Thomas Island
Bar Harbor
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Guidelines
What You Need to Know
- Camp at established campsite (with restrictions)
- Campfires permitted (with restrictions)
- Carry out all trash (see details)
- Keep pets under strict voice or leash control
- Do not remove archaeological artifacts
Why we Care
A Hidden Island Gem
Launch your kayak into the well-protected waters of Mount Desert Narrows to explore Thomas Island and its surroundings. Take a break to picnic along the shore while you scan the area for resident wildlife. In the late summer and early fall, keep an eye out for the migratory shorebirds who frequent the island. After a day of discovery, you can spend the night at the island’s campsite—a perfect spot to relax and reflect on why places like this are important to protect.
Features
How to Get There
To reach Thomas Island, you can launch from Hadley Point Beach in Bar Harbor (about a mile to the east), from a landing at Lamoine State Park, or from a site just south of the Hancock County-Bar Harbor airport in Trenton. The island is most easily accessed along its northeast shore. Anchor with care, as the island flats out a long way.
Explore the Map
Click on trails and landmarks to learn more about what Thomas Island has to offer.
Preserve Details
Property:
Town:
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Accessible:
Field Notes
Getting to Know Thomas Island
The Path to Conservation
Thanks to a bargain sale by the previous owner and with support from National Coastal Wetland Grants, MCHT acquired Thomas Island in 2005.
On the Preserve
The 64-acre Thomas Island Preserve is located on the south side of Mount Desert Narrows in the town of Bar Harbor. The island’s much smaller neighbors, North and South Twinnie, are part of the Maine Coastal Islands National Wildlife Refuge. Together, the three islands are frequented by bald eagles and form a panoramic backdrop that motorists enjoy while traveling to Acadia National Park.
Predominantly covered by a Maritime spruce-fir forest, Thomas Island is surrounded by extensive tidal flats that support a productive shellfishery and marine worm habitat used by waterfowl, shorebirds, and local fishermen. In fact, evidence suggests humans have visited the area for at least the last thousand years, likely using the island as a base for fish and shellfish harvesting.
Please stay clear of the eagle nesting site on South Twinnie Island.
Stories from Mount Desert Island
How We’re Restoring Marshes
Many tidal marshes in Maine aren’t working the way they’re supposed to, but through restoration we can improve chances of successful marsh migration as sea levels rise in the decades to come.
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care for the coast
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More Information on Thomas Island
Camping on the Island
- Camping is only permitted at the established campsite (see map).
- Limit stay to two nights.
- Commercial use by permit only. Please call 207-729-7366.
Campfires on the Island
Campfires are permitted, but must be smaller than three feet. Check with the local government for any additional restrictions.
Additional restrictions:
- Keep all fires below high tide line
- Do not build fire rings
- Do not cut or break tree limbs, dead or alive
- Leave no fire unattended
- Completely extinguish all fires
Help Us Take Care of the Preserve
This preserve belongs to all of us; that’s why it’s important to leave as little trace as possible when you visit.
To do that, please:
- Carry out all trash
- Carry out all pet waste
- Carry out all human waste (including toilet paper)