{"id":"nps-boha","slug":"boston-harbor-islands-national-recreation-area","name":"Boston Harbor Islands National Recreation Area","designation":"National Recreation Area","category":"national-recreation-area","categoryLabel":"National Recreation Area","agency":{"code":"NPS","name":"National Park Service","department":"U.S. Department of the Interior","url":"https://www.nps.gov"},"managedBy":[{"code":"NPS","name":"National Park Service","department":"U.S. Department of the Interior","url":"https://www.nps.gov","unitCode":"BOHA","designation":"National Recreation Area","sourceId":"nps-boha"}],"states":["MA"],"stateNames":["Massachusetts"],"location":{"lat":42.30905526,"lon":-70.93941138},"bbox":[-71.0172,42.2506,-70.8669,42.3675],"acres":{"value":2102,"kind":"gis-estimate","source":"Computed from the simplified boundary","note":"Approximate. The managing agency publishes official acreage."},"firstProtected":null,"established":null,"administrations":[],"designationHistory":[],"summary":". . . where you can walk a Civil War-era fort, view historic lighthouses, explore tide pools, hike lush trails, camp under the stars, or relax while fishing, picnicking, or swimming—all within reach of downtown Boston. Youth programs, visitor services, research, wildlife management, and more are coordinated on the park's 34 islands and peninsulas by the Boston Harbor Islands Partnership.","summarySource":"National Park Service","guide":{},"trConnection":null,"trConnections":[],"trTypes":[],"links":{"official":"https://www.nps.gov/boha/index.htm","social":{},"recreationGov":null,"alltrails":null,"alltrailsExplore":"https://www.alltrails.com/explore?b_tl_lat=42.3675&b_tl_lng=-71.0172&b_br_lat=42.2506&b_br_lng=-70.8669","recreationGovSearch":"https://www.recreation.gov/search?q=Boston%20Harbor%20Islands%20National%20Recreation%20Area","directions":"http://www.nps.gov/boha/planyourvisit/directions.htm"},"cover":{"url":"https://www.nps.gov/common/uploads/structured_data/3C858BDF-1DD8-B71B-0B6D6FFEF068BAB3.jpg","title":"Beach Dancing","alt":"A child dancing on the beach at dusk","credit":"NPS Photo","license":"Public domain (U.S. government work)","licenseUrl":null,"filePage":"https://www.nps.gov/boha/index.htm","tier":1,"source":"National Park Service"},"images":[{"url":"https://www.nps.gov/common/uploads/structured_data/3C858BDF-1DD8-B71B-0B6D6FFEF068BAB3.jpg","title":"Beach Dancing","alt":"A child dancing on the beach at dusk","credit":"NPS Photo","license":"Public domain (U.S. government work)","licenseUrl":null,"filePage":"https://www.nps.gov/boha/index.htm","source":"National Park Service","cover":true},{"url":"https://www.nps.gov/common/uploads/structured_data/3C858F6B-1DD8-B71B-0B9C8D905FF4A7E9.jpg","title":"Spectacle Island","alt":"Group of children sit on a bench on a drumlin hill on Spectacle Island overlooking Boston Harbor","caption":"The drumlin hills of Spectacle Island have some of the best views of Boston Harbor.","credit":"NPS Photo","source":"NPS"},{"url":"https://www.nps.gov/common/uploads/structured_data/62CB0F70-DE77-9F56-1B80454BFBAB9AC9.jpg","title":"Public Ferry on Boston Harbor","alt":"view from Spectacle Island overlooking the water with a public ferry and a sailboat","caption":"Public ferries run to several of the islands, such as Spectacle, Georges, and Peddocks Islands.","credit":"NPS Photo/ M. Bozio","source":"NPS"},{"url":"https://www.nps.gov/common/uploads/structured_data/633BF399-A03A-85F6-EE3D9CBD81D30B4D.jpg","title":"Boston Light","alt":"a white lighthouse and other buildings on Little Brewster Island at sunset. City in the distance.","caption":"See Boston Light, the oldest light station in the country, during summer Lighthouse Cruises.","credit":"NPS Photo/ M. Bozio","source":"NPS"},{"url":"https://www.nps.gov/common/uploads/structured_data/635DA3A6-97BE-181B-6C21EF059445875B.jpg","title":"Fresnel Lens of Boston Light","alt":"A lighthouse lens to the left, and to the right is a window looking out over a rocky shoreline.","caption":"Boston Light's Fresnel lens still operates today, guiding ships into Boston Harbor.","credit":"NPS Photo/ K. Woods","source":"NPS"},{"url":"https://www.nps.gov/common/uploads/structured_data/64E91CAC-A884-E45E-F96BAB0B1F823D14.jpg","title":"Seals in Boston Harbor","alt":"Several seals resting on rocking outcropping","caption":"Harbor seals are just one of the many animals visitors might see while traversing Boston Harbor.","credit":"NPS Photo/ E. Bernbaum","source":"NPS"},{"url":"https://www.nps.gov/common/uploads/structured_data/6481022A-A7C9-4454-783A694F0F492B23.jpg","title":"Salt Marshes on Thompson Island (Cathleen Stone Island)","alt":"Salt marshes during fall. The tall grass and surrounding forest have orange and yellow coloring.","caption":"Like many of the islands, Thompson Island (also known as Cathleen Stone Island) is home to many habitats, including salt marshes.","credit":"NPS Photo / E. Bernbaum","source":"NPS"},{"url":"https://www.nps.gov/common/uploads/structured_data/64FD60ED-C4C1-132E-E67853E97F1E1D7A.jpg","title":"Common Eider","alt":"A bird with brown plumage flies close to the water, its wings touching the surface","caption":"Boston Harbor Islands National and State Park is considered an Important Bird Area (IBA). The islands provide an important site for long-term research, education, and bird conservation.","credit":"NPS Photo/ E. Deino","source":"NPS"}],"activities":["Arts and Culture","Live Music","Boating","Camping","Backcountry Camping","Canoe or Kayak Camping","Fishing","Saltwater Fishing","Food","Dining","Picnicking","Guided Tours","Self-Guided Tours - Walking","Hiking","Living History","Paddling","Kayaking","Junior Ranger Program","Wildlife Watching","Birdwatching"],"topics":["American Revolution","Archeology","Burial, Cemetery and Gravesite","Colonization and Settlement","Enslavement","Forts","Incarceration","Industry","Maritime","Coastal Defenses","Maritime - Military","Lighthouses","Piracy and Privateering","Ships and Shipwrecks","Medicine","Hospital","Military","US Army","US Navy","US Coast Guard","Monuments and Memorials","Native American Heritage","Schools and Education","Social Movements","Abolition Movement","Wars and Conflicts","Colonial/European Contact Conflicts","American Revolutionary War","War of 1812","Civil War","World War I","World War II","Animals","Birds","Fish","Coasts, Islands and Atolls","Forests and Woodlands","Geology","Oceans","Scenic Views","Unique Species","Wetlands","Marshes","Wilderness"],"fees":[],"passes":[],"hours":[{"name":"Boston Harbor Islands","description":"Boston Harbor Islands is a Partnership park. Operating hours and seasons vary.\n\nVisit bostonharborislands.org to plan your trip.","standardHours":{"wednesday":"All Day","monday":"All Day","thursday":"All Day","sunday":"All Day","tuesday":"All Day","friday":"All Day","saturday":"All Day"},"exceptions":[{"name":"Winter","start":"2026-10-15","end":"2027-05-17","hours":{"wednesday":"Closed","monday":"Closed","thursday":"Closed","sunday":"Closed","tuesday":"Closed","friday":"Closed","saturday":"Closed"}}]}],"directions":"There are many ways to enjoy Boston Harbor Islands and many ways to get there. For more information on how to get to the park by ferry, car, or private boat, please visit www.bostonharborislands.org.","weatherInfo":"The Boston Harbor Islands have a humid maritime climate characterized by slightly cooler temperatures than the mainland, so dress in layers. Typical summer conditions feature air temperatures approximately 5-10 degrees cooler than the mainland, winds of 0-15 knots and waves of 1-3 feet.","contacts":{"phone":"6178193587","email":"BOHA_Information@nps.gov"},"visitorCenters":[{"name":"Boston Harbor Islands Welcome Center","description":"Located on the Rose Kennedy Greenway, the Boston Harbor Islands Welcome Center offers visitor information and serves as a waypoint before beginning your journey to the Boston Harbor Islands.","url":"","lat":42.360224,"lon":-71.052466},{"name":"Georges Island Visitor Center","description":"The Visitor Center on Georges Island occupies a 1906 historic brick building that originally stored and serviced mines for the minefield located in Boston Harbor. The Visitor Center has a ranger-staffed desk, island and harbor information, a short informative movie about Fort Warren, an exhibit on the island's history, and restrooms. All are available during operating hours.","url":"","lat":42.319585,"lon":-70.929863},{"name":"Spectacle Island Visitor Center","description":"The Spectacle Island Visitor Center has a staffed information desk, a small island exhibit and informative island movie, and restrooms.","url":"","lat":42.32202,"lon":-70.98732},{"name":"Peddocks Island Visitor Center","description":"The former Guardhouse for Fort Andrews, the Peddocks Island Visitor Center is located near the dock. An information desk and seating are available with restrooms located on the lower level.","url":"","lat":42.299765,"lon":-70.927403}],"campgrounds":[],"thingsToDo":[],"nearby":[{"slug":"adams-national-historical-park","km":8},{"slug":"boston-african-american-national-historic-site","km":12},{"slug":"boston-national-historical-park","km":12},{"slug":"frederick-law-olmsted-national-historic-site","km":16},{"slug":"john-fitzgerald-kennedy-national-historic-site","km":16},{"slug":"longfellow-house-washingtons-headquarters-national-historic-site","km":17}],"hasBoundary":true,"boundarySource":{"name":"NPS Land Resources Division","url":"https://irma.nps.gov/DataStore/Reference/Profile/2224545"},"sources":[{"name":"NPS Data API","url":"https://developer.nps.gov/api/v1/parks?parkCode=boha"},{"name":"NPS Land Resources Division boundaries","url":"https://services1.arcgis.com/fBc8EJBxQRMcHlei/arcgis/rest/services/NPS_Land_Resources_Division_Boundary_and_Tract_Data_Service/FeatureServer/2"}],"editorialStatus":"draft","synced":"2026-11-09T02:12:45.608Z","alerts":[{"source":"NPS","kind":"Information","title":"Contact Us","text":"We continue to experience issues with our phone lines, please contact us via our email address: boha_information@nps.gov","url":null,"updated":"2025-05-21 08:41:30.0","id":"nps-AB6D5014-1080-4D45-91DA-26B2335B6890"}],"url":"https://directory.labs.trlibrary.com/sites/boston-harbor-islands-national-recreation-area/","boundaryUrl":"https://directory.labs.trlibrary.com/boundaries/boston-harbor-islands-national-recreation-area.geojson"}