Thacher Island is located a mile offshore of Rockport, Massachusetts, a small seacoast town 40 miles north of Boston. The island is home to the twin lighthouses of the Cape Ann Light Station, a National Historic Landmark. Additionally, a portion of the island is owned by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and is maintained as a wildlife refuge.

Although the island may be viewed from the shore on either Eden Road or Marmion Way, the best way to see the island is by visiting there. The island is accessible by small boat, kayak, and the Thacher launch. Members of the Thacher & Straitsmouth Islands Association can reserve seats on the Thacher launch for free, and non-members can purchase seats.

Click here for Thacher Island Map

Straitsmouth Island is a 31-acre island located about 500 feet from the mainland in Rockport, Massachusetts, a small seacoast town 40 miles north of Boston. The island was home to the Straitsmouth Island Light Station, is listed on the National Register of Historic Places, and welcomes the public to visit the 1896 lighthouse. Most of the island is owned by Mass Audubon and is maintained as a wildlife sanctuary.

Although the island may be viewed from the shore on Marmion Way, the best way to see the island is by visiting there. The island is accessible by dinghy, kayak, and the Thacher launch. Members of the Thacher & Straitsmouth Islands Association can reserve seats on the Thacher launch for free, and non-members can purchase seats.

Note that the stairs from the boat ramp up to the bluff, where you access the trails to the keeper house and lighthouse, are very steep. They may not be easily navigated by all visitors.

Click here for Straitsmouth Island Map

Thacher and Straitsmouth Islands will open on June 1, 2024. Trips to Thacher Island will run on Wednesdays, Saturdays and limited Tuesdays from June through August, along with trips to Straitsmouth Island on the 1st and 3rd Tuesday of each month. Reservations are required for all passengers, and reservations for the launches will be available through the EventBrite system beginning May 5, 2024.

Thacher Island Trips: 

• Trips will run from the first week of June through the end of August with morning departures. All trips return 2 1/2 hours after their departure.

Straitsmouth Island Trips:

• Trips will run on the 1st and 3rd Tuesday of each month from June through the end of August with morning departures. All trips return 2 hours after their departure.
  

Need more help? Our reservation support line will be available when the 2024 schedule is published.

Note: Each trip is limited to 6 passengers so we suggest you make reservations early. Launch trips to the islands cannot carry children under 3 years of age due to our U.S. Coast Guard restrictions. Both islands are wildlife refuges and are off-limits to pets.

Departure location: All launches leave from Rockport Granite Pier at the end of Wharf Road off of Granite Street. Parking is available on the upper deck of Granite Pier.

COVID precautions: Masks are suggested for enclosed spaces including the museum and lighthouse.

Click here for Granite Pier Map

• One benefit of Thacher & Straitsmouth Islands Association membership is access to free boat launch tickets for members who are paid up for 2024. See Join Us on this site for Membership information and to join online now. Note that reservations for all launches are required and are only available through Eventbrite.
• Launch fees are the same for both Thacher Island trips and Straitsmouth Island trips.
• Fee is $40.00 per adult and $10.00 for children under 12.
• Fee for Rockport residents is $15.00 per adult and free for children under 12.
• Launch fees are payable by credit card through the Eventbrite ticketing service when making your reservations.
• Launch fees will be reimbursed if the trip is cancelled due to weather or rough seas. All passengers, including Rockport residents and paid-up TIA members will be required to pay a launch fee if they cancel their reservation less than one week (7 days) prior to departure or are no-shows. Note: The late cancellation/no-show fee will be $40 per adult and $10 per child under 12.

A $5 donation is suggested for visitors over 14 who land on either Thacher Island or Straitsmouth Island. Donations are payable in the form of cash, check, Venmo or credit card to the keeper on duty on the boat ramp.

Donation waiver: Donations requests are waived for all passengers who arrive at either island on the Thacher Island launch, or for those arriving by kayak or private boat with proof that they are Rockport residents, paid-up TSIA members, Mass Audubon members, holders of National Park Service America the Beautiful passes, or holders of a valid Federal Duck Stamp.

Departure location: All launches leave from Rockport Granite Pier at the end of Wharf Road off of Granite Street.

Parking: Parking is available on the upper deck of Granite Pier. Parking is free for Rockport residents and $6 for non-residents, and should be paid at the red parking shack - either by paying the attendant or leaving your fee in a designated envelope. When approaching the red Granite Pier parking shack, stay to the left of the shack to park on the upper deck - on the right side. A staircase is available about two-thirds of the way down the pier on the right, and will bring you down to the lower level to board the launch.

Bring water, hats, sunscreen, bug spray and a jacket. Sandals are not recommended for climbing the tower and walking the trails.

Note: Straitsmouth Island DOES have ticks, so bug spray and appropriate footwear are highly recommended.