Varney

Varney Island sits at the northern extent of the lower Kennebec River exactly one mile south of the chops that mark the entrance to Merrymeeting Bay. On nautical charts it is depicted as part of the green intertidal zone just southwest of a private buoy and due south of the "Priv" label on West Chops Point. But rest assured, this nearly four acre island is high and dry and provides a convenient place for a rest or a snack away from the mighty Kennebec River currents.

The [Kennebec Estuary Land Trust](http://kennebecestuary.org/) purchased Varney Island in the summer of 2013 to protect the property as a nature preserve. Located only a few hundred feet from the Bath shoreline, the island is separated from the mainland by mudflats and a small tidal channel. Interestingly, maps from the 1700s show this parcel connected to the mainland.

Varney is best accessed from the deeper waters on its eastern side. A sheltered picnic table can be found just upland from a small landing area on the southeast corner. Elsewhere on the island, cellar holes and brick remnants provide evidence of past human use. As a result of its history of human disturbance and its close proximity to shore, much of Varney Island is covered with poison ivy and invasive plants including Asiatic bittersweet, Japanese barberry and burning bush. There are no trails on the island so it is best to concentrate activity at the shelter site or along the rocky shore. Camping is permitted in the area adjacent to the picnic shelter.