Best Tent Camping near Swans Island, ME
The Deer Isle Archipelago near Swans Island, Maine offers several tent camping options accessible primarily by boat. The Maine Island Trail Association (MITA) maintains multiple island tent sites including Saddleback Island, Shivers Island, and Nathan Island, all requiring boat access and MITA membership. Duck Harbor Campground on Isle au Haut, part of Acadia National Park, provides five tent sites with lean-to structures that require advance reservations, which typically fill within minutes when released on April 1st each year.
Most island tent sites are primitive with minimal amenities. Campers must pack in all supplies and pack out all waste, with many locations requiring the use of Wag Bags rather than digging cat holes. The tent sites typically feature flat spaces for small tents, fire rings where permitted, and occasionally picnic tables. No drinking water is available on the islands, and most lack toilet facilities. Significant tidal changes (9-14 vertical feet) affect landing possibilities, making high tide arrivals difficult or impossible at many locations. Weather conditions can change rapidly, with fog rolling in unexpectedly.
Walk-in tent sites at Donnell Pond Public Reserved Land offer an alternative to island camping, with beaches that have fire rings and picnic tables. These first-come, first-served sites can be reached via a half-mile hike from the public parking area. Tent campers frequently use these locations as bases for hiking nearby trails and swimming in the pond. "This was really a beautiful spot to set up camp. The hike in is only about 1/2 mile so it's totally doable even if you need to make two trips. The spots are secluded enough but not isolated," noted one visitor. For safety when tent camping on islands, visitors should file float plans before departure, bring navigation tools including charts and compasses, and prepare for variable weather conditions.