in its own way. My favorite island is Gooseberry Island, right off of Mcglathery island. Even with the close proximity of those two islands, they are vastly different. Mcglathery island is one of the largest in the archipelago. With around 70 acres of spruce covered terrain. The south side has sloped granite ledges with a large drop-off at the end. The north side includes a beautiful beach with a quiet cove that sailors anchor up in. Right next door is Gooseberry Island, with only a few acres of land. The North side of the island is the access point with arguably one of the most beautiful beaches in the area. You can hike around in 15-20 minutes, which will give you dramatic views of both Mount Desert Island and Isle au Haut. If you keep hiking around the island you will see a rock garden full of Glacial Erratics, dumped there around 10,000 years ago. Each island is unique in its own way. They have their own character, geography, and history. For this reason, I am always able to keep myself and my customers engaged while running tours. 

Gooseberry Island 2024

The Stonington Archipelago is vast and unique. There is so much to see. If you’re looking for the best option to explore as much of the archipelago in one day. Inquire about our full-day’s tour!