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Natural Resources Council of Maine

Protecting the Nature of Maine

Halifax Island

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    Halifax Jul y2013 Emmie Theberge

    Halifax July 2013 Emmie Theberge

    Chosen By: Emmie Theberge, Outreach Director

    Location: Outer Englishman Bay, Jonesport, Washington County

    Description: Halifax Island is an outer island in the Roque Archipelago in Englishman Bay. This publicly owned island is part of the Maine Coastal Islands National Wildlife Refuge managed by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. It’s also along the Maine Island Trail and can be accessed from Roque Bluffs State Park or from other boat landings nearby. This public island is open for careful day use all year. Primitive, leave-no-trace camping is permitted with prior permission, but please be prepared to carry-out all waste. Like many wild islands in Maine, Halifax Island is ecologically unique and an important habitat for sea birds.

    Activities: Boating, wildlife watching, picnicking, primitive camping, swimming(!)

    Favorite Season(s) to Visit: Summer, although the island is open to the public all year

    Why It’s Special: We stayed on Halifax Island at the end of a seven-day sea kayak paddle from Bar Harbor. After paddling for a week along the Down East coast, this tranquil island was a stunning place to spend our last night before returning to the mainland.

    Tips: Visit the exquisite, mile-long, crescent white sand beach on nearby Roque Island. Although this island is privately owned, the public is permitted to land and walk along the beach.

    More info and directions: See Map 26 in the Maine Gazetteer. Contact the Maine Island Trail Association

    About Emmie Theberge, Outreach Director

    Emmie brings more than a decade of experience in environmental advocacy and organizing to her work as NRCM’s outreach director. In this role, she leads the organization’s efforts to deepen relationships with people across Maine and build enduring power that will protect and strengthen Maine’s environment for this and future generations. Working closely with NRCM’s outreach team and staff across the organization, Emmie serves as a resource for campaign planning, issue organizing, community engagement, and the strategic integration of outreach, communications, and grassroots advocacy into NRCM’s work.