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Boston Harbor Islands National Recreation Area

National Recreation Area Massachusetts

. . . where you can walk a Civil War-era fort, view historic lighthouses, explore tide pools, hike lush trails, camp under the stars, or relax while fishing, picnicking, or swimming—all within reach of downtown Boston. Youth programs, visitor services, research, wildlife management, and more are coordinated on the park's 34 islands and peninsulas by the Boston Harbor Islands Partnership.

Entry Fees

No additional fees

Weather Information

The Boston Harbor Islands have a humid maritime climate characterized by slightly cooler temperatures than the mainland, so dress in layers. Typical summer conditions feature air temperatures approximately 5-10 degrees cooler than the mainland, winds of 0-15 knots and waves of 1-3 feet.

Address

Boston Harbor Islands National and State Park, Charlestown, MA 02129

Activities & Topics

Arts and Culture Live Music Boating Camping Backcountry Camping Canoe or Kayak Camping Fishing Saltwater Fishing Food Dining Picnicking Guided Tours Self-Guided Tours - Walking Hiking Living History Paddling Kayaking Junior Ranger Program Wildlife Watching Birdwatching American Revolution Archeology Burial Cemetery and Gravesite Colonization and Settlement Enslavement Forts Incarceration Industry Maritime Coastal Defenses Maritime - Military Lighthouses Piracy and Privateering Ships and Shipwrecks Medicine Hospital Military US Army US Navy US Coast Guard Monuments and Memorials Native American Heritage Schools and Education Social Movements Abolition Movement Wars and Conflicts Colonial/European Contact Conflicts American Revolutionary War War of 1812 Civil War World War I World War II Animals Birds Fish Coasts Islands and Atolls Forests and Woodlands Geology Oceans Scenic Views Unique Species Wetlands Marshes Wilderness