An Urban Oasis Just Offshore
The Boston Harbor Islands are an incredible urban oasis not far from the bustling, busy city of Boston.
You can take public transportation into the city, walk over to the ferry terminal, climb aboard a boat, and before long be out among wooded islands, rocky shorelines, old forts, quiet coves, and open water. For someone living in or near Boston—even someone without a vehicle—it has always been one of the easiest ways to trade city noise for a genuine outdoor adventure.
Most people visit for the day, wandering around Georges Island, exploring historic Fort Warren, picnicking, hiking, or taking boats to other parts of the harbor. That alone makes for a terrific outing. But camping on one of the quieter islands was always the real prize for us.
The schedules, ferry routes, camping islands, permit systems, and prices have changed over the years. Anyone planning a current trip should check the official park and ferry websites before leaving.
Camping with Dann, Diane, and Marty
On this trip, Tim, Dann, Marty, and Dann's wife Diane headed out into the harbor for two nights and three days of island camping. We deliberately looked for one of the quieter islands, away from the biggest daytime crowds, where we could spread out, build a campfire, bring plenty of food and party supplies, and enjoy having an island campsite almost to ourselves.
The little boats connecting the islands felt more like converted lobster boats than big passenger ferries. That was part of the fun. You could arrive with camping gear, food, extra clothing, firewood, or whatever else the rules allowed at the time, then watch the Boston skyline slowly recede while the harbor opened around you.
Somehow, we packed an unbelievable amount of equipment into Dann's backpack. Fully loaded, it seemed to rise nearly six feet in the air. The photograph of him carrying it captures just how much gear we brought for what was still a simple weekend close to the city.
We had a large fire, ate well, laughed a lot, and enjoyed the strange feeling of being isolated on an island even though downtown Boston was not far away. That contrast is what made the Harbor Islands so special. They offered real separation without requiring a long drive, expensive lodging, or a complicated expedition.
Three Days on the Island
It was one of the easiest kinds of adventure: ride the MBTA toward the waterfront, catch the ferry, transfer to a smaller boat when needed, and carry everything onto an island. A few hours earlier you could be surrounded by traffic and buildings; that evening you could be sitting beside a fire with waves nearby and darkness settling over the harbor.
At the end of our two nights and three days of camping, heavy rain moved in on Sunday morning for our return trip home. We were used to traveling and camping in wet weather, so it was no big deal on a warm summer day. We put on rain gear, shouldered the packs, and made our way back to the boat.
This trip also took place while Boston Harbor was still being cleaned up. The water was already much cleaner than it had been, but there were still medical syringes—often called “sea rockets”—washing up along some of the beaches. It was an unpleasant reminder of the harbor's polluted past, but at least the cleanup was clearly making the water much better.
