Harborwalk on Deer Island with the Wastewater Treatment Plant in the background, Boston Harbor Islands National Recreation Area
Deer Island is one of four peninsula parks that are part of Boston Harbor Islands National Recreation Area. It is called an island because it once was an island before being connected to the mainland by landfill in the early 1940s. Today it is home to the Deer Island Wastewater Treatment Plant, and while that doesn’t sound too enticing as far as a park goes, there are two paved trails that offer plenty of nice views, plus the sewage treatment plant is pretty cool. Public tours are available on Tuesdays and Fridays from April through November. Reservations are required, and you must submit security clearance information at least seven days in advance. For more information, visit the Massachusetts Water Resources Authority’s Deer Island Public Access Area web page.
Deer Island Wastewater Treatment Plant
The only problem with visiting Deer Island is that parking is very limited, which pretty much makes it a “locals only” park. In truth, I doubt many tourists venture out to it. In previous years you could park along a stretch of Tafts Road just before coming to the parking area, but that has now been outlawed. What’s left is parking for about two dozen vehicles. I couldn’t find a parking space on a recent Friday afternoon visit, so I had to leave empty handed. I came back on Saturday morning at 8:30 AM and got one of the last spaces. People are out walking around, spending an hour or more at Deer Island, so turnover is slow. Buses do service the island, but that’s not really a viable option for a tourist.
I liked the trails on Deer Island better than those on most of the islands I visited at Boston Harbor Islands National Recreation Area, and of the four peninsula parks it is definitely my favorite. The handicap accessible Harborwalk runs along the shoreline and circles the entire island, while the Hillside Trail leads to the top of a hill on the north end of the island. The Hillside Trail is also considered handicap accessible, but it is very steep. Anyone in a wheelchair would definitely need help unless he or she is training for the Paralympics. Both trails offer great views of Boston Harbor and Deer Island, and they are open to hikers, bikers, and skaters. For more information, reviews, and photos, see the Deer Island Hiking Trails web page here on National Park Planner.
Harborwalk on Deer Island, Boston Harbor Islands National Recreation Area
Hillside Trail on Deer Island, Boston Harbor Islands National Recreation Area
Bikers on the Deer Island Harborwalk, Boston Harbor Islands National Recreation Area
Fishing is allowed anywhere along the shoreline of Deer Island, but most fishermen stick to the west side because a retaining wall runs along most of east side shoreline, making it very difficult to get to the water. Since people are basically lazy, you’ll find the most popular spots closest to the parking lot. There is a small cove right next to the entrance, and if you walk a quarter mile down the Harborwalk, there is a new fishing pier. At the southern end of the island—a 1.3-mile walk—is another fishing area with a few jetties. Keep in mind that the jetties and the coves may be underwater at high tide.
Deer Island fishing pier, Boston Harbor Islands National Recreation Area
Jetties at the south end of Deer Island, Boston Harbor Islands National Recreation Area
Fishing in the cove near the Deer Island parking lot, Boston Harbor Islands National Recreation Area
Deer Island is open year-round from sunrise to sunset. Vehicles in the parking lot after this time are subject to being towed.
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Last updated on January 8, 2024
