Holbrook Island Sanctuary State Park
Maine

Holbrook Island Sanctuary State Park

Available Activities
  • Hiking
  • Swimming
  • Fishing
  • Boating
  • wildlife-viewing
  • Winter Sports

1,345-Acre Wildlife Sanctuary on Penobscot Bay — No Motors Allowed, Kayaking, Hiking Through Forests and Meadows, Free Admission, Brooksville ME

Holbrook Island Sanctuary State Park is a state park at 172 Indian Bar Road, Harborside (Brooksville), Hancock County, Maine, on the Cape Rosier Peninsula overlooking Penobscot Bay. The park features 1,230 acres on the mainland plus 115 acres on offshore Holbrook Island (1,345 acres total), no motorized vehicles or boats allowed anywhere in the sanctuary, kayaking and canoeing with launch areas at Tom Cod Cove, hiking trails through forests, meadows, wetlands, and shoreline, bird and wildlife watching in diverse habitats, free admission year-round, and swimming and saltwater fishing along the coast.

Holbrook Island Sanctuary is Maine’s motor-free coastal refugeno motorized vehicles or boats are permitted anywhere in the 1,345-acre sanctuary, creating a rare silence on the Penobscot Bay coast. The only sounds are waves, wind, and birdsong.

Holbrook Island itself is accessible only by paddle or private boat — visitor moorings are available at Tom Cod Cove and near the island dock.

Things to Do

  • Kayaking/canoeing — Tom Cod Cove launch
  • Hiking — forest, meadow, shoreline trails
  • Birding — diverse coastal habitats
  • Swimming — beaches (no dogs on beach)
  • Saltwater fishing — Penobscot Bay coast
  • Island access — paddle to Holbrook Island

Park Information

FeatureDetails
Location172 Indian Bar Rd, Harborside, ME 04642
Size1,345 acres — mainland + island
MotorsNone allowed — no motorized vehicles/boats
AdmissionFree year-round
Hours9 AM – sunset daily
CampingNot permitted
Managed ByMaine Bureau of Parks and Lands
Coordinates44.3519° N, 68.7933° W

Frequently Asked Questions

Are motorized boats allowed at Holbrook Island Sanctuary?

No — Holbrook Island Sanctuary State Park in Brooksville, Maine, prohibits all motorized vehicles and boats throughout its 1,345-acre preserve on the Cape Rosier Peninsula. Kayaking and canoeing are welcome with launch areas at Tom Cod Cove. The offshore Holbrook Island is accessible only by paddle or private boat. The sanctuary features hiking trails through forests, meadows, and shoreline, birding, swimming, and saltwater fishing — all with free admission year-round.

Last updated: May 2026

Last updated: May 5, 2026

Park Location