An Island All to Yourself
Warren Island State Park is a 70-acre island in Penobscot Bay that you can only reach by boat. There is no public ferry. No bridge. No road. Just 15 campsites on an island surrounded by cold Atlantic water, nesting ospreys, and some of the best stargazing on the Maine coast.
This is one of the most unique camping experiences in New England. You load your gear into a boat, cross open water to a wooded island, and spend the night with ocean views from every single site. The remoteness is the whole point, and it filters out casual visitors in a way that no reservation system can.
There is NO scheduled public ferry to Warren Island. You must arrange your own transportation by water taxi, private boat, or kayak. Do not show up at the Lincolnville ferry terminal expecting a ride to the island. That ferry goes to Islesboro, not Warren Island. Plan your water access before you book.
Getting There
This is the part that stops most people, and it is simpler than it sounds. You have a few options:
Quicksilver Water Taxi is the easiest. They run out of the Islesboro/Lincolnville area and will drop you and your gear right at the island pier. Book ahead, especially on weekends. They will also pick you up at checkout.
Kayak from Islesboro. Take the state ferry from Lincolnville to Islesboro (20 minutes, runs frequently), then paddle about half a mile from the Islesboro shore to Warren Island. This is the most common paddle-in approach and is manageable for intermediate kayakers in calm conditions.
Kayak from Lincolnville. This is a 3.3-mile open-water crossing of Penobscot Bay. Only attempt this if you are an experienced sea kayaker comfortable with tidal currents, boat traffic, and the possibility of afternoon chop. The bay is not forgiving.
Private boat. If you have access to a motorboat or sailboat, there are moorings available at the island on a first-come, first-served basis for $20 per night.
When you book a water taxi, confirm both your drop-off and pick-up times. Cell service on the island is actually good (you can see cell towers on the mainland), so you can call for a pickup if your plans change. But having a scheduled time avoids waiting at the pier with all your gear.
The Sites
Warren Island has 12 tent sites and 3 Adirondack shelters (sites 1, 5, and 6). There is also a group camping area for larger parties.
Every site has an ocean view. That is not marketing language. The island is small enough and wooded in a way that nearly every clearing where a site is placed looks out over Penobscot Bay. Some sites face east toward Islesboro, others face west toward the Camden Hills. All of them are extremely private, separated by thick spruce and fir.
The Adirondack shelters are three-sided lean-tos with raised wooden platforms. They keep you dry in rain and off the ground. Good option if you want to pack lighter and skip the tent.
Sites are spread around the perimeter of the island along the 1.5-mile trail network. The farther sites from the pier are the most secluded, but you are hauling your gear there on foot. Courtesy carts are available at the pier to help with the initial carry.
Facilities (Keep It Simple)
Warren Island is primitive camping. Here is what you get and what you do not.
You get:
- Hand pump water (potable, tested regularly)
- Outhouse toilets (reportedly among the cleanest anywhere in the Maine park system)
- Free firewood from the on-island caretaker
- Picnic table and fire ring at each site
- Courtesy carts at the pier for hauling gear
- Moorings for boats ($20/night, first-come-first-served)
You do NOT get:
- Showers
- Electricity
- Trash service (carry everything out)
- A camp store
- Cell phone charging (bring a battery pack)
There is no trash service on Warren Island. Every piece of trash, food waste, and recyclable must leave the island with you. Bring heavy-duty trash bags and plan your meals to minimize packaging. The caretaker will notice if you leave anything behind.
Wildlife and Dark Skies
The island is a wildlife corridor in Penobscot Bay. Ospreys nest in the tall trees and fish right offshore. Bald eagles pass through regularly. Harbor seals haul out on nearby ledges at low tide, and you can watch them from the shore. Great horned owls are active at night, and loons call across the water at dusk and dawn.
But the real show is overhead. Warren Island has zero artificial light. None. The mainland glow is distant enough that the Milky Way is clearly visible on clear nights. Bring binoculars and look up. During the Perseids in August, the lack of light pollution makes this one of the best meteor-watching spots on the coast.
If you are on the island over July 4th, you get a front-row seat to mainland fireworks shows from multiple towns around Penobscot Bay. Camden, Belfast, and other communities all shoot off fireworks, and from the island you can see several displays at once across the water. It is genuinely spectacular and worth timing your trip around if you can get a reservation.
What to Do on the Island
The 1.5-mile trail network loops around the island perimeter and through the interior. It is not a challenging hike, but it passes through old-growth spruce forest, rocky shoreline, and several spots where you can sit on granite ledges and watch the boat traffic in the bay.
Swimming is possible from several rocky shore access points. The water is cold, Penobscot Bay cold, which means upper 50s on a warm August day. Brief swims only unless you are acclimated.
Fishing from shore or by kayak can produce mackerel, pollock, and the occasional striper. You do not need a license for saltwater fishing in Maine.
The real activity here is doing very little. Reading in a hammock with the sound of waves. Watching the light change across the bay. Cooking over a fire while ospreys circle overhead. Warren Island rewards people who are comfortable being still.
Packing List
Warren Island Packing List
- Tent with rain fly (or book an Adirondack shelter)
- Sleeping bag rated to 40F
- Sleeping pad
- Camp stove and fuel (fire ring available but bring a backup)
- All food and water for your stay (hand pump available but bring extra)
- Heavy-duty trash bags (carry everything out)
- Dry bags for the boat crossing
- Headlamp with extra batteries
- Layers and rain gear (island weather changes fast)
- Life jacket (required for any water crossing)
- Sunscreen and bug spray
- Battery pack for phone charging
- Binoculars for wildlife and stargazing
- Kayak paddle and spray skirt (if paddling in)
Reservations
Book through campwithme.com. With only 15 sites total, Warren Island books up fast for summer weekends. The Adirondack shelters (sites 1, 5, and 6) are especially popular since they reduce the amount of gear you need to haul by boat.
Weekday availability is generally better. If you have flexibility, a Tuesday-through-Thursday trip in July or August will be easier to book than a weekend.
Warren Island reservations follow the same campwithme.com system as other Maine state parks. Check the site as soon as your travel dates fall within the booking window. Fifteen sites disappear quickly, and there is no walk-up alternative when you need a boat to get there.
FAQ
Is there a ferry to Warren Island?
No. There is no public ferry to Warren Island. You must arrange a water taxi (Quicksilver Water Taxi is the most common), paddle by kayak, or arrive by private boat. The Lincolnville-Islesboro ferry goes to Islesboro, not Warren Island.
Can I bring my dog?
Yes. Dogs are allowed on Warren Island but must be on a leash at all times. Keep in mind that your dog also needs to make the boat crossing, and all dog waste must be packed out with you.
Is there drinking water on the island?
Yes. There is a hand pump well with potable water. However, bring backup water in case the pump is temporarily down. You are on an island with no store, so redundancy matters.
How do I get firewood?
The island caretaker provides free firewood. Do not bring firewood from the mainland, as it can introduce invasive insects. The caretaker keeps a supply at a central location.
Is the kayak crossing from Lincolnville safe?
The 3.3-mile crossing from Lincolnville is open ocean and should only be attempted by experienced sea kayakers. Tidal currents, boat traffic, and afternoon wind chop are real hazards. The safer paddle option is to take the ferry to Islesboro and kayak the half-mile from there.
Is there cell service?
Yes, surprisingly. The island has line-of-sight to mainland cell towers, so most carriers get a good signal. This is useful for coordinating water taxi pickups or checking weather.
