In the 1620s, shipbuilder Captain Robert Moulton became stranded here during a winter storm—he described the ordeal as “three miserable days,” giving the islands their name. Now, however, experiencing the islands—83-acre Great Misery and 4-acre Little Misery—is decidedly more pleasurable.

The island itself has a history that goes back to the Mosconomet Indians, while the ruins of an early-20th-century resort reveal that this offshore retreat was a haven for leisure and recreation a century ago. In 1900, a business group set its sights on Great Misery Island, developing the Misery Island Club. It boasted a pier, a clubhouse, a saltwater swimming pool, guest cottages, a tennis court, and a nine-hole golf course. Tournaments and regattas attracted Boston and North Shore socialites, but the club fell on hard times only a year after opening. Eventually, individual lots sold and a summer colony of more than 25 cottages took hold. In 1926, however, a devastating brush fire destroyed many homes, and summer families eventually lost interest in the islands. Through the years, the islands have continued to draw visitors enchanted with views of the North Shore and Salem Sound and a variety of intriguing habitats.

Two and a half miles of trails traverse groves of aspen, open meadows, spectacular overlooks, and rugged, rocky shorelines that add to the wild beauty of the islands. You can also reach Little Misery Island from Great Misery Island by wading across a narrow, shallow channel at very low tide. And on the beach of Little Misery you can see the remains of the steamship, The City of Rockland, wrecked off the coast of Maine and scuttled here many years ago.

When to Visit
Year-round, daily, sunrise to sunset. Allow a minimum of 1½ hours.

Admission
Free for all.

Salem Sound
Salem, MA 01944
Telephone: 978.526.8687

The Misery Islands are situated between the harbors of Marblehead and Manchester-by-the-Sea, approximately 0.5 miles south of West Beach in Beverly Farms (Note: West Beach is a private beach where public boat launching is not permitted.)

The Trustees does not offer any boat excursions to the Misery Islands. Visitors may access the islands by dinghy, canoe, or kayak.

Public restrooms are closed currently due to COVID-19 precautions.

To view or download a trail map, click here.

• Hunting is not permitted at this reservation. Learn more about hunting on Trustees properties.
• Deer ticks here carry Lyme disease; take precaution by using bug repellent and wearing long pants. Be sure to check yourself for ticks after you leave the island.
• Mountain biking is not allowed.
• Dogs are permitted but must be kept on a leash at all times.
• Camping is prohibited for public health reasons.
• All fires are prohibited except on beaches – extinguish coals or ashes after use.
• PHOTOGRAPHY: We ask that photographers or their clients become Contributing Level Members before conducting portrait sessions at this property. Click here for more information, and to request permission for any portrait sessions. The Trustees of Reservations reserves the right, and may give permission to its designated photographers and videographers, or to outside media, to photograph or video visitors and program participants at all its facilities and properties.