DISCLAIMER- These put-ins were legal to use when the descriptions were updated (April, 2021). However, due to the vagaries of federal law, local ordinances, erosion, wind/wave conditions and other factors, we cannot ensure that you will not encounter legal issues when using these locations or that they will be safe for you, your vehicle or for launching and landing at all times. It is your responsibility to determine the legality, suitability and safety of these sites for yourself.

At all these launch sites, please be respectful of the locals and leave your vehicle as far from the launch as possible.  Please spend the minimum amount of time on the ramp as possible. Unless otherwise specified, there is no cost to launch/park. Most Maine municipalities are receptive to allowing overnight parking at launch sites. Contact local PD or Harbormaster for permission and protocols.

Clicking on the blue-lettered launch sites will geolocate (link) you to GoogleMaps, where satellite imagery can provide details of surrounding features.

The following information was compiled by Gary York, using the Maine Island Trail guidebook and the 3-part compendium Maine Coastal Public Access Guide.

 

Southern Region-Kittery to Freeport

Kittery

  • Traip Academy (43.0858, -70.7394) Paved, all-tides ramp. Fee, when school not in session.
  • Pepperell Cove (43.0825, -70.7033) Crowded all-tides access. Unload boats/gear, then drive 0.35 mi. to primary school to park (43.0848, -70.7000) when not in session. If so inclined, heads-up courtesy call to local PD (207.439.1638).

York Harbor

  • Strawberry Island Launch (43.1337, -70.6477) Hand-carry beach launch, with limited daytime roadside parking. After unloading boat/gear, drive back to Rte 103 (Lilac Lane), turn left, and parallel park along eastern shoulder.

Ogunquit

Wells

  • Wells Harbor  (43.3203, -70.5643) Paved, all-tides launch with daytime parking.

Kennebunkport

Biddeford

  • Vines landing (43.4471, -70.3552) All-tides launch with limited daytime parking.

Saco

Scarborough

  • Pine Point Launch (43.5445, -70.3334) Paved all-tides fee launch ramp with ample daytime parking.
  • Ferry Beach (43.5430, -70.3227) Paved half-tide ramp. Fee for launch and daytime park.

South Portland

Portland 

  • East End Beach (43.6699, -70.2414) Unload at the seaside lot and carry the boats to the 1-sandy beach or 2-non-commercial, southern-most paved all-tides ramp, then park your car in the upper lot, OR off-street, opposite Eastern Prom Drive, where allowed, for overnight. Bathrooms are available. Kayaks cannot be launched from the middle commercial ramp.

Falmouth

  • Town Landing (43.7325, -70.2047) Avoid after Memorial Day/before Labor Day. Six spots for non-resident daytime and overnight parking (opposite Town Landing Market), after unloading gear at the beach launch, down a steep hill from parking lot.

Yarmouth

Freeport

Midcoast Region-Brunswick to Stockton Springs

Brunswick

  • Mere Point (43.8281, -70.0170) Paved all-tides launch ramp with ample daytime parking. Overnight parking with prior permission (207.721.4312)
  • Sawyer Park (43.9072, -69.8720) Paved all-tides launch ramp with ample daytime parking. Call local PD for overnight parking (207.725.5521).
  • Wharton Point Landing (43.8677, -69.9932) Gravel half-tide launch ramp with limited daytime parking.

Harpswell 

Bath

Phippsburg

  • Morse Cove Public Launch (43.8725, -69.8007) Paved all-tides launch ramp with daytime and overnight parking (207.443.3114)
  • Head Beach (43.7194, -69.8499) Beach daytime parking; fee at gatehouse to private road.
  • Fort Popham (43.7546, -69.7840) Limited daytime parking; hand-carry to beach launch.

Georgetown

  • Robinhood Marine (43.8535, -69.7337) Paved all-tides fee launch ramp with daytime and overnight parking (207.371.2525).

Wiscasset

  • Wiscasset Town Landing (43.9994, -69.6654) Paved all-tides launch ramps with limited daytime parking; restrooms.
  • Ferry Road Landing (43.9584, -69.6867) Paved all-tides free launch ramps with roadside parking; restrooms.

Boothbay

  • Knickerkane (43.8799, -69.6644) Paved all-tides free launch ramp, south side, with daytime parking.
  • Ocean Point (Grimes Cove)  (43.8156, -69.5953) Half-tide concrete ramp with limited roadside parking.
  • Murray Hill Public Boat Launch (43.8622, -69.5907) Half-tide paved boat launch with daytime parking.

Southport

  • Newagen Town Landing (43.7866, -69.6549) Launch from a floating dock. Limited paved parking for 6 vehicles.

Damariscotta

  • Town Boat Landing (44.0325, -69.5330) Paved all-tides launch ramp with daytime and overnight parking (207.563.5168).

Bristol

Bremen

Waldoboro

Friendship

Thomaston

  • Town Landing (44.0722, -69.1826) Paved all-tides launch ramp with daytime and limited overnight parking.

South Thomaston

  • Keag River Launch (44.0517, -69.1252) Half-tide paved launch ramp with daytime and limited overnight parking (with permission).

St. George

Owls Head

  • Birch Point Beach State Park (44.0390, -69.0973) Entrance fee. Hand-carry boats to beach launch.
  • Owls Head Harbor (44.0843, -69.0537) Unload boats/gear at the fine gravel shoreside beach at the bend in the road. Walk to northern end of the main lot, then glance westerly along a path to visualize the satellite parking lot, reachable off Lighthouse Road. Overnight parking permits available from Town Clerk’s Office (207.594.7434).

Rockland

  • Snow Marine Park (44.0930, -69.1049) Paved all-tides fee launch ramp with daytime and overnight parking (207.594.0312).

Camden

  • Steamboat Landing (44.2092, -69.0586) Paved all-tides launch ramp with limited parking.

Lincolnville

  • Town Ramp (44.2804, -69.0074) Paved all-tides fee launch ramp with limited daytime and overnight parking (207.7633555).

Northport

  • Ruggles Park (44.3809, -68.9675) Hand-carry boats to all-tides beach launch.

Belfast

  • Town Landing (44.4290, -69.0041) Paved all-tides fee launch ramp with daytime and overnight parking (207.338.1142).

Searsport

  • Public Ramp/Hamilton Wharf (44.4533, -68.9255) Paved all-tides launch ramp with ample parking.

Stockton Springs

  • Cape Docks (44.4687, -68.8558) Wide all-tides launch ramp with ample parking.
  • Sandy Point Beach (44.5066, -68.8075) Hand-carry boats from ample lot to all-tides beach launch.

Downeast region-Verona to Eastport

Verona

Castine

Brooksville

Sedgewick

  • Town landing (44.2958, -68.6299) Paved all-tides launch ramp with limited parking.

Deer Isle

  • Route 15 Bridge (44.2901, -68.6914) At the southern end of bridge to mainland, hand-carry beach launch, with limited daytime roadside parking.
  • Old ferry Landing (44.2792, -68.6711) Hand-carry beach launch, with limited daytime roadside parking.
  • Eggemoggin Road (44.3074, -68.7379) Hand-carry beach launch, with limited daytime roadside parking.
  • Southwest Harbor Road (44.2060, -68.7106) Hand-carry beach launch, with limited daytime roadside parking.

Stonington

  • Sand Beach (44.1545, -68.6900) Hand-carry beach launch, with limited daytime roadside parking.
  • Colwell Ramp (44.1545, -68.6601) Arrange off-site parking before attempting to launch from this busy all tides ramp in downtown Stonington. Suggest call to Harbormaster or PD for up-to-date options.

Brooklin

  • Wooden Boat School (44.2467, -68.5551) Hand-carry launch to rocky beach. Call ahead for policies/protocol (207.359.4651).
  • Naskeag Point (44.2293, -68.5346) Hand-carry beach launch, with ample daytime roadside parking.

Blue Hill

  • South Blue Hill Wharf (44.3539, -68.5476) Hand-carry beach or ramp launch, with ample daytime parking.
  • Town Wharf (44.4124, -68.5860) Paved all-tides launch ramp with ample parking.

Surry

  • Carrying Place Beach (44.4421, -68.4699) Hand-carry beach launch, with limited daytime roadside parking.

Lamoine

  • Seaplane and Boat Ramp (44.4426, -68.3580) Paved all-tides launch ramp with ample daytime and overnight (207.667.7329) parking.

 

Mount Desert Island

Bar Harbor

  • Hadley Point Beach (44.4439, -68.3190) Hand-carry beach launch, with ample daytime parking.
  • Bar island Access (44.3920, -68.2100) Hand-carry beach launch, with remote, metered parking.

Mount Desert

  • Bartlett Narrows Boat Launch (44.3433, -68.4170) Paved all-tides ramp with very limited daytime parking.
  • Northeast Harbor Marina (44.2946, -68.2842) Paved all-tides ramp with very limited daytime parking (fee).
  • Seal Harbor Beach (44.2964, -68.2408) Hand-carry beach launch, with limited daytime parking.
  • Otter Creek Landing (44.3214, -68.2030) Hand-carry beach/mud launch, with limited daytime parking along Grover Ave.
  • Suminsby Park (44.3362, -68.3040) Hand-carry beach launch, with limited daytime parking.

Southwest Harbor

  • Manset Town Landing (44.2693, -68.3112) Hand-carry beach launch, with limited daytime parking (fee).

Tremont

  • Seal Cove (44.2829, -68.4085) Hand-carry beach launch, with limited daytime parking.

Gouldsborough

Steuben

  • Rogers Point Beach (44.4737, -67.9771) Hand-carry beach launch, with limited daytime parking.
  • Pinkham Bay Bridge Landing (44.4916, -67.9116) Hand-carry beach launch, with limited daytime parking E of bridge.
  • Joy Bay Boat Launch (44.5042, -67.9701) Hand-carry beach launch, with limited daytime parking.
  • Pigeon Hill Bay Boat Launch (44.4519, -67.8838) Unload gear for hand-carry beach launch, then drive 0.2mi. N on road to park left @ Pigeon Hill Preserve.

Milbridge

  • Stover Cove (44.4929, -67.8556) Half-tide, hand-carry launch, with limited daytime parking (207.546.2422).
  • Town Landing (44.5440, -67.8777) Paved half-tide launch ramp with ample daytime and overnight (207.546.7251) parking.

Harrington

  • Mill Creek Access (44.5887, -67.7830) Hand-carry beach launch, with limited daytime parking N of causeway.

Addison

Jonesport

  • Public Ramp /Marina (44.5320, -67.5958) Paved all-tides launch ramp with limited daytime and overnight (207.497.5931) parking.

Roque Bluffs

  • Public Launch (44.6152, -67.4962) Paved all-tides launch ramp with limited daytime parking.

Machias

  • Machias River Boat Launch (44.7195, -67.4503) Paved all-tides launch ramp with limited daytime and overnight (207.255.8683) parking.
  • Town Landing (44.7159, -67.4041) Half-tide, hand-carry launch, with limited daytime parking.

Machiasport

  • Town Landing (44.6969, -67.3934) Hand-carry launch, with limited daytime parking.
  • Pettegrow Beach (44.6354, -67.3717) Hand-carry launch, with limited daytime parking.
  • Finn Beach (44.6393, -67.3774) Hand-carry launch, with limited daytime parking.

Cutler

  • Cutler Boat Ramp (44.6574, -67.2074) Concrete all-tides launch ramp with limited daytime parking at the ramp. Overnight parking 1500’ E of ramp, courtesy Cates Wharf.

Lubec

  • Carrying Pace Cove/Jones Beach (44.8126, -66.9758) From this roadside location, hand-carry or dolly your vessel ~1000’ to the beach launch.
  • Town Landing (44.8622, -66.9840) Concrete all-tides ramp and floats with ample parking. Beware of potentially strong currents.

Edmunds TWP

  • Public Launch (44.8575, -67.1482) Paved all-tides launch ramp with limited daytime parking.

Eastport

  • Breakwater (44.9066, -66.9845) Paved all-tides launch ramp and floats with limited daytime parking.

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