Franklin Island
Rockland, ME 04841
Plan Your Visit
Franklin Island NWR is located six miles from the town of Friendship in Muscongus Bay. Franklin Island is closed to the public during the seabird nesting season, April 1 - August 31, to minimize disturbance to the birds. Commercial tour boats out of Port Clyde and New Harbor, Maine provide views of nesting seabirds, seals and the lighthouse on Franklin Island NWR. Outside of the seabird nesting season, September 1 to March 31 visitors are welcome to explore the island during daylight hours. Landing on the island is at one’s own risk; there are a lot of ledges around the island and it is a difficult place to anchor. The island has patches of raspberry thickets and poison ivy throughout.
Driving Directions Because the refuge lands and islands are scattered along the whole Maine coast, the refuge has two offices. One is located in Milbridge, Maine, approximately 35 miles east of Ellsworth. The other office is located in Rockland, heading toward Owls Head. Printed materials are available at both offices 24 hours a day.
To reach the Rockland office and Visitor Center:
Follow U.S. Route 1 to the intersection with route 73 in downtown Rockland. Turn south on to route 73 for ¼ mile then turn left onto Water Street. The office is a large white building on your right.
To reach the Milbridge office:
Follow U.S. Route 1 to the center of Milbridge. Turn onto Water Street at the Gulf station. The office is a large white building on your left.
Featured Species
Services
About
Franklin Island was acquired by the U.S. Government in 1806, with a lighthouse completed in 1808 that was manned for 160 years before automation. In 1973, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service took ownership from the Coast Guard to establish the refuge. The 12-acre island was once home to a massive common eider colony before it was decimated by avian cholera in the 1980s. Today, it still provides critical nesting habitat for osprey, gulls, herons, and a small population of eiders.