Old Quarry Ocean Adventures Campground Kayaking
So much to do in Stonington, Maine at Old Quarry Ocean Adventures, from camping on the ocean, to awesome kayaking, boat rides, sailing, site seeing, lighthouses, puffins, porpoises, seals, eagles, lobster bakes, events, and weddings. Right on the rocky coast of Maine. We'd love to show you. Let your vacation adventures start with us.
Ocean Kayaking in the Deer Isle Region of the Maine Coast – Stonington to Isle au Haut
The Maine Island Trail (MIT) is a 375-mile chain of over 180 wild islands along the coast of Maine. In mid-July friends Dundee, Cully, David and I did a three day paddle on the MIT in the Deer Island Region. The Deer Isle Region extends from Stonington south to Isle au Haut and east into Blue Hill Bay. We tented two days on the two acre Steves Island (name by coincidence.)
We put-in at Stonington, Maine at the Old Quarry Ocean Adventure campground. Click the video below for exciting footage of our trip, including a Google Earth map of our MIT route.
Here are some special notes on our trip.
- Over the years, the pronunciation of “Isle au Haut” has drifted considerably. Nowadays, people who have spent time on the island pronounce it “i-la-HO.”
- Dundee was both our Chef and Navigator. He is top-notch in both areas.
- Where are we in the Atlantic? A map and compass are mandatory in these Deer Island waters. Admittedly we had moments where we were questioning the name of the islands we could see in the distance. Certainly, when fog is present (frequently), you either stay on a known island, use your map and compass to get to your next island destination, or back to the mainland.
Disposal of human waste
The Maine Island Trail Association (MITA) requests all island visitors carry off solid human waste and dispose of it safely on the mainland. The Maine Island trail Guide lists several good carry off methods to help you deal with human waste on the Trail. We chose the Crap Wrap method.
Water
We brought our own potable water. The islands we visited had no drinking water - and remember, we were in the ocean.
Day 1 Old Quarry Campground to Steves Island
A 4.6 mile paddle from Old Quarry Ocean Adventures campground to the 2 acre Steves Island where we camped for two nights
Met Randy and son Steve from Lancaster, PA
First come – first camp. Steves Island 2 acres and three sites – ten max
Put-in and Parking at Old Quarry Adventure Campground
90 plus minute paddle from Old Quarry to Steve’s Island.
Dave caught Mackerel
Day 2 Steves Island to Isle au Haut
11 mile paddle was from Steve Island to Harbor Island, where we walked around the Island. We continued our paddle pass Merchant Island, Pell Island, Nathan Island, and entered the waterway of the Isle au Haut Thoroughfare. We had lunch outside the Island Store. We returned to Steves Island the same route. The round trip was close to 5 hours with windy and choppy seas.
Dundee cooked us McNestlers for breakfast.
Paddle to Harbor Island (went ashore), then to Isle au Haunt. Total paddle back to Steves Island was about 5 hours in windy and choppy waters.
Lunch Isle of Haunt at Island Store
Found mussels on Steves Island for a feast and invited Randy and Steve to join us.
We located mussels on Steves Island. A warming here must be made about Red Tide
Day 3 Steves Island to Crotch Island quarry, pass Stonington and takeout at Old Quarry
- 6 mile paddle passed the George Head island sandbar in a whoop-de-doo surfing wave. We visited Crotch Island which was once a world renowned granite quarry. We went up the “crotch” past hills of waste chunks of granite. We saw osprey and eagles. We continued along the shoreline of the town of Stonington with its many wharfs of commercial lobster and fishing operations. Lobster boats have the right of way and we learned this quickly as our final hour coincided when lobster boats returning in mass to sell their day’s work.
With expectations of a rain and wind storm on Wednesday night, we decided to curtail out trip. After a coffee and orange juice, we hada burrito breakfast of pita bread, eggs, cheese and salsa.
Crotch Island and stone quarry. At the turn of the century, Crotch was one of 33 major island quarries along the Maine coast. They provided work for an estimated 10,000 to 15,000 people, creating a boom-town atmosphere in nearby coastal towns. Crotch Island is an active remnant of what once was a dominant industry and colorful part of Maine’s past.
Crotch Island's 450 acres are littered with the rusted relics of its past, and dotted with hills of waste rock, chunks of granite that didn't break right and couldn't be used. A steam-powered Brown hoist crane with a 40-foot boom stands rusting near the V-shaped inlet that gives Crotch Island its name. We saw an osprey nest on a hoist crane.
To learn about my 2010 trip on the Maine Island Trail (MIT) visit Sea kayaking and Camping on the Maine Island Trail: Outdoor Steve’s Blog post of August 2010
The Maine Island Trail Association (MITA)
The Maine Island Trail Association ( MIT is a must membership for any outdoor enthusiast considering an ocean paddle.
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Everyone must do something. I believe I will go outdoors with family and friends
Old Quarry Ocean Adventures ~ Your Adventure Starts Here!
Ocean Kayaking in the Deer Isle Region of the Maine Coast – Stonington to Isle au Haut
The Maine Island Trail (MIT) is a 375-mile chain of over 180 wild islands along the coast of Maine. In mid-July friends Dundee, Cully, David and I did a three day paddle on the MIT in the Deer Island Region. The Deer Isle Region extends from Stonington south to Isle au Haut and east into Blue Hill Bay.
We tented two days on the two acre Steves Island (name by coincidence.)
Click the link below for our video and pictures of our 21 plus mile ocean paddle, including our campsite, eating mussels, mackerel, granite quarry, and a Google Earth map of our MIT route.
We put-in at Stonington, Maine at the Old Quarry Ocean Adventure campground. Let me introduce the below short video on our three day itinerary with two nights camping on Steves Island that included an 11 mile roundtrip to the Isle of Haut.
The video starts with use of Google Earth to show the mapping of our trip. There are 65 islands between Stonington and the Isle au Haut of which there are 28 islands permissible for MIT members. Paddling in this area requires a map and compass – as it is very easy to get lost amid the many islands in this area.
· Day 1 was a 4.6 mile paddle from Webb Cover to the 2 acre Steves Island where we camped for two nights.
· Day 2’s 11 mile paddle was from Steve Island to Harbor Island, where we walked around the Island. We continued our paddle pass Merchant Island, Pell Island, Nathan Island, and entered the waterway of the Isle au Haut Thoroughfare. We had lunch outside the Island Store. We returned to Steves Island the same route. The round trip was close to 5 hours with windy and choppy seas.
· Day3’s 6 mile paddle passed the George Head island sandbar in a whoop-de-doo surfing wave. We visited Crotch Island which was once a world renowned granite quarry. We went up the “crotch” past hills of waste chunks of granite. We saw osprey and eagles. We continued along the shoreline of the town of Stonington with its many wharfs of commercial lobster and fishing operations.
for books by OutdoorSteve including more on the MIT.
See for my 2010 MIT trip.
Paddling the Deer Isle Region of the Maine Island Trail – Stonington to Isle au Haut
Maine Island Trail – Steve’s Island off Stonington, Maine
• Member MITA
o The Maine Island Trail (MIT) is a 375-mile chain of over 180 wild islands along the coast of Maine. The Maine Island Trail Association ( MIT is a must membership do for any outdoor enthusiast considering an ocean paddle.
o The Deer Isle Region extends from Stonington south to Isle au Haut and east into Blue Hill Bay It is a very active lobstering community. There are 65 islands between Stonington and the Isle au Haut, of which there are 28 islands permissible for MIT members.
o Our four kayak put-in was in Web Cove on Deer Island.
o Three day Itinerary
Our day one itinerary passed Hells Half Acre island, Camp island, Bare island, St Helena, Wreck island with take-out at Steves Island.
Day 2’s paddle was from Steve Island to Harbor Island, were we stopped and walked around the Island, past Merchant Island, Pell Island, Nathan Island, Isle au Haut Thoroughfare, to Isle au Haut for lunch outside the Island Store. We returned to Steves Island the same route. The round trip was around 5 hours with windy and choppy paddling.
Day3’s paddle completed our trip as we left Steves Island, over the George Head island sandbar in a whoop-de-doo slide, past Sand Island to Crotch Island. We went up the “crotch” past hills of waste chunks of granite, osprey and eagles. We paddled past the town of Stonington, and is many wharfs of commercial lobster and fishing operations. Lobster boats have the right of way, and we passed during the time of day when lobster boats were returning with their day’s work. We continually stopped paddling to give way to boats returning with their catch. We did our final take-out at Webb Cove at Old Quarry campground.
o Dundee. Cully and Dave and I put-in at Stonington, Maine on Deer Island. In my 2010 paddle on the Maine Island Trail I emailed the office of the Maine Island Trail Association, and MITA responded answering my questions about island fire permits (there is a telephone number in the MITA online ( and hard copy guidebook); camp site reservations (There is no need for camp reservations on any of the islands - a MITA member has access to all sites on the trail, at any time, unless the guide descriptions indicates otherwise); The Deer Isle overview page of the guide has a list of put-ins available, and we selected Old Quarry Ocean Adventures
• Four friends
• Dundee our Chief Chef and Navigator.
• Disposal of human waste
o Dave’s picture. MITA requests that all island visitors carry off solid human waste and dispose of it safely on the mainland. The Maine Island trail Guide lists several good carry off methods to help you deal with human waste on the Trail. We chose the Crap Wrap method.
• Water
o We brought our own water. We were prepared to gather rain water if necessary. We curtailed our trip one day early due to an upcoming storm, and we had no fresh drinking water issue.
• Day 1 Old Quarry Campground to Steves Island
o Met Randy and son Steve from Lancaster, PA
o First come – first camp. Steves Island 2 acres and three sites – ten max
o Put-in and Parking at Old Quarry Adventure Campground
o 90 plus minute paddle from Old Quarry to Steve’s Island.
o Dave caught Mackerel
• Day 2 Steves Island to Isle au Haut
o Paddle to Harbor Island (stopped), then to Isle au Haunt. About 2 hours in windy and choppy waters.
o Lunch Isle of Haunt at Island Store
o Found muscles on Steves Island for a feast and invited Randy and Steve to join us.
o We located muscles on Steves Island. A warming here must be made about Red Tide
• Day 3 Steves Island to Crotch Island quarry, pass Stonington and takeout at Old Quarry
o With expectations of a rain and wind storm on Wednesday night, we decided to curtail out trip. After a coffee and orange juice, we had burrito breakfast of pita bread, eggs, cheese and salsa
o Crotch Island and stone quarry. At the turn of the century, Crotch was one of 33 major island quarries along the Maine coast. They provided work for an estimated 10,000 to 15,000 people, creating a boom-town atmosphere in nearby coastal towns. Crotch Island is an active remnant of what once was a dominant industry and colorful part of Maine’s past.
o Crotch Island's 450 acres are littered with the rusted relics of its past, and dotted with hills of waste rock, chunks of granite that didn't break right and couldn't be used. A steam-powered Brown hoist crane with a 40-foot boom stands rusting near the V-shaped inlet that gives Crotch Island its name. Our paddle today we saw an osprey nest (picture) on this hoist crane.
Video of Old Quarry Ocean Adventures, ME from Shari G.
A look around Old Quarry Campground...from bunkhouses to ocean front sites. It's a kayaker and SUP'ers paradise!!
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Shari G.'s Review on The Dyrt:
▶︎ Ranger Review of Body Glove Siroko Wetsuit @ Old Quarry Ocean Adventures
Gear Review
As Rangers for The Dyrt, we often receive gear to review. My husband is passionate about being out on the water in any way possible, and this wetsuit is helping him enjoy being there even when it’s cold, or in this case, in Maine’s frigid gulf waters. While on the coast of Maine this summer, he's been learning how to surf a stand-up paddle board on the wave created during the tide change at Blue Hill Falls (
What he likes about this product:
Very comfortable, and very warm, the 4 /3 mil neoprene is soft and thick enough for most days during the summer in the Gulf of Maine.
Simple design and easy zip-in closure. The zipper is short and easy to access, you don’t need a friend or zipper pull tether to close yourself in.
Flexible enough to move around and swim in without feeling constrained.
Reinforced knee pads and chest area which take a beating when surfing.
What could be improved:
All wetsuits are difficult to get into, and the Siroko is no different. It manages to maximize performance and comfort when wearing it while sacrificing the ease of getting it on your body.
The cinch helps keep the zippered flap tight against the body, I wish there was an adjustment for the neck gasket, as sometimes a little cold water comes into the front of the suit while swimming.
Product Link: (
Video Link: (
Campground Review
What an unbelievably beautiful, comprehensive campground and activity center! The campground is small and quaint and sits right on Webb Cove near Stonington Harbor. Each site is equipped with a picnic table, fire ring, and some lawn chairs…a nice bonus! The bathrooms are c...
Old Quarry Ocean Adventures:
Camping in Maine:
The Dyrt: A better way to search for campgrounds:
Maine Island Trail canoeing
3-day exploration of the island group just off the Coast of Stonington, Maine. We camped on Russ Island and Steves Island. This is our first time paddling on the Maine Coast in our Rapid Fires. These boats continue to amaze me! It was nice to get away and escape the extreme heat in Massachussets. The daytime temps never eclipsed 85 degrees and the nights were cool and breezy.
Vinalhaven Maine Highlights
Drone and boat footage of recent trip to Vinalhaven Maine
A Mine on the Hillside
A Mine on the Hillside