STEUBEN BOAT TOUR FIELD GUIDE
Two Hours to Petit Manan: Puffins, Granite Light, and Gulf of Maine Wildlife
A two-hour public cruise from Steuben aboard the 40' Tricia Clark to Petit Manan Island and the Petit Manan Wildlife Refuge — this guide explains what you’ll see and how to make the most of the outing.
Two Hours to Petit Manan: Puffins, Granite Light, and Gulf of Maine Wildlife.
Set sail from Steuben for a focused two-hour passage across Pigeon Hill Bay to Petit Manan Island. Aboard the 40′ Tricia Clark, the route presses close to seabird colonies and a working granite lighthouse; observers should expect concentrated wildlife viewing and a recommendation to extend the outing ashore with a walk through the boreal forest trails of the Petit Manan Wildlife Refuge.
Highlights
Outing Highlights
Atlantic Puffins and a Seabird Community
Petit Manan supports a dense assemblage of seabirds — most notably the Atlantic Puffin — and visitors often also spot razorbills, terns, guillemots, cormorants, eiders, a variety of gulls, and sometimes harbor and gray seals from the boat.
Aboard the 40′ Tricia Clark
The trip runs aboard the 40′ Tricia Clark — described in the tour materials as Maine’s original puffin boat — the platform for this two-hour public puffin cruise operated out of Steuben.
Petit Manan Lighthouse: Granite and History
The Petit Manan light, a conical granite tower completed in 1857 and standing 119 feet tall, is the second-tallest lighthouse in Maine, listed on the National Register of Historic Places and still in service today — a prominent visual anchor of the island.
What the day feels like
What the Cruise Feels Like
This is a compact, two-hour outing: a short run out of Pigeon Hill Bay to the low islands and cliffs of the Petit Manan Wildlife Refuge. From the deck you scan for puffins and other seabirds, pass Bois Bubert Island and press toward the island’s lighthouse before turning back — an intense, wildlife-focused marine brief with the option to continue on foot after the return.
Suitability
Who it's for
Who this public puffin cruise fits best.
Practical planner
Details to review before reserving
The public puffin cruise runs for two hours.
Meet at Steuben, Maine for the cruise out of the Pigeon Hill Bay area.
The operator recommends hiking the boreal forest trails of Petit Manan Wildlife Refuge after the boat tour to view Petit Manan Island from shore.
Review cancellation policies before reserving.
Frequently asked questions
Planning Your Outing
How long is the Public Puffin Cruise?
The cruise lasts two hours.
Where does the cruise depart from?
The cruise departs from Steuben, Maine (out of the Pigeon Hill Bay area).
What boat is used for the tour?
The tour sails aboard the 40′ Tricia Clark, described as Maine’s original puffin boat.
What wildlife can I expect to see?
Expect Atlantic Puffins and a variety of seabirds (razorbills, terns, guillemots, cormorants, eiders, gulls) and the opportunity to see harbor and gray seals.
Will we see Petit Manan Lighthouse?
Yes — the cruise provides views of Petit Manan Lighthouse, a conical granite tower built in 1857, 119 feet tall and still in service.
Is there anything to do after the boat tour?
The operator recommends hiking the boreal forest trails of the Petit Manan Wildlife Refuge after the tour to view the island from shore.