Maine Lighthouse Boat Tours: Seeing the Coast’s Beacons from the Water

Many of Maine’s most beautiful lighthouses stand on offshore islands and wave-washed ledges that you can only truly see from the water — and even the shore-bound beacons look their most dramatic from the deck of a boat. A lighthouse cruise, whether aboard a modern tour boat or a graceful old sailing windjammer, is one of the finest ways to experience the Maine coast. Here is a guide to Maine’s lighthouse boat tours.

Why See Lighthouses by Boat

Some of Maine’s lighthouses simply cannot be reached on foot. Beacons like Seguin Island, Halfway Rock in the middle of Casco Bay, and remote Matinicus Rock sit far out at sea, visible only to those who venture out. From the water you also get the mariner’s own view of famous shore lights, framed by open ocean and rocky islands. Narrated cruises share the history and legends of each light, and along the way you are likely to spot seals, seabirds, and — on some trips — even puffins and whales.

Portland and Casco Bay

Portland is one of the best places to start. Narrated cruises out of the harbor pass a remarkable cluster of lights — Portland Head Light, the ornate Portland Breakwater “Bug Light,” Spring Point Ledge, and Ram Island Ledge — and some head out to Halfway Rock, standing alone in the middle of the bay. You can go by fast tour boat or take a leisurely sail on a Casco Bay windjammer, with morning, afternoon, and sunset options.

The Kennebec and Boothbay Harbor

Down the coast, the Maine Maritime Museum in Bath runs a celebrated cruise down the Kennebec River and out to sea, passing as many as ten lighthouses — among them Doubling Point, Squirrel Point, Perkins Island, and Pond Island — and culminating at Seguin Island Light, Maine’s highest lighthouse (186 feet above the sea) and its second oldest. From nearby Boothbay Harbor, other cruises pass Burnt Island, Ram Island, the Cuckolds, and Hendricks Head lights.

Rockland and Penobscot Bay

Rockland, home to the largest fleet of windjammers in the United States, is the heart of Maine sailing. Day sails and multi-day cruises weave among the many lighthouses of Penobscot Bay, including Owls Head, Browns Head, and Goose Rocks. The Rockland Breakwater Light is a favorite — unusually, you can reach it on foot by walking its nearly mile-long granite jetty. Boats also run out toward remote Matinicus Rock, famous both for its puffins and for young Abbie Burgess, who heroically kept its lights burning through a fierce storm in 1856.

Bar Harbor and Acadia

Up in the Acadia region, cruises from Bar Harbor take in a dozen or more lights across the islands of Frenchman Bay and beyond — Egg Rock, Bear Island, Baker Island, and far-offshore Mount Desert Rock among them, along with the beloved Bass Harbor Head Light. Many of these trips double as wildlife or whale-watching excursions, adding seabirds, seals, and the chance of a whale to the lighthouse views.

Tips for a Lighthouse Cruise

• Book ahead in summer. Popular cruises fill up fast in July and August; reserve early, especially for sunset sails.
• Dress warm. It is always cooler out on the water — bring layers and a windbreaker even on a warm day.
• Bring binoculars and a camera. Offshore lights are best appreciated up close through binoculars, and the photo opportunities are endless.
• Plan the rest of your trip. For the full story, see our guide to Maine’s lighthouses and to the state’s boat tours and charters.

Wherever the sea takes you, Maine’s waters have shaped its towns for centuries — including our own inland community of Winslow on the Kennebec, where Fort Halifax has guarded the river since 1754.

Frequently Asked Questions