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Can I swim in Boston Harbor?
Swimming is allowed at island beaches on Grape, Bumpkin,
Lovells, Peddocks, and Spectacle Islands, although after periods of heavy rain it is advisable to ask the rangers about the current water quality. Check with rangers about swimming locations. Swim at your own risk, lifeguards are only present at Spectacle Island.
What are the beaches like?
Beaches vary from sandy to large cobblestone beaches.
What about hiking trails?
There are walking/hiking trails and trail guides available
on all the islands staffed for visitors. Peddocks Island,
Thompson Island, and Worlds End offer more extensive trail systems.
Any paved trails?
Roughly paved trails can be found on Georges, Peddocks and
Bumpkin islands.
At high tide, which islands offer the best shoreline
walks?
At high tide, accessibility of island shorelines varies.
Islands with wide, flat, and sandy shorelines, such as
Gallops and Lovells, offer the easiest accessibility.
Islands with rocky shores or with granite man-made sea
walls, such as Great Brewster and Georges are
more difficult to walk.
Where are the best hiking opportunities?
The islands offer a wide range of hiking opportunities.
If you like historic hikes, take a stroll through Fort
Warren on Georges Island. Peddocks offers
the largest shoreline of any harbor island to walk. Hike
past Fort Andrew's officer quarters, prison barracks,
and guardhouses or past private summer cottages. Peddocks also offers natural attractions, including a sand spit, salt
marsh, and woods of maple, pine, cottonwood and birch.
For nature hikes, Grape Island is always a favorite.
Pick grapes from the island's wild grapevines. The many
bayberry and blackberry shrubs growing on the island
support a large songbird population. Or seek out "lover's
rock" on Lovells Island and hike the steps of Fort
Standish's massive concrete gun emplacements.
Should I plan to go bird watching on the islands?
Yes. Birds are common on the islands. Several
species such as egrets, black-crowned night herons, great
blue herons, cormorants, herring gulls, and common terns
all are reported to be nesting on the islands. Other
birds that have been spotted include swallow, quail,
pheasants, hawks, owls, falcons, plovers, and sandpipers.
(A comprehensive wildlife survey was initiated in 2000.)
Can I fish from the Islands?
Boston Harbor is one of the few areas along the Massachusetts
coastline that offers good sport fishing year round.
There is recreational fishing throughout the harbor for
striped bass, mackerel, winter flounder, and bluefish.
Many of the harbor islands offer excellent shore fishing
locations. There are no public fishing piers.
Can I rent fishing equipment?
Yes. Fishing equipment rentals are available on Spectacle Island.
Can I rent kayaks?
Currently, there are no on-island kayak rentals available, but ranger-guided kayak sessions are available on Grape Island. Look for rental locations in the phone book, World Wide Web, newspapers, etc.
Are pets allowed on the islands?
Though they are permitted on the ferries, pets are only allowed on four islands:
Deer and Nut Islands, Webb Memorial Park, and Worlds End. No pets are allowed on other islands in the park. This arrangement accommodates a variety of uses and provides for visitor safety and wildlife protection. Only service dogsare permitted on all islands.
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