Sears Island is one of the largest uninhabited islands on the east coast.
It is located at the top of the Penobscot Bay, which is listed as one of the top ten sailing bays in the world.
Some 940 acres with over five miles of shore line, Sears Island is connected to the mainland via a causeway – and free access. Its the ideal spot for finding sea glass after a storm, or sand dollars and star fish. To enjoy absolute peace and tranquility – it is soul refreshing!
Great hiking, trails are being updated and named. The ”paved” road ON the island is gated off, so park along the Searsport Island road – plenty of room – and a couple of Port-a-Potties.
Please remember: take OUT what you take in (and then some, if you stumble across something that should not be there). If you are walking your dog, take a bag with you – bring it OUT.
Kayaking around the island is great and highly recommended (except you can’t kayak thru the causeway which never should have been built)
The island is a mecca for birders with some 168 species of birds having been recorded on, along with many mammals, amphibians, fish and plants including eel grass and a rare* sedge.
Locals hunt and fish on the island and hiking, dog walking and sea glass & sea shell hunting are a favorite of all.
* denotes State and Federally listed rare species
While the State owns this island, it has been of huge controversy for decades. Various projects have been proposed – 2 LNG Terminals; a coal-powered electric plant; a nuclear plant etc. etc. Each time, it has resulted in nothing being able to be built there because the advocates of this island are very strong and very protective. With meetings between the public and the State for years and years on end, the State has finally granted approx. 640 acres to the Friends of Sears Island. So – we are establishing our foot print on the Island and setting the guide rules so that ALL can enjoy it – absolute peace and tranquility.
If you are coming during hunting season – make certain you wear ORANGE – do not think about camoflauge.
We hope you will visit Sears Island either personally with your own camera – or by enjoying the photographs that you will see on the following pages! We thank Hugh Perry for the donation of the photographs.
