Lovells Island, part of Boston Harbor Islands National Recreation Area, is no longer serviced by ferry, so visitation is by private boat only. Camping on the island is also no longer allowed.
Activities on Lovells Island include hiking, swimming, fishing, and exploring the military batteries and old building ruins that were part of the Fort Standish. The fort was completed in 1907 and was deactivated in 1947. I found Lovells to be an explorer’s paradise due to the number of historic sites. If your plan is simply to explore, you’ll spend about three hours before running out of things to do.
During my daytime visit in early August, I did not run into any mosquitoes or gnats, but I was annoyed by biting flies at certain spots on the island. They tend to stay down around your ankles, as if they know you can’t easily swat them down there, but the problem can be solved by wearing long pants. In my experience, insect repellent has no effect on them. A park Ranger told me that mosquitoes tend to come out at dawn and dusk. Ticks are common as well, so stay on the trails, which are old, dilapidated paved roads.
See the following web pages for more information about visitor activities at Lovells Island:
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Last updated on January 15, 2024