Somes Sound is the only fjord (an area of sea between cliffs or steep slopes formed when water floods a glacier formed valley) located on the U.S. East Coast. Geographically speaking, Somes Sound is situated 30 miles northeast of Vinalhaven Island and 22 miles southwest of Dyer Bay. Known for its wide-open spaces and “Nordic” feel, Somes Sound is a wonderful place for boaters to explore.

There are four marine service and marina facilities on Somes Sound--all located toward the northern end of the sound. Of these four, none offer transient slip spaces, but two offer transient mooring rentals on a nightly basis (John M. Williams Co. and the Henry R. Abel & Company Yacht Yard). If you are in need of repairs, the Bar Harbor Boating Co. has a 20-ton lift on-site for haul-outs and related repair services on the eastern side of Somes Sound east of the town of Hall Quarry.

Somes Sound is reached via an approach from the south through a narrow passage between Smallidge Point and Greening Island.

The first step in your journey toward Somes Sound is to navigate to the area around waypoint N44 17.113 W68 17.863. (The water is deep and wide here, so you will find no aid to navigation at this waypoint.) Once you have arrived in the general area of the this waypoint, set a new course of approximately 339 degrees magnetic for about seven-tenths of a mile until you reach flashing green buoy “5,” which marks the location of Middle Rock.

The next portion of the trek up in to Somes Sound requires you to head north from previously mentioned flashing green buoy “5,” and then to pass between Jesuit Spring and Manshester Point--an area known as “The Narrows.” Farther north past The Narrows, Somes Sound opens up in to a wide and deep expanse of water that is lined with steep mountains--conditions typical of a fjord.

Local Notices to Mariners are now exclusively available online from the U.S. Coast Guard.