Barred

Penobscot Bay is home to a number of islands that share the name Barred, so visitors should pay special attention when navigating on this part of the Trail. The Barred Islands listed here are located to the northwest of Butter Island and are joined to one another and to Butter by a low tide sandbar. Known locally as Escargot and Bartender (and elsewhere as Peak and Sugarloaf) these islands total 14 acres and boast inviting sand beaches that make great places to picnic, stretch or explore.

The Cabot family generously allows the public to access the Barred Islands for low-impact day use recreation. The islands are monitored daily by a steward who resides on Butter who can be contacted at 207-446-4147 if needed. Camping and fires are not permitted on the islands, and pets are prohibited to protect sensitive island vegetation and wildlife. Commercial use of the Barred Islands is not allowed. Please do not pick up the nearby private moorings, which belong to the Cabot family. Though they are connected to Butter Island by a sandbar, the western portion of Butter is private and not open to visitors. Public access to Butter Island is allowed only along the eastern shore. Please do not walk across the sandbar to Butter Island.

To the southwest of Bartender and Escargot are Big Barred, Little Barred, and a string of smaller islands linked by sand bars. These islands are privately owned and not part of the Maine Island Trail.