You can see it from the shore of Crescent Beach State Park. It sits there, about a mile off the coast of Cape Elizabeth, looking like a dense tuft of green wool dropped into the Atlantic. Richmond Island is one of those places that feels incredibly close yet strangely inaccessible. It isn’t a public park. It isn’t a tourist trap with a gift shop. Honestly, it’s a private kingdom owned by the Sprague family, and if you want to set foot on it, you have to play by their rules.
Most people just stare at it while eating a lobster roll. But Richmond Island Cape Elizabeth Maine has a history that makes the rest of the Portland area look like a new subdivision. We are talking about a site that was a bustling international trading hub before the Pilgrims even thought about stepping onto Plymouth Rock. It’s a 226-acre paradox. It’s rugged. It’s quiet. It’s full of sheep. And yeah, you can actually camp there if you’re organized enough to snag a permit.
The 1600s Were Wild on Richmond Island
Let’s get the history out of the way because it’s actually cool, not just textbook dry. Back in 1628, a guy named Walter Bagnall—who was apparently not a very nice person—set up a trading post here. He spent about three years swindling the local indigenous people until they’d had enough and killed him in 1631. That’s the kind of gritty, unpolished history you don't always get in the glossy brochures.
Shortly after, Robert Trelawny took over. By the mid-1630s, the island was the center of a massive fishing and trading empire. We’re talking about hundreds of men processing dried fish, shipyards, and barrels of oil being sent back to Europe. It was a massive deal. Archaeologists have found coins, ceramics, and even a "wedding ring" on the island that date back to this era. If you walk the beaches today, you're literally walking on the site of one of the first major commercial ventures in New England. It’s wild to think that a place so quiet now was once louder and busier than the Old Port is on a Saturday night.
How Do You Actually Get There?
There is no ferry. No bridge. No water taxi.
If you want to reach Richmond Island, you’re either bringing your own boat or you’re a very strong swimmer (don't do that, the current in the "Gut" is brutal). Most folks launch a kayak or a paddleboard from Kettle Cove or Crescent Beach. It’s about a mile out. On a glass-calm day, it’s a dream. When the wind picks up? It’s a slog that’ll make your shoulders scream.
The Breakwater Situation
There is a stone breakwater that connects the island to the mainland at Higgins Beach, but it’s mostly submerged. Don’t try to walk it. People do, and people get stuck when the tide comes in. The tide in Maine doesn't play around; it rises fast, and the rocks are covered in rockweed that’s basically as slippery as ice.
The Sprague Family and the "Keep It Wild" Vibe
The island is part of the Ram Island Farm estate, owned by the Spragues. They are legends in Cape Elizabeth for land conservation. Because they own it, they get to decide how it's used. They’ve kept it remarkably undeveloped. There are no paved roads. No power lines.
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You’ll see sheep. Lots of them. The island has been a grazing ground for Black-faced Scottish Highland sheep for decades. They just roam around, doing their thing, keeping the grass short. It gives the whole place this weird, ethereal Scottish Highlands vibe, but with the smell of salt spray instead of peat smoke.
Camping on Richmond Island: What Nobody Tells You
Yes, you can camp. No, you can’t just show up and pitch a tent.
You have to get a permit through the Ram Island Farm office. They only allow a few groups at a time. This isn’t "glamping." There is no running water. There are no toilets other than basic outhouses. You carry in every single drop of water you need to drink and carry out every single piece of trash.
- The Wind: It never stops. Even on a hot July day, that island catches every breeze off the North Atlantic.
- The Bugs: If the wind dies down, the mosquitoes and "no-see-ums" will try to carry you away.
- The Privacy: This is why you go. When the sun sets and the day-trippers in their Boston Whalers head back to the mainland, you are alone with the sheep and the stars.
It's one of the few places left in Southern Maine where you can experience true darkness. No streetlights from Route 77 reach out here. You just see the lighthouse flashes and the distant glow of Portland.
Why the Ecology Here is So Weird
Because the island hasn't been "manicured," the ecosystem is a bit of a time capsule. You’ve got maritime forests, salt marshes, and sandy dunes all crammed onto 200-ish acres. It's a massive stopping point for migratory birds.
Biologists often look at Richmond Island as a benchmark for what the Maine coast looked like before we put a Starbucks on every corner. The lack of constant human foot traffic (compared to, say, Fort Williams Park) means the bird nesting sites are actually successful. If you go, stay off the dunes. The piping plovers are stressed enough as it is.
Common Myths About Richmond Island Cape Elizabeth Maine
People think there’s buried treasure.
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Okay, technically, someone did find a pot of gold and silver coins back in the 1800s. It’s known as the "Richmond Island Hoard." But honestly? You aren't going to find anything with a metal detector. The island has been picked over for 150 years. The real "treasure" is the fact that the beach on the island is usually empty. In a state where every beach is packed shoulder-to-shoulder in August, an empty beach is worth more than a few 17th-century shillings.
Another myth is that you can’t go there at all. You can! Day use is generally permitted as long as you respect the "Leave No Trace" principles. Just don't bring your dog. Dogs are a big no-no because of the sheep and the nesting birds. If you show up with a Golden Retriever, expect a polite but firm request to head back to the mainland.
The Reality of the "Gut"
The channel between the island and the mainland is called the Gut. It looks shallow. It looks easy. But the tide rips through there. If you are kayaking, you need to time your crossing. Trying to paddle against a falling tide in the Gut is a great way to end up halfway to Old Orchard Beach before you can turn around.
Check the Tides. I cannot stress this enough. Use a local tide chart for Portland or Cape Elizabeth.
What to Pack for a Day Trip
Don't be the person who shows up in flip-flops with no water.
- Sturdy Boots: The interior "trails" are basically sheep paths. They are muddy, rocky, and full of hidden holes.
- Layers: It can be 80 degrees in South Portland and 60 degrees on the island.
- Water: Bring more than you think. Salt air makes you thirsty, and there isn't a single tap on the island.
- A Camera with a Zoom Lens: You’ll want photos of the sheep, but they aren't pets. Keep your distance.
The Future of the Island
There’s always talk about what happens to these large private holdings in Maine. Fortunately, the Sprague family has shown a deep commitment to conservation. The island is part of a larger patchwork of protected lands in Cape Elizabeth that includes the Robinson Woods and the various marshlands.
It serves as a buffer. It protects the coastline of Cape Elizabeth from the full brunt of Atlantic storms. Without that island sitting there, the erosion at Crescent Beach would be significantly worse. It’s a natural breakwater that’s been doing its job for thousands of years.
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How to Respect the Land
If you visit Richmond Island Cape Elizabeth Maine, you are a guest on private property. That is a privilege, not a right.
- Fire is the Enemy: Do not start a fire. The island is covered in dry grass and scrub. A fire there would be catastrophic and almost impossible to fight.
- Trash: If you see trash that washed up from the ocean (lobster buoy scraps, plastic), pick it up. Leave the place better than you found it.
- The Sheep: Seriously, leave them alone. They aren't there for selfies.
Actionable Steps for Your Visit
If you're actually planning to go, stop Googling and start doing.
First, check the weather. If the wind is over 15 knots, reconsider the paddle. It won't be fun.
Second, contact the Ram Island Farm office if you want to camp. Do this months in advance. The spots fill up the moment they open for the season.
Third, launch from Kettle Cove. It's the shortest, most direct route for a kayak. Park in the designated spots—Cape Elizabeth police are very efficient at ticketing people who park illegally near the boat launch.
Finally, bring a physical map or a downloaded GPS map. Cell service is surprisingly spotty once you get behind the lee of the island's hills.
Richmond Island isn't a place for everyone. It's for people who like a bit of salt in their hair and don't mind a long paddle for a bit of silence. It's a reminder of what Maine used to be—uncomplicated, a little dangerous, and incredibly beautiful.
Go to the Ram Island Farm website to check for current permit availability and updated rules regarding day-use access. Check the NOAA tide predictions for Cape Elizabeth to ensure you aren't fighting a 4-knot current on your way back to the mainland. Pack a dry bag for your gear, tell someone on shore your float plan, and enjoy the rarest thing in Southern Maine: actual solitude.