Cranberry Isles

The Islands Off the Island

The Cranberry Isles are a group of five islands lying just off the southern coast of Mount Desert Island, visible from Bass Harbor and the western side of Acadia National Park. Two of the islands, Great Cranberry and Little Cranberry (Islesford), have year-round communities and are served by mail boat and ferry from Northeast Harbor. Together they have a combined year-round population of roughly 160 people, a number that swells past 500 in summer.

A visit to the Cranberry Isles is the easiest way to experience genuine island life while visiting Acadia. The ferry ride from Northeast Harbor takes about 20 minutes. You step off the boat into a community that runs on lobstering, neighborliness, and the rhythms of the tide. There are no cars for visitors, no tourist infrastructure to speak of, and nothing to do except walk the quiet roads, visit a museum, eat at the dock restaurant, and watch the harbor.

Great Cranberry Island

Great Cranberry is the largest island in the group, about two miles long and half a mile wide. The ferry lands at a dock on the northern shore. From there, the main road runs the length of the island, passing a few dozen houses, a historical society, a general store, and the island’s church. The population year-round is about 40, rising to 300 in summer.

The Cranberry House, the island’s historical society and cultural center, hosts exhibits on island history, rotating art shows, and community events. It is open in summer and worth a stop.

Walking the main road end to end takes about 45 minutes. Side paths lead to shoreline access points with views of Mount Desert Island’s mountains across the water. The eastern end of the island is quieter and more wild, with spruce forest and rocky coves.

Little Cranberry Island (Islesford)

Little Cranberry, known as Islesford, is the more visited of the two islands, primarily because of the Islesford Historical Museum. Operated by the National Park Service as part of Acadia National Park, the museum occupies a small building near the dock and houses ship models, fishing tools, photographs, and artifacts from 19th- and early 20th-century island life. It was founded in 1927 and admission is free. Open daily mid-June through September.

The Islesford Dock Restaurant is one of the few island restaurants in Maine and a destination in its own right. Serving lunch and dinner with fresh seafood, it draws visitors from Mount Desert Island for the boat ride and a meal. Reservations are recommended in summer.

Islesford is compact and walkable. The roads pass shingled cottages, lobster sheds, and gardens. Informal paths lead to rocky shore access points. The island’s year-round population is about 70.

Getting There

Beal and Bunker operates the mail boat and ferry from Northeast Harbor on Mount Desert Island. The dock is in the center of the village. The crossing to either island takes roughly 20 minutes. In summer, multiple round trips run daily with boats going to both Great Cranberry and Islesford. Year-round service continues on a reduced schedule. Fares are approximately $28 to $32 round trip per adult. Call (207) 244-3575 or visit bealandbunkerferry.com.

Cranberry Cove Boating runs a seasonal ferry from the Manset/Southwest Harbor area during the summer months.

Water taxis are available from several points on Mount Desert Island in summer.

When to Go

Practical Notes

Bring cash. Some island vendors do not accept cards.

There are limited restroom facilities near the docks on both islands.

Cell service is spotty. Plan your ferry connections before you leave Northeast Harbor.

Both islands are flat and walkable. No bikes are needed, and none are available to rent.

Plan two to four hours for a single island visit or a full day if visiting both.

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