Jewell Island

Discover Jewell Island in Maine’s Casco Bay. It’s accessible only by boat, but once you’re there you can camp at this national park and explore giant tide pools, as well as World War II era bunkers and submarine-spotting towers. 

We leave for our annual Jewell Island camping trip at the crack of dawn on Friday morning from a marina in South Portland. In August, the waters are “warm” by Maine standards and a lucky volunteer or two from our party gets dropped off and swims in to shore in order to claim the best campsites and otherwise explore Jewell on their own. The rest of us will arrive later that afternoon, courtesy of Captain Colby’s Cocktail Cruises. 

We often joke about catching our own food, and there are lobsters you can catch by hand in the “Punchbowl” (if you are patient). Our campsite volunteer is usually tasked with fishing for dinner, though in practice, we bring some Lewiston Lobsters and hard seltzer to tide us over. 

Exploring the Island, Tower, & Bunker

At Jewell, we spend the days hiking, paddleboarding, fishing, and whatever else strikes us. We’ve also started to bring snorkels because the waters in the Punchbowl get “warm” throughout the day and teem with life. 

If you visit, make sure to climb the World War II era tower on the Island’s south side. The views of Halfway Rock Lighthouse and the ocean from the top are spectacular. 

At night, we make a fire. And just before bed, there is an annual flashlight-less trip down the trails to the bunker on the west side of the island. Only the brave make it through to the other side at night. There was at least one year where we all chickened out and no one made it.

TRIP TIPS

Getting There

Leaving from Portland, Jewell Island is a zippy 45 minute ride by boat. Head south past Fort Gorges, through Diamond Island Pass, and out through the Hussey Sound if the water is calm. On a choppy day, you can follow the ferry through the channel to Long Island and Chebeague before turning southwest and heading towards Cliff Island.

Jewell Island is just around the southern tip of Cliff Island and is the outermost visitable landmass in the Casco Bay. You can anchor overnight in Cocktail Cove and camp at any campsite you claim. 

What it’s Like

Jewell Island is hospitable and approachable even for “beginner” campers. Trails are well maintained and can be mostly navigated in flip flops. The outhouses are surprisingly unscary and in great shape. 

Best Campsites

If it’s your first trip, try the trail south of Cocktail Cove, looking out at Cliff Island. If you’re looking for something a bit more removed, there is a campsite at the north end of the island by the Punchbowl that is exposed but has the most incredible views.