The 40-acre forested peninsula and a 2-acre island on the northern end of Great Island make up wild Doughty Point and Island Preserve. The preserve is covered by a mature forest of white pine, red spruce, red oak, and mixed hardwoods. Spartina grasses fringe the point with extensive tidal mudflats to the east.

An old cellar hole and cemetery at the north end of the preserve tell of Harpswell’s agricultural heritage, a time when the forests were all cleared and sheep grazed the land. The tides rush through Prince Gurnet (gurnet means a “place of fast water”) between the point and island, making it a good place to fish for striped bass. Doughty Point and Island Preserve is conserved forever for the quiet enjoyment of future generations of residents and visitors.

Directions

There is no land access to Doughty Point, but it is easily accessible by small boats. The best places to land are in the cove on the southwest shore or in the small cove right at the tip of the peninsula. It is within easy paddling distance by canoe or kayak from the boat launches off Hildreth Road in Harpswell or off Prince’s Point Road in Brunswick.