porcupine islands

What is the best way to get to the Porcupine Islands and what is there to do on the islands? Can you walk part of it during low tide? We will be in the area from 8/4 to 8/11.

porcupine islands

There is only one of the Porcupines to which you can walk--Bar Island, which is accessible for a few hours either side of low tide. See the tide charts at %26lt;www.maineharbors.com%26gt; for the timing of tides at Bar Harbor.

Bar Island is now part of Acadia National Park. You can wander around and there is a trail to (very modest) summit, which provides an interesting view of the village.

The remainder of the Porcupines are pretty much inaccessible unless you are a very experienced kayaker or canoeist.

porcupine islands

Also called the ';Seven Sisters'; aren%26#39;t they?

I wonder if we are talking about the same Porcupine Islands. They are just lumps of wooded granite in Frenchman%26#39;s Bay. They make the harbor of Bar Harbor look very pleasant, especially when see from above, for example from the top of Cadillac Mountain.

But they aren%26#39;t a destination. They are uninhabited. The only remotely possible thing to do there is hike or pick blueberries. Or you might pull up a canoe on the rocky beach and snuggle with your loved one, a forbidden delight that used to happen in Bar Harbor in the late 1800s.

Usually the Porcupine Islands are thought to be those named: Bald Porcupine, Long Porcupine, Burnt Porcupine, and Sheep Porcupine. Bar Island, which is accessible by foot or car at low tide, is in the same group of islands, but not always considered one of the Porcupines because it does not have the distinct shape for which they are named.

A google on Porcupine Islands will mostly bring you to kayaking sites.

Is Bar Island ever completely covered when the tide comes in? I know there is a big difference between low tide and high tide in Maine. I%26#39;ve seen the islands on a map and thought it would be an interesting side trip for my 14 year old. He likes to hike and check out odd places.

No, the island isn%26#39;t covered when the tide comes in. But the sand bar on which you can drive or walk over to the island is covered in about eight feet of water at high tide. You have about two hours before and after low tide to walk over to the island without getting your feet wet.

Here%26#39;s a picture of Bar Island and two of the Porcupine Islands.

brynosaurus.com/album/…BarHarbor-full.jpg

Bar Island is the long island right in the middle of the picture. It%26#39;s high tide when the picture was taken. If you know where to look, though, you can see the faintest image of where the bar will be uncovered as the tide goes out, near the left end of the island as you view it.

Here%26#39;s another picture, taken from the top of Cadillac, in which you can see the sand bar beginning to be exposed by the outgoing tide:

brianabbott.net/travels/…barharbor.jpg

There is a new boat ride (2nd year) that takes you out to Baker Island. The boat cruises along the coast of Bar Harbor and the naturalist tells you a little about the history of Bar Harbor and Acadia. Then you stop at Baker Island, take a little hike across the island, and go to see a lighthouse. You eat lunch on the island then cruise back on the boat.

My Mother recently took this ride with my two daughters and she said that it was the best trip she%26#39;s done so far. The hike was relatively easy. They saw some seals and a couple eagles along the cruise.

You can get the tickets at the Bar Harbor Whale Watch company down at the town pier.

Thanks for all the info. The picture gives me an idea of how big the island is. Maybe we%26#39;ll walk and do the boat ride. We%26#39;ll be on MDI for a week and want to try many different hikes.

Check the Overview section at the top of this page; there are short descriptons of several possible hikes and walks, as well as dining alternatives.