An Explorer’s Island in Casco Bay
Eagle Island is a 17-acre island about three miles off the coast of Harpswell, and it was the summer home of Admiral Robert E. Peary, the explorer who led the 1909 expedition that claimed the North Pole. Peary fell in love with the island as a young man, bought it, and built a house here on a bluff above the water, with a fieldstone library and rooms shaped to look out over the bay he loved. After his death the family gave the island to the state of Maine, and it is preserved today as a state historic site managed by the Maine Bureau of Parks and Lands.
This is not the Eagle Lake in Acadia, and it is not reached by any road or ferry. Eagle Island is open only in summer, and getting there means a boat. That is part of what keeps it quiet: while the better-known islands of Casco Bay fill with day-trippers, Eagle Island sees a fraction of the traffic, and a visit feels like a small expedition of its own.
The setting still carries Peary’s story. The house sits where he placed it for the view, the open ground and spruce hold seabirds, and standing on the bluff you can understand why a man who spent years in the Arctic chose this spot as his refuge.
Getting There Is by Boat Only
There is no other way onto Eagle Island. You arrive by private boat or kayak, or on one of the seasonal tour boats that run out of Harpswell, South Freeport, and Portland. As of the 2026 season the island’s pier is out of service after storm damage, so most larger boats cannot tie up. Kayakers and small-boat operators are welcome to pull up on the beach to land, but the easiest option for most visitors is a tour boat that handles the landing for you.
Access is by boat only, and as of 2026 the damaged pier means landing is by beaching a small craft rather than docking. Casco Bay water is cold and conditions can change quickly. If you go in your own boat or kayak, wear a life jacket, check the marine forecast and tides, and know your limits. Inexperienced paddlers should take a tour boat instead.
What You Can See This Season
A visit to Eagle Island changes with the year, so it is worth knowing the current state of things. The Peary house, normally the centerpiece, is closed for restoration work and has no set reopening date, so for now the visit is about the island itself rather than the museum interior. The island’s walking trails are closed each year until mid-July to protect nesting seabirds, then open for the rest of the season. Even with the house shut, the bluff, the shore, and the open views over Casco Bay make the trip worthwhile for the setting and the history.
Call ahead or check the Friends of Peary’s Eagle Island before you make the trip, because access shifts season to season with the pier repair, the house restoration, and the seabird trail closure. A quick check tells you whether the trails are open yet and how landing is working that week, and it saves a wasted boat ride.
The Visit
The island is small, so a visit is a matter of an hour or two ashore: walking the open ground when the trails are open, taking in the house from outside, and sitting on the bluff with the bay around you. A landing fee is charged on the island, payable in cash or check only, with no credit cards accepted, so bring the right money. Overnight use is not allowed, and moorings are limited and currently affected by the pier work.
Pack like you are heading offshore even on a calm day. Bring layers and a rain shell, because the open water and the exposed bluff are cooler and windier than the mainland, and weather over Casco Bay can turn while you are out. Carry your own water and snacks, since there are no services on the island.
Getting There
The closest jumping-off point for private boats and kayaks is the Harpswell area, with launches such as Dolphin Marina only a few miles from the island. Seasonal tour boats also run from South Freeport and Portland. To reach the Harpswell launches by car, follow Route 123 or Route 24 down the long fingers of the Harpswell peninsula from Brunswick, then put in and make the short crossing.
If you are driving to a tour-boat dock, allow about an hour from Portland to the Harpswell launches. Confirm the boat schedule in advance, as the tours run only in the summer season.
Kayaking & canoeing
When to Visit
Spring
The island is closed before mid-June. Seabirds are nesting and there is no public access yet.
Summer
The only real season. Open June 15 through Labor Day, 10am to 5pm. Trails open from mid-July once nesting ends. Best weather for the crossing.
Fall
The site closes after Labor Day. Early September can still be reached, but the window is short and weather grows less reliable.
Winter
Closed entirely. No access, no services, and exposed offshore conditions.
Packing List
Eagle Island Trip
- Cash or check for the landing fee (no cards)
- Life jacket if going by private boat or kayak
- Layers and a rain shell for the open bay
- Water and food (no services on the island)
- Binoculars for seabirds and the bay
- Marine forecast and tide check
- Confirmed tour-boat schedule or a float plan
FAQ
How do you get to Eagle Island?
Only by boat. You can arrive by private boat or kayak, or on a seasonal tour boat from Harpswell, South Freeport, or Portland. There is no road, bridge, or ferry to the island.
Is the Peary house open to visit?
Not currently. The Peary house is closed for restoration work with no set reopening date. The island, its grounds, and the views remain open during the season, so the visit is about the setting and history rather than the museum interior for now.
When is Eagle Island open?
The site is open June 15 through Labor Day, 10am to 5pm daily. The island's trails stay closed each year until mid-July to protect nesting seabirds, then open for the rest of the season.
Is there a fee?
Yes. A landing fee is charged on the island, payable in cash or check only, with no credit cards accepted. Tour-boat operators charge separately for the passage out.
Is Eagle Island the same as Eagle Lake in Acadia?
No. This is Eagle Island in Casco Bay off Harpswell, the summer home of Admiral Robert Peary. Eagle Lake is a freshwater lake within Acadia National Park on Mount Desert Island. They are entirely separate places.
For more of the Harpswell area, see the cliffs of Giant’s Stairs on Bailey Island or the village of Bailey Island itself.
