Battery Steele South Entrance
Battery Steele South Entrance on Peaks Island, Maine is an easy 0.1-mile out-and-back walk that leads to the south entrance of the abandoned WWII-era military fortification.This is not a hike but rather a quick out-and-back walk that leads to the southern-most entrance to Battery Steele. Hikers should be aware that the old entrance has sunk a bit which means there's generally a large pool of water standing between the entrance and the parking area. Hikers that have not explore Battery Steele via the Battery Steele Trail can instead bushwhack through the tall grass and around the old WWII facility to reach the "dry" side to enter the complex. If you wish to just poke around and look at more graffiti from the opposite side of the bunker, or to enjoy a quiet dirt road drive on Peaks Island, this spot is for you.
Parking
If driving, there are some small parking turnouts near the coordinates provided. The parking turnouts are mostly for golf carts, which can be rented on the island.
Pets
Dogs are allowed if leashed and should be cleaned up after.
Battery Steele History
Battery Steele was part of a comprehensive program begun in 1940 to replace obsolete coast defenses, many of which dated from the Endicott Program of 1885-1905. Completed in 1942 as part of World War II it is located on 14 acres on the oceanside area of the island, formerly part of the Peaks Island Military Reservation. On October 20, 2005, the property was listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Read more about Battery Steele on wikipedia.
Getting to and Getting Around Peaks Island
To access Peaks Island, travelers must buy a ticket from Casco Bay Lines to hitch a ride on the ferry in Portland. Peaks Island ferry runs on a different schedule each season and year. Please use this Casco Bay Lines link to find out more about when the ferry leaves Portland and/or Peaks Island to plan your trip. As of July 2023, the price for a ticket to Peaks Island cost $7 for one adult and there's no return fee as the trip from Peaks Island to Portland is free. Visitors can pay more money to bring their cars, however, folks that bring vehicles to Peaks Island are generally locals. Instead, visitors can either plan to walk/hike the island or they can rent golf carts for a moderate hourly fee on the island. Each golf cart rental business, as of July 2023, is located right off of the dock where the ferry drops passengers off on the island. On our trip we used Mike's Carts which cost $50/hour to rent the golf cart for up to 5 hours max. Mike's Carts, as of July 2023, did not require prior reservations, however, any first-come first-serve carts might sell out by late morning. There's another company called Peaks Island Golf Carts which require a reservation in advance. Last, weekends on Peaks Island - especially during the Summer - can be very very busy. If you wish to explore Peaks Island without a massive crowd, plan on a quiet weekday.
