South Freeport

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Welcome to South Freeport, Maine

THINGS TO SEE
PLACES TO EAT
PLACES TO STAY
WHERE TO DOCK

Strouts Point Wharf Company is one of two marinas that serve

the South Freeport area. Photo by Joe Devenney

FREEPORT IS MAINE’S BEST-KNOWN SHOPPING DESTINATION, DRAWING MILLIONS EVERY YEAR TO L.L. BEAN AND OTHER RETAILERS FOR BARGAINS AND FUN. AND WHILE SOUTH FREEPORT OFFERS WATERY ACCESS TO THESE INLAND ATTRACTIONS, BOAT-OWNING VISITORS MAY WANT TO CONSIDER THE AREA’S AQUATIC DIVERSIONS BEFORE VENTURING INTO CREDIT CARD LAND.

South Freeport sits on the northwest bank of the Harraseeket River, which flows into Broad Sound and Casco Bay. Boaters who choose to venture beyond the confines of the anchorage between Pound of Tea and Bartol islands in the Harraseeket will find a world of boating opportunities.


SAT Map

The area is ready-made for small sailboats, skiffs, dinghies, canoes and kayaks, and there’s a convenient launch ramp at Winslow Park and Campground, near the mouth of the Harraseeket. A second put-in for small vessels is next to Harraseeket Lunch & Lobster.

The harbor opens up just beyond Pound of Tea. Crowded with moored pleasure boats and a fair number of lobster-trap buoys, the Harraseeket is well protected and calm throughout much of the boating season.

Read the story South Freeport Fishing Information

A lone kayaker glides among the rocky islets of Maine’s Wolfe’s Neck Woods State Park on the Harraseeket River. Photo by Joe Devenney

Most of the moorings are owned and rented out by one of 3 facilities along the northwest shore: the Harraseeket Yacht Club, Strout’s Point Wharf Co. and Brewer South Freeport Marine. The last is easily the most active facility on the waterfront.

On the opposite side of the river is Wolfe’s Neck State Park. In 1969 this area of more than 200 acres was given to the state by Mr. and Mrs. Lawrence M.C. Smith of Freeport. The park offers miles of easy hiking trails and camping and picnic facilities. There are no official landing spots or docks along the park’s riverside shoreline, which is bordered by expansive mudflats. If you choose to beach a small boat here at high tide, make sure you want to stay for a while. There is also a small gravel beach adjacent to deep water located on the Casco Bay side of the park where landing could be made in a dinghy or other small craft.

FREEPORT’S EARLY HISTORY WAS FOCUSED PRIMARILY ON SHIPBUILDING AND FISHING.

Continuing north along the Harraseeket River gives boaters a glimpse into what the Freeport area looked like before the outlet invasion. However, playing the tides is essential. At low tide the river peters out to vast mudflats and a tiny trickle at the northeast end of the harbor. From midtide onward, however, a big channel on the east side of Bartol Island fills up and creates a nice piece of protected water for dinghy sailing and a fast-moving channel to points beyond.


Low tide strands an aging trawler on the muddy bottom at Porter Landing.

Photo by Joe Devenney

Use an incoming tide to explore upriver. South Freeport changes rapidly from a busy harbor with cottages and facilities along the shore to a landscape of farms, homes on large chunks of acreage and fields. Where the river narrows and makes a sharp westward turn, you’ll find Pettengill Farm, a 140-acre, 19th-century preserve maintained by the Freeport Historical Society (FHS). A granite outcropping along the shore makes a convenient landing from which to access the farm.

According to FHS executive director Randall Thomas, Freeport’s early history was focused primarily on shipbuilding and fishing. In fact 150-foot barks, brigs and schooners were once built and launched along its banks. The settlers who built the Pettengills’ saltbox-style house in about 1810 were farmers who saw those saltmarshes as ready-made hay fields. They erected dikes to wall them off from the tides during harvest time.

Pushing farther upriver, the Harraseeket channel winds through the saltmarsh. The head of navigation is the 140-acre preserve known as Mast Landing Sanctuary. Maintained by the Audubon Society (www.maineaudubon.org), Mast Landing once served as the place where timber from Maine’s interior was brought for shaping into spars for ships. The preserve also contains the remains of hydro-mill and its associated dam. A brickyard, woodworking shop, grain-grinding operation, associated stores and warehouses all once huddled on the tiny mill stream that now flows freely into the Harraseeket estuary.

GETTING THERE
Charts: NOAA 13290

South Freeport Chart

South Freeport is roughly 14 miles northeast of Portland, Maine, in the northern corner of Casco Bay. To reach it from the south and west, head for the Portland Large Navigational Buoy just off Cape Elizabeth (flashing red light every two seconds and a foghorn). From there, head for Halfway Rock Light, roughly 9 miles to the north-northeast. Leave the light well to starboard and head almost due north to the entrance of Broad Sound between Eagle Island (to starboard) and Broken Cove Ledges (to port), where the red-and-white bell buoy marked “BS” and the green gong “3” will help guide you into sheltered water. Continue roughly on a northerly course for the 6 miles up the sound, being careful to avoid the mudflats west and north of Moshier and Crab Islands while looking for red flashing light buoy “2” at the entrance to the Harraseeket River. In strong crosscurrents, follow the 3 green buoys that take you west of Pound of Tea Island and up the anchorage fairway, marked by small seasonal buoys.

From points east, stay well south of Seguin Island and Small Point as you head for Halfway Rock Light from well offshore.

Dockage, Moorings & Service:

Anchorages:

Because of the tidal currents and space limitations, anchoring is not recommended within the Harraseeket. Contact the harbormaster for specified anchorage areas outside the river.

Launch Ramps:

  • The nearest launch ramp in the Freeport area is located at Winslow Park and Campground. This ramp is paved and has long-term parking. There is a fee, and the water is shallow. The town-managed park offers waterfront and woodland sites, as well as sites for large groups. There are hiking trails, a scenic overlook, a boat dock and ramp and ample parking for trailer rigs. Season runs from Memorial Day to Columbus Day and reservations are recommended.
  • The best launch ramp for larger vessels is the Royal River ($10 fee) in Yarmouth. This ramp offers good access on all tide stages and a fair number of parking spaces.
  • A small, unpaved ramp with limited short-term parking is located at the S. Freeport town landing on the Harraseeket, next to Harraseeket Lunch & Lobster.
  • Another small put-in for kayaks, canoes and cartop boats can also be found on Burnett Rd., where it crosses the Little River.

Harbormaster:

(207) 865-4546; VHF 9

Boat & Kayak Rental:

Ring’s Marine Service (207) 865-6143: Sea kayak and canoe rental and sales. Also offers mooring service and rental.

Provisions:

  • Basic provisions and deli sandwiches are available at The Village Store (207-846-4230) at the corner of Pine Street and Main Street.
  • Bow Street Market (207) 856-6631: Short walk from downtown Freeport.
  • The Wine Cellar (207) 865-9766: Selection of wines more complete than what you’ll find in grocery stores.

Where to Eat:

Harraseeket Lunch & Lobster is a popular dock-and-dine restaurant on the west bank of the river. The restaurant offers seafood and fried fare. Downtown Freeport, accessible by shuttle or a 2-mile walk or bike ride from the river, also has numerous eateries to choose from.

Where to Stay:

Things to Do & See:

  • A tour of historic Pettengill Farm can be arranged through the Freeport Historical Society (207-865-3170) at 45 Main Street.
  • Wolfe’s Neck State Park (207-865-4465), on the southeast shore of the Harraseeket River, is a 200-acre facility with five miles of hiking trails that offer stunning views of Casco Bay, as well as opportunities to observe birds and other wildlife, including osprey nests on Googins Island. There are no official landing sites along the park boundaries.
  • Winslow Park and Campground. This town-managed park offers waterfront and woodland campsites, as well as sites for large groups. There are hiking trails, a scenic overlook, a boat dock and ramp and parking for trailer rigs. Season runs from Memorial Day to Columbus Day; reservations are recommended.

General Information:

Freeport Merchants’ Marketing Association (800) 865-1994

Photo Gallery

A wide variety of pleasure boats and commercial vessels swing on moorings in the Harraseeket. Photo by Joe Devenney

Boaters can dock-and-dine at Harraseeket Lunch and Lobster, which serves fresh seafood and sells live lobsters. Photo by Joe Devenney

A worker wheels empty totes along the docks at the Harraseeket Lobster Company. Photo by Joe Devenney

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