Peaks Island, Maine – Casco Bay’s Quirkiest Getaway
A 15‑minute ferry, a Civil War museum, an umbrella cover museum, and a mini tugboat surprise.
Peaks Island is a picturesque island in Casco Bay, Maine, known for its stunning coastal views, quaint village atmosphere, and outdoor recreation. It offers beaches, hiking trails, and a charming downtown area with art galleries, shops, and eateries. Ferries provide access from Portland, making it a convenient and scenic getaway spot.
⛴️ Getting There – Ferry from Portland
Start your day on the waterfront at Becky’s Diner with a solid fisherman’s breakfast (lighter fare if you prefer). Then it’s about a 15‑minute ferry ride to the island from the terminal. Nice views along the way.
🚴 Biking on the Island
Explore the island by bike, golf cart, kayak, or on foot. You can rent a bike from Brad’s Island Bike Rentals & Repairs or a golf cart from Island Tours. You can also kayak around the island or hike along the Backshore or Battery Steele trails.
There’s no shortage of ocean views as you bike around the island. What it doesn’t have though is many sandy beaches — the coast here is more rocky than sandy. The rocks are covered in very slippery seaweed, so stay away from the rocks.
🗺️ RideWithGPS Map
I use the RideWithGPS website and app as my route planner and on-bike GPS. Here’s a link to the Peaks Island ride — you can download it to your mobile device.
🏝️ Sights Along the Ride
🏰 Fort Gorges
Fort Gorges is a historic military fort located on Hog Island Ledge in Casco Bay. Constructed in the mid‑19th century, the granite fort was designed to defend Portland Harbor. Its unique architectural features include pentagonal bastions, drawbridges, and a central courtyard. Fort Gorges never saw active combat and was largely decommissioned after World War I. It is now a popular tourist attraction accessible by boat, known for its well‑preserved structure and scenic views.
🪖 Fifth Maine Museum – Civil War History
The Fifth Maine Museum is a historic site on Peaks Island, originally established as a Civil War veterans’ organization in 1888 (the “Fifth Maine Regiment Veteran Association”). The museum is housed in a beautiful Victorian building constructed that same year, situated on a scenic spot overlooking Casco Bay.
The museum focuses on preserving the history and stories of the Fifth Maine Regiment, a Union infantry regiment that served during the American Civil War. Exhibits showcase artifacts, documents, and memorabilia related to the regiment’s service and the experiences of its members. It’s well worth a visit.
🛥️ Mini Tugboat Surprise
It’s fun running into surprises like this mini tugboat.
🌳 Creative Tree Remains
Find this creative use of the remains of a downed tree. Hint: Central Avenue would be a place to start.
🏖️ Beaches – Rocky Coast, Few Sandy Spots
This area is north of Portland, known as Mid Coast Maine. The coast is more rocky than sandy, so beaches are not so plentiful. The rocks are covered in very slippery seaweed — stay away from the rocks.
There are some “pocket” beaches on Peaks Island, but I did not venture into any. If you can recommend any, please do so in the comments.
🍕 Food – Pizza in the Woods & a Chocolate Frappe
In the area of the ferry terminal there are a number of places to eat. I didn’t eat at any of them other than to get a chocolate frappe — I was trying to catch the ferry back. A few hundred cold calories did the trick after a bike ride.
Wood‑fired oven pizza in the woods? It’s closed on Mondays, so I couldn’t try it, but it is an interesting‑looking experience.
🎥 Video Highlights
Watch the ride and sights of Peaks Island.
📌 Tips & Other Attractions
- Umbrella Cover Museum – Holds the Guinness World Record for the largest collection of umbrella covers. Yes, really.
- Take a Peak – Artwork by local artists.
- Gifford’s Ice Cream – Or soft serve at Down Front. Both are solid choices after a ride.
- Sandy Beach or Centennial Beach – Swim, sunbathe, or picnic.
- Trefethen-Evergreen Improvement Association Park – Games and scenery.
- Battery Steele Trail – Hiking and World War II history.
📚 Resources
- Casco Bay Lines – Peaks Island ferry
- Peaks Island Information
- Peaks Island vacation rentals & real estate
First published August 2023. Updated with cleaner structure and a shorter URL.