Civil War Fort Gorges Sea Kayak Tour in Portland, Maine
Paddle Casco Bay to explore a Civil War-era fort
Duration
3 hrs
Includes
Kayak, lesson, Maine guide
Highlights
Set out on a guided sea-kayaking outing suited to novice paddlers. Spend 30–45 minutes ashore at Fort Gorges, a Civil War-era site accessible only by small boat.
- Explore the fort and hear its history from your guide
- Paddle at a slow to moderate pace for roughly two hours
- Watch for seals, eider ducks, guillemots, osprey, eagles and seabirds
- Take in views of surrounding islands and coastal scenery
Itinerary
- Launch and paddle out of East End Beach into Portland Harbor.
- Cross Casco Bay toward Fort Gorges, enjoying views of the working waterfront, lighthouses and wildlife.
- Land on the Hog Island Ledge beach and explore Fort Gorges with your guide.
- Paddle back to East End Beach and land to conclude the trip.
What's Included
- Double (two-person) sea kayak
- Solo sea kayak for experienced paddlers, on request
- Brief sea-kayaking lesson
- Licensed Maine Guide
Important details
- Arrive 10 minutes before your scheduled start time
- Ages 10+ only
- Children ages 10–15 must paddle in a tandem kayak with an adult
- Solo kayak use requires previous experience using one
- Complete the required waiver before participating
- Bring water, sun protection, a non-cotton warm layer and footwear that can get wet
- Expect unlit areas, uneven footing, rusty metal studs and high walkways without railings inside the unmaintained fort
- No bathroom facilities are available at Fort Gorges
Cancellation Policy
Cancel more than 48 hours in advance for a full refund. Cancel between 2 and 48 hours in advance for a 50% refund. No refund for cancellations less than 2 hours before start. Full refund if the operator cancels due to weather.
Product ID: PSHPJ6
FAQs
Bring a water bottle, sun protection, and a light non-cotton jacket. Wear footwear that can get wet (close-toe shoes recommended) and skip cotton like jeans and t-shirts since you may get splashed.
This tour is for ages 10+. Children under 15 generally must paddle in a tandem (two-person) kayak with an adult.
You typically paddle a tandem (two-person) sea kayak. You can request a solo sea kayak if you have previous experience using one.
Meeting details
1 Cutter Street, Portland, ME 04101
More about Fort Gorges
Fort Gorges rises from the middle of Casco Bay like something out of a maritime daydream, a granite sea fortress built in the 1860s that was rendered obsolete almost the moment it was finished. Sitting on tiny Hog Island Ledge just off the coast of Portland, Maine, Fort Gorges has never seen battle, never housed a permanent garrison, and is reachable only by boat. That isolation is exactly what makes paddling out to Fort Gorges so memorable. There are no ticket booths, no guided ropes, no gift shop, just a hulking, hexagonal granite shell slowly being reclaimed by the sea, the sky, and the gulls.
The tour launches from the Portland waterfront and traces a calm route across the harbor, with views of working lobster boats, the East End, and the islands of Casco Bay opening up around you. As you approach Fort Gorges, the scale shifts dramatically. The walls loom higher than they look from shore, streaked with salt and lichen, and the sound of waves slapping against the granite base echoes off the stonework. Landing at Fort Gorges, you can step inside, wander the grassy parade ground, peer through the cannon embrasures back toward Portland Head, and climb to the upper tier for a panoramic view of the bay. The contrast between the soft paddle out and the raw, weathered architecture of the fort is the heart of this experience.
This trip is ideal for curious travelers, history lovers, photographers, and anyone who wants a more active, off-the-beaten-path side of Portland. Beginners are welcome, since the route is sheltered and the pace is relaxed, and families and couples often find Fort Gorges to be the highlight of their entire Maine trip. If you want a Portland memory that pairs sea air, local history, and a place very few visitors ever set foot on, a paddle out to Fort Gorges delivers all three in one unhurried afternoon on the water.
Related locations
Fort Gorges
Admission includedPaddling out to Fort Gorges on a clear morning, the granite walls rise from Casco Bay like something from another century. The fort sits on Hog Island Ledge, just offshore from Portland, Maine, its arched casemates and worn stone staircases open to the sky. Seabirds wheel overhead, and the smell of salt water fills every corridor. Fort Gorges rewards the effort it takes to reach it with solitude, sweeping views of the harbor, and a tangible sense of history underfoot.
