Burnt

A well-known feature of the Boothbay region, Burnt Island sits a little more than a mile from the town of Boothbay Harbor, just east of Capitol Island in Southport. It is home to the Burnt Island Light Station, the second oldest surviving lighthouse in Maine. Built in 1821 from stones cut from the island, the station includes a Keepers house and a tower connected by a covered walkway, and several outbuildings including a work shed, boathouse and coal bunker. In 1977, the station was added to the National Register of Historic Places.

The Maine Department of Marine Resources (DMR) gained possession of the island in 1998 as part of the Maine Lights Program. Since that time, DMR has developed extensive educational programming to showcase the unique cultural and natural history of the island, and coordinated substantial restoration of the buildings and grounds. Recreational boaters are welcomed to visit Burnt to picnic, discover the history and enjoy the spectacular views from the many lookout points.

Burnt Island is open to the public daily between the hours of 10 am and 5 pm. A dock on the north end of the island provides convenient access for larger boats with a two hour tie up limit. Paddlers can land on the beach in the northeast cove near the boat house and wooden launch way. Visitors are asked to stick to marked trails and public access areas, and to keep pets on a leash at all times. Restroom facilities are available, but camping, fires and smoking are prohibited.