Boston Harbor Islands National Recreation Area - Massachusetts

Address:Boston, Massachusetts
Tel: (617) 223-8666

Walk a Civil War-era fort, visit historic lighthouses, explore tide pools, and hike lush trails! Relax while fishing, picnicking or swimming, all within 10 miles of downtown Boston!

Located less than 10 miles from Boston, the Boston Harbor Islands National Recreation Area is a collection of 34 islands loaded with attractions that will satisfy the pickiest of visitors. Outdoor types will enjoy hiking on trails, kayaking, fishing and combing the beaches, and history buffs will appreciate the Civil War-era Fort Warren on Georges Island and Boston Light on Little Brewster Island, one of the oldest lighthouses in the U.S. The individual islands are in a natural, semi-wilderness condition, with terrain that ranges from rocky shore to salt marsh. Wildlife watchers should keep their eyes peeled for catbirds, cormorants, gulls, hawks, herons, owls, songbirds, terns, small rodents, and various forms of inter-tidal life. Ranger-led tours are available on many of the islands along with concerts, theater, children's activities and boat cruises, offered throughout the season.

To get to the Boston Harbor Islands National Recreation Area, take the passenger ferries which link the islands to the mainland at several locations, including downtown Boston, Hingham (South Shore), and Lynn (North Shore). George's Island serves as the area's central point of arrival and departure from where water shuttles take visitors to other islands.

Boston Harbor Islands is comprised of 34 islands positioned within the Greater Boston shoreline. Just outside of downtown Boston you can explore tide pools, walk through a Civil War era fort, climb a lighthouse, or enjoy fishing, picnicking or swimming.