Grape Island

view of a densely vegetated island and dock

NPS Photo

Wander peaceful trails, explore the rocky beaches, and enjoy camping in wooded campsites.

Today, 54-acre Grape Island is a wildlife haven. Wild berries can be found in abundance, providing food for a wide variety of birds. The island almost doubles in size to 101 acres at low tide. Grape Island also features camp sites, picnic areas, and wooded trails.

 

General Information

This island of Boston Harbor Islands National and State Park is managed by Massachusetts Department of Conservation & Recreation (DCR).

 

Visitor Facilities & Services

Hours:
 9:00am - sunset
Piers/Docks:
 Yes
Visitor season:
 Summer
Boat slips:
 0
Visitor staff:
 No
Moorings:
 0
Guided tours:
 No
Park boats:
 None
Lifeguards:
 No
Car access:
 No
Flush toilets:
 No
Campsites:
 10 (capacity ea: 4)
Composting toilets:
 Yes
Group campsites:
 1 (capacity ea: 25)
Picnic areas:
 Yes
Camping capacity:
 65
Refreshments:
 No
Cooking grills:
 Yes
Drinking water:
 No
Walking trails:

Yes

On-island Circulation: Approximately one mile of mowed grass trails traverse the island.
Note: Camping and visitor services are currently not offered on Grape Island.

 

Short History

Prior to European settler colonization, Indigenous peoples may have cultivated the island. Euro-Americans farmed and grazed the island for three hundred years, up until the 1940s. Since the abandonment of agricultural use in the 1940s, the natural succession of vegetation has created a wooded and shrubby landscape. Grape never hosted any military fortifications, though in 1775 it was a site of a skirmish over hay during the War of Independence known as the "Battle of Grape Island" or "Grape Island Alarm."

 

Natural History Overview

Vegetation

One willow tree survives from the island's early 1900s agricultural use. Early successional tree and shrub species predominate on the drumlins: staghorn sumac (Rhus typhina), gray birch (Betula populifolia), and quaking aspen (Populus tremuloides). The island has an abundance of berries: blackberry, dewberry, raspberry (Rubus sp.) blueberry (Vaccinium), huckleberry, and elderbrry (Sambucus canadensis). A reconfiguration of the island over the past ten years by wave action has reduced the intrusion of saltwater into the island's marshy lowland which contains salt tolerant species: salt-spray rose (Rosa rugosa), cordgrass, purple loosestrife, honeysuckle and seaside goldenrod. An arbor with grapes (Vitus sp.) was installed by DEM near the pier. Vegetation is managed on paths, drumlin summits, and campsites for circulation and views.

Wildlife

Please see Animals page for more information.

Geology

The island is composed of two drumlins, reaching an elevation of 70 feet, and connected by a marshy lowland. Tidal sand spits extend from the west end towards Weymouth Neck (Webb State Park) and from the east end towards Slate Island.

Water Features

A stone-walled well is located on the southeastern side of the island near an enormous black willow tree. Historic photographs suggest that a second well is located in the central wet area of the island, closer to the building foundation, however it has not been found.

Views and Vistas

From the tops of the east and west drumlins, there are excellent views of the Blue Hills, Downtown Boston, Weymouth Neck, Hingham, Hough's Neck, Hull, and other islands including Bumpkin, Nut, Peddocks, Sheep, Slate, and Worlds End.

 

Structures

Last updated: July 13, 2024

Contact Info

Mailing Address:

Boston Harbor Islands National and State Park
21 Second Ave
Charlestown, MA 02129

Phone:

617 223-8666

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