Head-Harbour-Light — Campobello Island

A Canadian Maritime Travel Guide

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I’ve got a secret… a smart traveller goes off the beaten path. While the most well-advertised wonders of the world are no doubt amazing to see, there’s something special about finding a place that you haven’t seen on the cover of National Geographic. One that isn’t yet featured in a Lonely Planet guidebook. Some of the world’s most amazing places are not well-known and teeming with tourists. These are places where you can enjoy the beauty of the landscape in perfect, blissful peace and quiet.

These places are rare…

And I happen to know of one.

Campobello Island is a hidden gem floating off the coast of Maine, south of mainland New Brunswick, in the Bay of Fundy. It is Canadian soil, accessible by both a series of ferries from mainland Canada, and a bridge to the United States. Its inhabitants embody a perfect mix of Downeast charm and Maritime hospitality.

If you are looking for a unique and picturesque place to spend some quality time this summer, this Campobello Island travel guide is for you.

Quick Tips for Visiting Campobello Island

Ride the Campobello to Deer Island ferry

Eat your fill of seafood

Sleep under the stars at Herring Cove Campground

Hike the trails at Roosevelt Campobello International Park

Go whale watching

Lighthouse hunt from Mulholland Point to Head Harbour

Chase sunsets at Friar’s Bay

When to visit Campobello Island

Summer on the island is an absolute dream! As many businesses are seasonal, and getting out on the water is an essential piece of the experience, I recommend booking your visit sometime between June and September.

Places to stay on Campobello Island

I, personally, love camping on the island. Herring Cove Campground is ideally located near a serene beach, golf course, and playground area for young children. It boasts private treed lots for tenting, open lots for motor homes, and chalets for a slightly more upscale glamping experience.

If your interests lie in a motel or cottage stay, you’ll find both options! Check out Pollock Cove Cottages in the village of Wilson’s Beach or An Island Chalet in Welshpool for an accommodation with an outstanding view of the water.

Getting to the Island

If you’re arriving from mainland New Brunswick, take the ferry route. The ride is absolutely beautiful on a clear day! Islanders and visitors alike travel this way. The channel through which the ferries pass is home to harbour seals, grey seals, harbour porpoise and the occasional whale (predominantly minke whales), so have your camera at the ready!

How do you navigate the ferries? Start by catching the first boat on the mainland in L’Etete. This is a publicly-funded ferry, at no cost to you, sailing to Deer Island. After disembarking, you will drive across scenic Deer Island and catch a second boat to Campobello Island. This ferry is privately owned and operated by East Coast Ferries.

The Deer Island to Campobello ferry runs in the summer season only (mid-June through September), typically leaving on the half hour from Deer Island and on the hour from Campobello. The LAST run of the day is at 6:30pm from Deer Island and 7pm from Campobello Island, weather permitting.

Pro tip: Timing is everything when catching the ferries. If you’re a smart planner, you’ll take the ferry from L’Etete to Deer Island leaving on the half hour. Otherwise, you’ll risk narrowly missing the ferry to Campobello. Mind you, if you do miss it, you get to explore Deer Island Point for an hour, which isn’t a terrible way to pass time.

If you are arriving from the US, take the bridge from Lubec, Maine. Remember, you are crossing into Canada and will be required to check in at Canada Border Services Agency. Have your passport ready!

Things to do on Campobello Island

One of my favourite pastimes while visiting Campobello is getting outdoors! Whether it be sailing around the island or on a hike through the groomed trails, Campobello’s natural areas are what make it so special. So, get outside, smell the salt air and listen to the low drone of the foghorn.

Visit Roosevelt Campobello International Park

Roosevelt Campobello International Park is particularly unique. It is the only park in Canada celebrating the life of an American President and his family. It is dually owned and supported by both Canada and the United States. Franklin Delano Roosevelt, the 32nd POTUS, summered on the island from his childhood through his entire life. The park consists of the home to which he brought his wife and children, several other well-preserved period homes, and a large, natural wilderness area peppered with beaches and hiking trails.

A photo of the trails at Roosevelt Campobello Interantional Park’s natural area.

The Roosevelt home opens in the spring and operates tours through Thanksgiving weekend in October. You can choose to tour at whatever speed you wish, as there is a self-guided option.

In the natural area, I particularly enjoy Sunsweep trail and Lower Duck Pond to Liberty Point trail. Sunsweep trail starts at Raccoon Beach and ends at Liberty Point. It requires about 2 hours to complete. The mid-point of the trail is a grassy point and a sculpture that is part of an international art project. Two other identical sculptures can be found in the US and it is said that all point toward each other.

Sunsweep sculpture on a sunny afternoon.

Lower Duck Pond to Liberty Point trail ends on the dirt road just before you arrive at Liberty Point parking lot. It requires only 45 minutes to an hour of your time.

If you choose to connect these trails, be sure to take time in between to view what the locals call “Frog Rock”, and decide if you think it has been cleverly nicknamed.

For an easier, shorter hike, try the boardwalk at Eagle Hill Bog. This hike leads to a lookout where you can view the bog in its entirety. Various indigenous plants are marked along the way, with interesting facts about growing conditions, diets and more.

Liberty point from the parking lot with an iris in the foreground.

Several new trails have been cut recently that are ideal for both hiking and bicycling. Beach access is also available at Southern Head, Con Robinson’s Point and Raccoon Beach.

Visit Herring Cove Provincial Park

Herring Cove Provincial Park is another popular destination for visitors to the island. The park consists of a public beach, campground and a golf course.

The water’s edge with seaweed a Herring Cove Beach.

Herring Cove Beach is the largest and most well-loved stretch of beach on the island. It is part of a Herring Cove Provincial Park. You can walk along the shoreline until you reach Southern Head (part of Roosevelt Campobello International Park) and beyond.

Herring Cove Campground (mentioned above) is a well-kept camping area that also hosts many island events, including Fog Fest, an outdoor music festival enjoyed by visitors from all over the Maritimes each summer.

Herring Cove Golf Course is a nine hole, wooded course that is a truly peaceful place to take in a round or two.

Go on a whale watching tour

The island is a playground for whales, particularly during the summer months of July and August. You can almost be certain you will spot one on a tour. The most common species to visit the area are finbacks, minkes and humpbacks. The occasional, rare North Atlantic right whale may pass by the island as well.

A whale breeches off Herring Cove on Campobello Island.

I can’t promise whales will breech like the Humpback above, but I can assure you a whale watching tour is an unforgettable experience. Captain Riddle’s Whale Watching offers tours throughout the summer months.

Take a moment of your time to look into the incredibly brave work of the Campobello Whale Rescue Team, disentangling whales that have become caught up in fishing gear. You can also follow the Canadian Whale Institute for updates on conservation efforts being made for critically endangered North Atlantic right whales in the area.

Visit the lighthouses

There are two incredibly photogenic lighthouses on the island: Mulholland Point Lighthouse and Head Harbour Lighthouse.

Mulholland Point Lighthouse overlooks the Lubec Narrows and the bridge between Campobello Island and Lubec, Maine. It is located in the Southwest of the island. Its location offers stunning views of Water Street in Lubec, essentially Lubec’s downtown area, and the many fishing boats docked offshore. It’s a great place to take a picnic and watch the sun go down.

Mulholland Lighthouse on Campobello Island at sunset.

Head Harbour Lighthouse can be found at the Northern tip of the island. Not far from Head Harbour Wharf, one of the most active wharfs on the island, it has been warning fishermen off the rocks of the approaching island for generations.

The waters surrounding the lighthouse are a common place to spot whales from the shore. If you are unable to take a tour, this is an ideal way to glimpse one. Be sure to listen for the sound of a blow!

The hike out to the lighthouse can only be completed at low tide as it requires crossing a sandbar that is covered with deep, rushing water as the tide comes in. It is not necessary to hike out to the lighthouse to see the whales.

Pro tip: Read the local tide tables and ensure you have lots of time to explore before the tide rises. Many visitors have been stranded on the island and required rescuing due to poor timing.

Eat, drink and shop at local businesses

Cool off with an ice cream from The Scoop Shack. Get world class comfort food at The Pier Waterfront in Wilson’s Beach and The Porch At Friar’s Bay in Welshpool. Check out the Herring Cove Golf Course Restaurant as well.

Shop for souvenirs at the Campobello Island Gift House. You will want to remember your trip.

Fishing boats at Head Harbour Wharf on Campobello Island, New Brunswick.

Watch the sunset over the Atlantic Ocean

We islanders are quite proud of our photogenic sunsets. Frankly, they are awe-inspiring. I recommend taking in the sunset from Friar’s Bay beach, Mulholland Point lighthouse, or the ferry landing in Welshpool.

Looking over the ocean at sunset at Mulholland Lighthouse.

I hope you’ve enjoyed reading this Campobello Island travel guide as much as I have enjoyed writing it for you! If you have any questions or are looking for more specific recommendations about this island paradise, feel free to leave a comment.

If you’re looking for more ideas for a summer staycation in New Brunswick, check out my New Brunswick Bucket List! Or combine this itinerary with my St Andrews Day Trip post for the perfect Bay of Fundy weekend itinerary.

See you soon!

Hill XO

Here is a map to help you get your bearings.