We really enjoyed Monhegan Island, especially the trail system that runs around and through the island. Could the trails be better marked? Sure, but that brings a bit of adventure to the island. Not a lot of other things to do on the island, but we also enjoyed the brewery! read more

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This is a must do experience if you're visiting. We did not spend the night but according to reviews spending the night isn't a good idea. The views on the hike is awesome. A very nice lady at the store at the novelty gave us some tips and when you start at the top of the hill and go right You always want to keep the ocean on your left and that will circle you down to the shipwreck and then up towards the brewery to end. Group of five ages 50 and 19. We had a fantastic trip to the island. Eat at the novelty. Great food. The ferry trip there and back was awesome and we were able to see gray seals and harbor seals. read more

Wow. This has to be one of the most special places in Maine. From the website (https://monheganwelcome.com/): "Monhegan is a small, rocky island ten miles from the nearest mainland and scarcely a square mile in area. It is accessible only by boat and is primarily a walking island. Since the 1800s, the island's two primary economies are fishing and tourism. Lobster traps line the unpaved roads that lead to the village and cliffs that attract so many to this special place. Monhegan Associates, Inc., a private non-profit, owns and maintains most of the 'wildlands' that feature 12 miles of hiking trails, leading to the highest ocean cliffs on the Maine coastline. The village is clustered on the other third of the island where visitors can find lodging, gift shops, refreshments, and things to do. Monhegan has long been a destination for artists and art lovers and there are ample opportunities to enjoy both, including artists studios, crafts co-op, and Monhegan Museum of Art & History." Monhegan is an absolute haven for nature lovers - ideal for bird watching, wildflower finding (and leaving), and sea life (we spent a long time watching a seal sunbathe and roll around in the seaweed). It's home to less than 70 year-round residents, has no paved roads or cars, and feels like an absolute escape from reality. That being said: it *is* some folks reality, so please be respectful of private property, don't smoke, and practice Leave No Trace. And know that time moves differently here... If you're coming here to hike, make sure you grab a map (for $1) or download a map to your phone. As people who hike regularly, a couple notes: the trails are not marked well (when they are it's with small numbers on trees); also, please wear good hiking shoes as most of the trails are very rooty and rocky, some steep and strenuous, and you'll be traveling through thick brush one moment, fir and balsams with branches that come together overhead like a cathedral the next, and suddenly you'll find yourself along extremely high ocean cliffs. There's beaches to swim on and shipwrecks to explore and lighthouses to visit and fairy villages to find magic in... but you won't be able to do everything in a few hours. So, it's worth it to stay over a night if you can ("if once you have slept on an island, you'll never be quite the same...")! Even if all you ever have is a few hours here, though, it will absolutely be one of the most remarkable experiences you ever have in Maine. read more

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Monhegan is a great June-September destination for people who like to walk and don't mind steep hills and narrow trails. The views are amazing and it's a very special place. Just 64 people live here year round and it's home to the most well managed lobster conservation areas in the state. Spending the night is a good idea if you have the time and inclination. The day trip is a great introduction though. The island has a chronic water shortage so bring a full water bottle for each person in your group-- it's worth it. As for amenities, it's good to be flexible. On a recent trip, the Barnacle (closest to the dock) was very understocked-- empty shelves and empty refrigerators. The pre-made sandwiches were delicious-- they offered to hot press them and that was a good idea. Despite the signs and the website, beer, wine, and other drinks were not available. Monhegan House is a great place to stay as is the Trailing Yew. The Novelty behind Monhegan House has a good food (pizza especially), reasonably priced wine (especially since they have to get it there and get the empties back off), and is next to the only public bathrooms, which are privately operated and accept donations. No sinks with running water though and otherwise it's port a potties at the wharf. For the day trip, we like to do the walk up to the lighthouse and explore the exhibits, then to do the Lobster Cove Trail (very uneven trail), head back through the Black Duck Emporium and the Lupine Gallery, and have a meal at the Brewery, the Novelty, or the Fish House, depending on our group's preferences. We usually go out of Boothbay Harbor on Balmy Day Cruises. read more

The ultimate mash up of pristing island wilderness and civilized amenities such as clean toilets, craft beers, lobster rolls, espressos and scones... and at accessible prices as well. And no, this is not a cruise ship private island resort. Instead, this is a functional year round fishing community that has graciously offered people from away access to their lifestyle. So, there are a few simple rules of safety and courtesy to adhere by. The light changes often and offers a myriad of delightful permutations to the already pictures land and seascape. Plan well by reading and following the suggestions on the website, then set alarms so you can lose yourself to Monhegan's beauty and still make it aboard the ferry. read more

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Somewhat Quaint, quiet, natural terrain. Many trails, good informal food/coffee/deserts. A few nice shops and galleries. Brewery is ok. $50+8 for parking Ferry boat ride from Port Clyde is an hour and 10 min. The (bathrooms) on the island are 2 Portable potty's with $1 suggested donation. No place to wash your hands anywhere on the island and no one is willing to let you use any actual bathroom unless you're lodging there. The trails are not marked well, rocky and full of poison ivy and roots. If you love to hike I would say this place is a ok option... one trail to the cliffs you walk through an open field past a sanitation station burning trash or something like that. I believe there are many more hiking trails in Maine you don't have to pay $60 to get there to enjoy. Not much shade on the island. 2 covered picnic table areas and the brewery has shade. We did alot of hiking and trying to find shade to hydrate. The 2 very small areas to swim have a pretty view of boats but is crowded with mostly families with small children. Surprising families would want to haul the children, strollers and all the gear to this destination. The roads are dusty with rock and in some areas larger rock that is not easy to walk on. Hiking boots and sneakers are a must. And you definitely MUST move over on the side of the narrow road (if you can) because the local vehicles don't care if they injure you. The brewery is always crowded. They have areas where you could stand with a taller bar tables (boards) at the end of picnic tables but they don't let people stand there and enjoy a beer. Picnic tables that have 2 people sitting. You can't sit 2 other people at other end of table?? Everyone gathers in the front area and I don't think anyone knows the system of getting a table because they do not put you on a list..?? They walk past asking if you're doing ok? While everyone is asking if they can stand at the end of the tables that have the high top looking board table things. Of course some of these not so pleasant things can be fixed by bringing hand sanitizer, your own food, water and plenty of sunscreen but out of all the places to visit in Maine for the cost I wouldn't recommend it. The boat back to Port Clyde was late. Stood in line in the sun for over an hour watching the trucks come down to line up for guest luggage pickup stirring up the road dust while a gentleman kept telling everyone to move over to the side or stand in the flower beds over and over. And if the boat is pressed for time they do not drive around the other side of the island to enjoy that scenic view. read more

It's a beautiful place but if you're going for the day, don't bother. The only helpful or pleasant people you'll encounter are those that are there for the a week or two. We met a few friendly faces and one person who spends two weeks on the Island every summer said the locals didn't really talk to them for the first 6 or 7 years. The locals look at you like you don't belong (and you'll realize quickly that you don't). The best part was the boat trip ( ours was from Port Clyde). Restaurants (at the two hotels) do not want to serve you unless you are staying with them. The bathrooms listed are porta-potties and not pleasant. Use the head on the boat before you leave it. The local drivers do not believe that pedestrians have the right of way - so be careful. If you're in Maine for a limited amount of time there are so many better places to experience. I've been coming to Maine for over 30 years and this was our first and last visit to Monhegan Island. read more

I think Monhegan Island deserves 5 stars. I'd characterize the island as an up-and-coming attraction that is somewhat rustic. The island is quite scenic, with endless photo opps! It is small; only about 4.5 square miles, but filled with numerous, fantastic hiking trails, with calming wood paths and impressive views of bluffs. There is a good trail map, but part of the charm is that it is hard to follow and the paths are minimally marked, yet they've done a good job keeping the trails mostly clear. Monhegan Island is not a beach lovers destination, but it has that quintessential island look and feel and it is more rustic than other islands in New England. There are a few artist shops and informal sandwich places with beer and wine available, plus a more upscale dinner menu may be found at the Island Inn, the island's primary hotel with a commanding view of the west side of the island, the ocean, the Maine coast, and the neighboring Mañana Island. Monhegan Brewing Company is up the road and serves delicious, fresh brews that are especially refreshing after hiking the day on the island. The roads are not paved, but there are a few dozen pickup trucks that rumble about the island, carrying supplies. As you might expect, the island is full of buoys and lobster traps. Also, check out the lighthouse at the top of the island and the Cathedral Woods trail. There are puffin tours and a boat cruise that takes you around the island's shoreline. As of June 2018, three ferrys travel to the island. The Monhegan Boat Line out of Port Clyde is the most frequent. At about 50 minutes to 1 hour, it is also the shortest of the three rides (the two others are out of Boothbay Harbor and New Harbor, Maine). It's a very scenic ride that passes close by coastal islands. Monhegan Island is worth at least an overnight stay. In early June, it can get quite cool, especially when the wind kicks up. read more

What a pity. While we enjoyed the scenic beauty of this island, we planned our entire day around the one public toilet (three port-a-potties) which they ask you to pay for to use. They have a water shortage issue which their town needs to address, but instead makes it their visitors' problem. After buying a cup of coffee, gifts and a pastry (at tourist prices) we lounged for a bit at the Black Duck Emporium. Our teen aged daughter was told by the store manager that 'No. You can not use our restroom', so we all had to make the trek back to the publicly funded port-a-potty. Nowhere is there running water, either, for day trippers to use, which is unappetizing and frankly downright unsanitary when I ordered $14.00 fish tacos for lunch (thankfully, I packed away hand sanitizer.) We enjoyed the Monhegan Brewery but again, limited ourselves to only 1 beer and timed it in a way that we could comfortably make the walk back to the restroom. I can only imagine how hikers are left to their own devices, with everyone doing their business on an island that's only a mile wide. Overall an unwelcoming, inconvenient experience. We will not be returning. read more

Fog fish and isolation People have been coming to Monhegan Island for a long, long time. Archaeological evidence dates from more than 2,000 years ago and humans have probably been on the island much longer than that. Some claim that the first European to see the island was John Cabot in 1497 but that is questionable. We do know that Martin Pring landed on the island in 1603 and many others soon followed. The island immediately became known for the great fishing near it. The name Monhegan comes from the Algonquin for "out to sea island" and since the island lies at least ten miles from the nearest mainland it was well named. The number of year round residents change depending on who you talk to but roughly 75 hardy souls brave the brutal winters on the island. During the summer the island gets it's share of tourists but nothing like more famous New England islands like Nantucket or Block. A beautiful, old hotel and a few small restaurants and stores and that's about it in the "town". There are some really nice hiking trails, a nice lighthouse and of course great views of the ocean from just about everywhere but this is a place where you have to make your own entertainment. Monhegan Island can feel very lonely and isolated, especially when the frequently fog rolls in. But that's why it's so special. It's easy to imagine that much of the island looks, smells and feels exactly like it did centuries ago. A wild, wet and wonderful place of splendid isolation. read more

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I recently went to Maine and visited Monhegan Island, Portland, and Acadia National Park. Monhegan Island was definitely my favorite part of the trip. Not only did we have perfect weather for the boat ride there, it was also perfect for hiking around the island. Although the temperature was around the mid 50's I still worked up a good sweat hiking around. On Balmy Day Cruises you can purchase a map of the island for like #1. It is totally worth it. Even with the map we still got turned around on some trails. They are not marked terribly well and the signs are easily missed. The view when you got to the top of the island was so impressive. Definitely my favorite view of our trip. Pretty much all of the shops were closed but we did visit one gift shop and the brewery. I would like to mention the brewery was kind of hard to find especially since it was not on the map. Once we did find it, it was worth it. Their beer was quite good. I wouldn't spend any more than the day on the island but definitely worth the trip. read more

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Monhegan island is the most beautiful place on earth. Beautiful and rugged, a throwback to an old way of life. Highly reccomened a visit, or better a stay overnight. A hike to the backside cliffs is a must. read more

Monhegan Island - Landmarks & Historical Buildings Near Me

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Go here, take a walk, stop by the brewery on your way. It is such a pearl! The trip from Boothbay Harbor gives you less than four hours on the island, which is short. Either you stay over night or go from one of the other harbors that have a shorter travel time and offer you more time out there. read more

Must visit if in Coastal Maine, honestly the view from the headlands is worth a trip from anywhere! We took the main trail to the headlands and then the trail 1 around the tip of the island. Well worth the hike, but it is a difficult trail. On a clear day you can see the coast of Canada in the distance. read more

Number one most scenic and interesting place to visit in Maine. Take the ferry from Booth Bay (Balmy Days I think it leaves at 9) and within two hours you will be transformed to another world. Unbelievable scenery. No cars except for a few local trucks. An artist behind every shrub. Great hiking trails. Some nice inns. This place has an eclectic combination of Beatniks (from before hippies), lobstermen, and LL Bean types. Everyone fits in. Don't forget the fairy houses on the Cathedral Pines trail. Spectacular is all I can say. Don't miss this place. Make the effort and get out to see this incredible place you won't regret it. read more