Thank you for Visiting Thompson Island!

There are many sites to see on the island during your visit. On your walking tour you can see historic buildings, a 40-acre salt marsh, beaches, meadows, fields and walking trails. We ask that you please bear in mind that Thompson Island is an Education Center, please do not approach camping areas or activity areas where students are located. Thank you for your cooperation.

There are two routes you may choose to take on your walk, each lasting about 1.5 hours. If you are spending the day with us and feel adventurous, please feel free to try both. Otherwise, we hope you will come back out to the island in the future to catch what you may have missed!

The Northwest Trail

This trail focuses more on the island’s natural features. Some of the sites you will see include:

• Beaches
• Other Boston Harbor Islands including:
  • Castle Island: the home of Fort Independence
  • Spectacle Island: newly opened in July 2006
  • Deer Island: home to the MWRA’s treatment plant
  • Moon Island: site of the Boston Fire Department Training Facility
  • Long Island
• Beach Rocks
• Salt Marsh, which has been the focus of a salt marsh restoration project
• Various Plants and Animals
• Dune Plants which thrive on the dry, salty dune environment
• Seabirds
• Trees
• Cottage Row

The Southeast Trail

This trail has numbered sites and focuses on the history of the island. To read more about the history of Thompson Island please click here.

• Barn Site
• Skating Pond
• Compost Shed
• Weather Station
• Farmhouse
• 40-Acre Salt Marsh
• Root Cellar
• Graveyard
• Beach
• Thompson’s Trading Post