Long Pond Trail (Isle au Haut)

Long Pond Trail is a wooded lollipop loop on Isle au Haut. From the Park Road entrance, walk the access spur to the loop, circle back to its junction, then retrace the spur to the road. The complete walk measures about 3.4 miles round-trip and usually takes about 2 hours. Published figures vary: the island hiking table rounds it to 3 miles, while the trail catalog lists 3.3 miles for route 209. The mapped full walk with the return spur is about 3.45 miles, so plan for the entire route rather than treating the pond loop as a short shoreline stroll.

The trail rolls through inland forest, past old stone walls and clusters of rounded rocks described as looking like “dinosaur eggs.” The ground is rough, and several overgrown stretches can make the tread hard to follow. A detailed route description takes the loop counter-clockwise; keep the route available when the path fades.

Long Pond is a narrow freshwater lake about a mile long. The trail reaches its wooded shoreline before climbing back toward the island’s ridge. Expect a quiet water stop, not a summit panorama. The steep descent to the shore and the climb back are the hardest parts of this otherwise moderate walk.

Isle au Haut is reached by passenger ferry from Stonington. Service runs year-round to Town Landing, with a seasonal stop at Duck Harbor Boat Landing from mid-June through late September. The route’s mapped entrance is on Park Road; a route description calls the access Duck Harbor Road, and available maps do not confirm a signed trailhead or parking pullout at the exact entrance. There are very few island services; a small store and post office are near Town Landing, not on this hike. Check ferry service and schedules before choosing a landing.

Pets are allowed for day hiking on Isle au Haut and must stay on a leash no longer than six feet. The island’s trails are rough, and the overgrown parts of this route can be difficult to follow, so plan time for careful wayfinding.