Duck Harbor Campground, Isle au Haut

Acadia’s Best-Kept Secret

Duck Harbor Campground sits on the southwestern shore of Isle au Haut, a remote island section of Acadia National Park that most visitors never see. There are exactly five lean-to shelters here. No tents, no RVs, no hookups. Just five three-sided wooden shelters on a rugged island accessible only by mail boat from Stonington.

This is one of the most exclusive camping experiences in the entire National Park System. Not because of price, but because getting a spot requires winning what amounts to a lottery. Every reservation for the entire season opens on April 1 at 10 AM Eastern, and all five shelters for every available date fill within minutes.

Getting to the Island

The Isle au Haut Boat Services mail boat departs from Stonington on Deer Isle. The ride to Duck Harbor landing takes about 45 minutes. Round-trip fare is $48 per person. The boat runs a limited schedule, typically one morning departure and one afternoon return, so check the current timetable before booking.

Stonington is about 3.5 hours from Portland and 2 hours from Bangor. There is a paid parking lot near the town dock. Arrive early in summer because parking fills up.

You are carrying everything you need for your stay onto the boat and then a short walk to the campground. Pack like a backpacker, not a car camper. There are no wheelbarrows or carts available.

The Lean-To Shelters

Each of the five lean-tos is a three-sided wooden shelter with a raised sleeping platform, a picnic table, and a fire ring. They are spaced apart enough to give each site privacy, though you will know your neighbors are there.

The shelters face the harbor and are tucked into the spruce forest. They keep rain off your head but are open on one side, so bring a tarp or sleeping bag that handles wind and cold. Nights on the island are cooler than the mainland, even in July.

There is a hand pump near the campground, but the water is non-potable. Bring a filter or all the water you need. A pit toilet serves the campground.

Campfires are allowed in the fire rings only. You must use dead and downed wood found on the ground. Do not cut standing trees. Driftwood from the shore works but burns fast and salty.

Rules and Limits

The rules at Duck Harbor are strict, and rangers enforce them:

• Maximum 3 nights per stay
• One stay per person per calendar year
• No pets allowed (this is absolute, no exceptions)
• Maximum 6 people per lean-to
• Pack out all trash (there are no garbage cans on the island)
• No food storage outside shelters (hang your food bag or use a bear canister)

Hiking on Isle au Haut

The island section of Acadia has about 18 miles of trails, and they are dramatically less crowded than anything on Mount Desert Island. On a typical summer day, you might see a dozen other hikers total.

The Duck Harbor Mountain Trail climbs to open ledges with views across the island and out to the ocean. The Western Head and Cliff Trails follow the rugged southern coastline past cobble beaches and through thick spruce forest. The full island perimeter loop is roughly 12 miles and makes a solid full-day hike.

Bug Situation

Isle au Haut’s bug situation is intense from mid-June through mid-July. The island’s dense spruce forest and wet ground create ideal breeding habitat for mosquitoes. Blackflies are present in June as well. Bring DEET or picaridin-based repellent and a head net. By August, bugs taper off significantly. September camping, if you can get a reservation, is the most comfortable.

Packing List

Getting There

Duck Harbor Campground is only reachable by boat. The Isle au Haut Boat Services mail boat departs from the town dock in Stonington on Deer Isle and runs a seasonal landing directly at Duck Harbor from roughly mid-June through early October. Outside that window, the mail boat only serves the island’s town landing at the opposite end of the island, which is a 5-mile trail hike from the campground.

Getting to Stonington takes some time. From Portland, the drive runs about 3.5 hours via I-295 and Route 1 to Bucksport, then Route 15 south across the Deer Isle suspension bridge and down the peninsula to Stonington. From Bangor, figure about 2 hours via Route 1A to Ellsworth, then Route 15 south to the Deer Isle bridge. The final stretch down Deer Isle and Little Deer Isle is slow two-lane road, so pad your schedule.

The ferry operator maintains a paid parking lot near the town dock in Stonington. It fills up fast in summer, so arrive at least 45 minutes before your boat. Round-trip fare runs around $48 per person and the crossing to Duck Harbor is about 45 minutes. There is typically one morning departure and one afternoon return. Miss the boat and you miss the day. There is no cell service on the island, and Stonington itself has limited grocery options, so stock up in Ellsworth or Blue Hill on the way.

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