The chart shows the location of the KBC beach launch and the beach at the southern tip of Beal Island (BI). BI is located 0.6 nautical miles by water from the beach launch at Knubble Bay Camp (KBC). Unlike other AMC facilities, the KBC property is not open to day visitors. Please visit the KBC property to launch your kayak/canoe only during your rental stay.
You can’t see BI from the KBC beach. At about 100’ offshore from the KBC beach, BI becomes visible. Depending on the current and your paddle speed (canoe or kayak), it takes anywhere from 12 minutes to 30 minutes to reach BI. The current between KBC and BI typically does not exceed 1 knot during maximum ebb or maximum flood. To find information about local tides, currents, and weather, go here.
Kayaks and canoes land on the beach at the southern tip of Beal Island. The stairs from the beach lead to the camping area and hiking trail. At night, the campers renting the island can use the stone fire ring on the beach.
There are wooden tables on the western side of the beach. Each table has poles to allow hanging a tarp.
At the top of the stairs you will see a wooden kiosk with information about the island and directions to the hiking trail.
An outhouse is located just beyond the kiosk. Maine’s coastal islands are fragile ecosystems. Limiting human waste to the outhouse reduces the environmental impact from the many visitors who enjoy the island each summer.
Above the beach is a beautiful pine grove and the water is visible to the east, south, and west.
There is a small open grassy area located on the northern end of the pine grove.
Beal Island is rented to only two groups at a time with a maximum island occupancy of 30. There is ample space to find a scenic and quiet spot to set up a tent.
The Beal Island hiking trail circumnavigates the island, revealing breathtaking views of the rocky coastline, as well as old remnants of the island’s long forgotten residents. The island is named for Jeremiah Beal who lived there with his wife, Phebe Hall Shea, in the early 1800s and farmed the western side of the island.
When the island was inhabited, much of what is now forested had been cut for firewood, to make fields to farm and pastures for animals to graze. Now the fields and pastures have returned to forest.
Beal Island is made up of two lobes joined at a narrow mid-point. The hiking trail follows a separate loop on each lobe. The trail loop on the southern end of Beal is just under a mile. Hiking the entire trail is about two miles. The trail follows the coastline of the island and along much of the trail, the water is visible. As you hike the trail, see if you can find the remains of old stone walls, foundations, and the remnants of pastures. Please remember to take only pictures and leave only footprints.
The view to the north from the hiking trail at Whitehead Point.
Looking southwest from the beach at the southern tip of Beal Island.