Langlee Island (click to enlarge)
Langlee Island in Boston Harbor Islands National Recreation Area gets its name from John Langlee, the man who purchased the island in 1686. It is one of four small islands in Hingham Harbor, the others being Button, Sarah, and Ragged. The area above the high-tide mark is 4.4 acres. While there is nothing on it but trees, it is close enough to the mainland to make a good target for those who want to take a paddling trip. Depending on where you depart from, a round trip to all four islands is as short as two miles.
The island has a rocky coast with steep ledges on the north and south sides—forty feet tall on the north shore—but there are some coves at the east and west ends where you can land. The island is full of poison ivy, so explore inland with caution. There are some footpaths that traverse the island.
CAMPING
The town of Hingham owns Langlee Island and allows primitive backcountry camping on it with a permit. A campsite on the west side of the island can accommodate five people, and an east-side campsite can hold ten. The campsites are not open year-round, and the person I spoke with didn’t know much about when it was open other than to say during the “boating season.” The public ferry does not service the island, so you would need your own boat.
Camping is free, but if you arrive by motorboat there is a charge for a transient mooring permit. Canoeists and kayakers can land on the island for free. Because there is no ferry service, I did not visit Langlee, so if you want to know more about camping, call (781) 741-1450. See the Hingham Police Department’s Transient Mooring Rentals and Camping Permits web page for more information and a link to the permit at the bottom of the page.
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Last updated on May 7, 2025
