Overview
Muskeget Island is a small, low-lying barrier island situated roughly 6 miles west of Nantucket and about 8 miles south of Martha's Vineyard, in Nantucket Sound. Administratively part of the town of Edgartown, Massachusetts, it is one of the most remote and least-visited points of land in New England.
The island is best understood as a wildlife refuge rather than a conventional destination. It is predominantly composed of sandy flats, dunes, and low scrub vegetation, and is recognized as critical habitat for gray seals — which haul out here in numbers that make it one of the most significant seal colonies on the entire East Coast — as well as for nesting terns, shorebirds, and other coastal species.
There are no permanent residents, no roads, no shops, no restaurants, and no visitor facilities of any kind. The island is largely managed with conservation as the primary concern, and casual public access is either restricted or strongly discouraged during sensitive wildlife periods. Visitors who do go typically do so aboard naturalist or charter vessels that approach by water.
Before You Go
Know Before You Go
Muskeget Island is not a conventional tourist destination and requires careful planning. Prospective visitors should research current access rules before making any arrangements, as restrictions can change based on wildlife breeding and nesting seasons.
- Access restrictions: Landing on parts of the island may be restricted or prohibited, particularly during gray seal pupping season (typically winter and early spring) and tern nesting season (late spring through summer). Verify current rules with the Town of Edgartown and Massachusetts Division of Marine Fisheries before planning any landing.
- No facilities: There are absolutely no toilets, fresh water, food, shelter, or emergency services on the island. Everything you need must be brought with you and all waste must be carried out.
- Weather exposure: The island is extremely exposed. Conditions in Nantucket Sound can change rapidly. Fog, wind, and rough seas are common. Never go without checking marine weather forecasts.
- Visas: For general entry requirements into the United States, check TravelerPulse's Visas section and the official US Customs and Border Protection website for guidance relevant to your nationality.
Getting There
Reaching Muskeget Island
Muskeget has no ferry service and no public transportation connection. The only practical way to reach it is by private boat or a chartered vessel departing from Nantucket, Edgartown (Martha's Vineyard), or other harbors in the region.
- From Nantucket: The island lies approximately 6 miles to the west. Experienced boaters with suitable vessels sometimes make the crossing in calm conditions, but the shoal-ridden waters around Muskeget require local knowledge and up-to-date charts.
- Charter and naturalist tours: Some wildlife-focused charter operators based on Nantucket or the Vineyard offer trips to view seals and seabirds in the Muskeget Channel area. These trips often view wildlife from the water rather than landing. Verify current operator availability locally.
- Aviation: The island has no airstrip. Small seaplanes could theoretically access the area but there are no established services; verify locally.
The surrounding waters — Muskeget Channel — are known for strong tidal currents and extensive shoals. Any boater approaching the island should carry current NOAA nautical charts and exercise significant caution.
Things to See & Do
Wildlife Observation
The primary draw for the small number of visitors who reach Muskeget is wildlife. The island hosts a substantial gray seal colony, and viewing these animals — from a respectful and legally required distance — is the central experience. Approaching seals too closely is both harmful to the animals and prohibited under the Marine Mammal Protection Act.
Muskeget and its surrounding waters are also excellent for seabird observation. Common, roseate, and Arctic terns have historically used the island and nearby Tuckernuck Island for nesting. Shorebird migration through the area can be notable in late summer and early fall.
- Gray seal viewing (from water or at safe distance on shore if permitted)
- Seabird and shorebird watching — bring quality binoculars
- Coastal landscape and tidal flat exploration — the island's geomorphology is dynamic and changes from year to year
Important Wildlife Ethics
- Maintain at least 150 feet from seals at all times and follow any posted or warden-issued guidelines.
- Do not enter roped-off tern nesting areas.
- Pack out all trash; leave the island exactly as you found it.
Practical Information
Practical Information
Emergency services: There are no emergency services on Muskeget Island. The US Coast Guard monitors Channel 16 on VHF radio and provides marine emergency response in the area. Anyone going to the island should carry a fully charged VHF marine radio and ideally an EPIRB or personal locator beacon.
What to bring:
- Sufficient fresh water and food for the full day plus contingency
- Sun protection (the island is almost entirely without shade)
- Layered, wind-resistant clothing regardless of season
- Insect repellent (greenhead flies can be severe in summer)
- First aid kit
- Tide tables and a marine weather forecast
- Binoculars for wildlife viewing
Communications: Mobile phone coverage is unreliable. Do not rely on a cell phone as your sole means of communication.
Leave No Trace: The island has no waste facilities. All litter, food waste, and human waste must be managed by visitors and removed.
Safety
Safety Considerations
Muskeget presents genuine hazards that should not be underestimated. The surrounding Muskeget Channel has some of the strongest tidal currents in Nantucket Sound, and shoaling is extensive and constantly shifting. Groundings are not uncommon for unfamiliar boaters.
The island offers no shelter from weather. Fog can descend rapidly in summer, making navigation back to the mainland difficult without proper instruments. Always file a float plan with someone ashore before departing.
- Marine emergencies: Contact US Coast Guard on VHF Channel 16.
- Tick awareness: The island has a tick population including species that can carry Lyme disease. Wear long pants and socks, use repellent, and check thoroughly after any time in vegetation.
- Greenhead flies: Biting greenhead flies are present in mid-to-late summer and can be intense. Appropriate clothing and repellent are strongly advised.
- Swimming: Swimming in Muskeget Channel is inadvisable due to strong currents and the presence of sharks, which are attracted to the seal population.
Local Culture & Etiquette
Historical and Cultural Context
Muskeget Island has a modest but real human history. The island was used for sheep grazing in earlier centuries, and at various points small communities of fishermen and their families lived there seasonally or year-round. The last permanent residents are believed to have departed in the early twentieth century.
The island was also the site of a lifesaving or coastguard station at one point, reflecting the dangers of Muskeget Channel to mariners. Over time, as the human population withdrew, wildlife populations — particularly seals, which were once heavily hunted along the New England coast — have rebounded dramatically.
Today, Muskeget functions primarily as an ecological reserve and is valued more for what it is not — developed, disturbed, or easily accessible — than for conventional cultural attractions.