Visit Us - Thacher Island Association

Visiting Thacher Island

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 Island Association can reserve seats on the Thacher launch for free, and non-members can purchase seats.

Click here for Thacher Island Map

Visiting Straitsmouth Island

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 Island 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

Launch Reservation Information

Thacher and Straitsmouth Islands are currently closed. In 2023, trips to Thacher Island ran on Wednesdays and Saturdays and limited Tuesdays from June through August, along with trips to Straitsmouth Island on Tuesdays. Reservations are required for all passengers, and reservations for the launches will be available in 2024 through the EventBrite system. Links will be made available here when the 2024 trips are announced.

Thacher Island Trips:

Trips will run from early 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 from early 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

Launch Fees

One benefit of Thacher Island Association membership is access to free boat launch tickets for members who are paid up for 2023. 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.

Suggested Donation

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 are not requested 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 Thacher Island Association members, Mass Audubon members, holders of National Park Service America the Beautiful passes, or holders of a valid Federal Duck Stamp.

Parking

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.

What to Bring

By Kayak

Your Boat

By Boat Launch

By Kayak

Thacher Island and Straitsmouth Island are both accessed by ramps which may only be used by the Thacher launch, a dinghy or kayaks.

The distance to Thacher Island from Rockport Harbor is about 3 miles and the Association asks kayakers to use caution, pay attention to weather conditions, and turn back if you feel uncomfortable. It is not a simple paddle for novice kayakers or those with limited endurance. Straitsmouth Island is closer to shore but kayakers must beware of rocks when approaching the ramp at low tide.

Groups larger than 5 boats must call the keepers in advance with their expected arrival time. A $5 donation is suggested for each person arriving by kayak. The islands close to the public at 5pm.

Your Boat

Neither Thacher Island nor Straitsmouth Island has a dock. Access to both islands is by ramp only.

Thacher Island has 3 guest moorings adjacent to the ramp, about 50 yards offshore. You must call the keeper on the island in advance at 508-284-0144 to tell him you are coming. Moorings are free on a first come, first served basis.

Straitsmouth Island has no moorings, but normally allows dinghies to land on the ramp. Boaters must move their dinghies off the ramp to the adjacent shoreline once they land.

A $5 donation per person is suggested. The islands close to the public at 5pm.

By Boat Launch

The Thacher Island boat launches operate trips to Thacher Island on Wednesdays and Saturdays and limited Tuesdays from June through August, along with trips to Straitsmouth Island on Tuesdays. Reservations are required for all passengers, and links to reserve your tickets are posted under Launch Reservation Information.

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 all enclosed spaces including the museum and lighthouse.

Climbing Thacher Island Twin Towers

The Thacher Island towers are identical and were completed in 1861. They are each 124 feet high, with 156 steps to the top, and stand about 164 feet above the waterline. Each tower is 22 feet in diameter at the base and narrows to 13 feet at the lantern room. They are constructed of solid granite on the outside with a two-foot thick inner wall of brick. Each block of granite weighs over 10 tons.

From the tower one is able to see the skyline of Boston to the south, and the mountains of Maine to the northwest. Looking down to the southeast about a half mile offshore you may see an iron pole jutting out from the water. This marks an area called the “Londoner” so named because of the reef just below the surface which has claimed hundreds of vessels, most bound to Boston from London in the early 1700s. This reef was one of the reasons the original twin towers were built by the British of Massachusetts Bay Colony in 1771. The other reason was to be able to differentiate Cape Ann Light Station from Boston Light to the south and Portsmouth Light to the north.

A drawing of different types of lighthouses.

A spiral staircase in the middle of a room.

A lighthouse on top of a hill near the ocean.

Walking Thacher Island

Anne's Way Walk

Thacher Island has 3 miles of groomed walking trails of varying difficulty. This picture shows Anne's Way which leads to the south end of the island. Don't forget to wear sneakers and bring water with you.

A map of the island with many buildings and roads.

Camping on Thacher Island - Closed for the Season

We were delighted to announce that the Thacher Island campground was open through the end of August 2023! There are no camping facilities on Straitsmouth Island. Plan to join us next summer for camping on Thacher Island.

Please know that camping on Thacher Island is basic: there is no water, firepit or electricity. Open fires are prohibited and campers must bring their own water. This is a carry-in, carry-out island and you must take out everything that you bring with you. The site has an environmentally-friendly solar-powered composting toilet and picnic tables, as well as a large covered pavilion to provide campers with sun and rain protection. No pets are allowed. Fees are $5 per person, per day, and reservations can be made during the summer by calling the Thacher Island Keeper at 508-284-0144.