Cranberry Harbor North Inlet

About

Local Notices to Mariners:

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

Introduction:

Cranberry Harbor is located south of Mount Desert Island, and is sandwiched in between Little Cranberry and Cranberry islands. Cranberry Harbor is two miles south of Northeast Harbor and 12 miles southwest of Winter Harbor.

The image above is a view from the south looking north over the entrance to Cranberry Harbor. On the right (east) side of the image, the western edge of Little Cranberry Island is visible, while off to the left is the eastern edge of Cranberry Island. The large island in the top center portion of the image is Sutton Island. Farther off in the far upper left hand portion of the image is the entrance to Northeast Harbor.

There is one marine facility in the immediate Cranberry Harbor area: Islesford Dock Restaurant. The Islesford Dock Restaurant administers the transient moorings in Cranberry Harbor and also sells gas and diesel fuel. As the name suggests, there is also a restaurant with local favorites on the premises.

Navigating the Water:

Use NOAA Chart 13313.

Cranberry Harbor can be reached from two passages: One to the west of Sutton Island and one to the east of Sutton Island, which lies just north of Cranberry Harbor.

From the east, first pick up flashing red gong buoy “2,” which is located at an approximate waypoint of N44 16.523 W68 13.054. Once you have successfully navigated to flashing red gong buoy “2,” set a course of about 261 degrees magnetic for around 1.7 miles. This will put you just north of Cranberry Harbor near green can buoy “1.”

Once you have picked up green can buoy “1,” set a course to the southeast to intercept green can buoy “3” where you will find the Cranberry Harbor mooring field, which is located just off the aforementioned Islesford Dock Restaurant.

From the west, you will want to set a course to pick up flashing red bell buoy “2,” located near waypoint N44 15.946 W68 15.369. This buoy marks the location of steep and sometime dangerous Spurting Rock, so be sure to leave it plenty of room as you pass.

After you have cleared flashing red bell buoy “2,” change course to the southeast and pick up green can buoy “1,” and then head to the southeast to intercept green can buoy “3” where you will find the Cranberry Harbor mooring field, which is located just off the Islesford Dock Restaurant.