Pond

Named for the unusual salt pond in its interior, Pond Island exemplifies the need to balance human use with natural resource protection. Locals and cruisers have frequented the island for generations for picnicking, beachcombing and overnight anchoring. At the same time, its unique geological features and critical ecological areas support a diversity of plant and wildlife species. This makes Pond Island a place to enjoy thoughtfully and slowly, sticking only to its alluring beaches, established campsites and trails.

The island consists of a mix of habitats including beaches, sand dunes, salt marsh, meadows and forest. The northwest end is a high bluff with a gentle southeast-facing slope covered in spruce woods, raspberries and hay-scented ferns. The southeast end is long, low and sandy with a single patch of trees at the southeasternmost point. Two dune ridges topped with beach grass form a barrier that protects the interior salt marsh and pond for which the island is named. The pond is a salt-water lagoon connected to the bay via a tidal channel. As with any salt marsh, please do not walk on the sensitive marsh plants. The extreme northwest point of the island, known as Johns Head, is a tombolo – a rocky islet linked to the main island by a curving beach. Visitation to this area is restricted to protect the eiders, guillemots and gulls that have been known to nest here.

Camping is allowed on the west end of the north beach in a flat stretch of sand accessed through an opening in the rose bushes. A trail to the west end begins nearby. Camping is also permitted further down the north beach nearer the southeast point.

Pond Island was first conserved by a Philadelphia-based conservation group, who bought the island in 1980 and placed a forever wild easement on the property through Acadia National Park. Ownership was transferred to [Maine Coast Heritage Trust](https://www.mcht.org/) in 1995. Disturbing or removing artifacts from Pond Island is strictly prohibited.