7 Favorite New England Anchorages

New England anchorages, background photo courtesy Pixabay.

From Maine’s rocky, jagged coast to the harbors and coves of southern New England, our region is home to a vast collection of excellent anchorages for boaters to enjoy. Whether you’re looking for a sheltered gunkhole to hide from bad weather, or that quiet, scenic spot to enjoy a sunset and an overnight, the Northeast has plenty of wonderful places to choose from.

Here are a few of our favorite New England anchorages.

Seal Bay, photo courtesy Maine Coastal Heritage Trust.

Cuttyhunk, Massachusetts

Cuttyhunk is on any well-traveled New England boater’s short list of favorite anchorages. The last of the Elizabeth Islands, it features scenic views, sandy beaches, and the area is great for fishing. Visiting boaters can find a public anchorage in the northeast corner of Cuttyhunk Pond and another anchorage in the outer harbor, just west of Canapitsit Channel.

Great Salt Pond, Rhode Island

This well-protected anchorage on Block Island is among the most popular anchorages in the Northeast. Great Salt Pond has 75 acres for anchoring, and it offers easy access to Crescent Beach and nearby restaurants and shops.

Seal Bay, Vinalhaven, Maine

Few anchorages in New England can rival the peaceful, natural beauty of Seal Bay. This sheltered area in Vinalhaven, Maine, is dotted with beautiful islands, many of which are conservation properties. Boaters here share space with seals and bald eagles while enjoying that away-from-it-all feeling you can only find in Maine. Seal Bay has lots of room, but watch your charts as the inner channels can be shallow.

Thimble Islands, Connecticut

This archipelago of pink-granite islands in the low-key Connecticut town of Stony Creek is the perfect place to drop anchor and unwind. While those arriving by land can only experience Stony Creek’s Seuss-like Thimble Islands for a few hours, boaters can toss the hook in protected gunkholes and watch the singularly beautiful sunrises and sunsets that set these chunks of granite, ranging from several acres to boulder-size, ablaze with color.

Thimble Islands, photo courtesy Connecticut Office of Tourism.

Hadley Harbor, Massachusetts

Found just west of Woods Hole between Naushon and Nonamesset Islands, Hadley Harbor offers visiting boaters what is arguably Cape Cod’s most picturesque anchorage. Protected on all sides, it’s one of the area’s best hurricane holes. It pays to get there early, as the harbor is understandably popular. Most of the land nearby is private, but boaters can take a dinghy to enjoy trails on Bull Island.

Merchant Row, Maine

Surrounded by expansive wilderness, lots of wildlife, and many islands open for exploration, Maine’s Merchant Row is a boater’s dream. Located between Stonington and Isle au Haut, this area features dozens of secluded places where boaters can drop a hook. It’s home to 11 Maine Coast Heritage Trust island preserves, including Saddleback Island, Pell Island, Gooseberry, and many more. Those who want to sleep on land can find secluded campsites on Saddleback and Nathan islands.

Hamburg Cove, Connecticut

Located roughly eight miles from the mouth of the Connecticut River near Old Lyme, Hamburg Cove is a well-known gunkhole and boater’s hangout. Surrounded by wooded hills, it looks like the Maine coast. This protected anchorage is accessible via a narrow but well-marked channel, and it features a sheltered basin with depths of nine to 15 feet. It’s a popular, peaceful overnighting spot among self-sufficient cruisers, but can be lively during the day.

Written by Dan Mathers
Dan is the editor of New England Boating & Fishing and the former associate editor for Offshore Magazine.
His freelance work has appeared in Backpacker, Adirondack Life, Cape Cod Life, South Shore Living, and many other publications.
Dan loves exploring the New England outdoors. He enjoys paddling, camping, hiking, and running ultramarathons.