Polpis Harbor

Although Polpis Harbor is part of Nantucket Harbor, with its own narrow channel leading into it and two distinct coves or, lobes, this former kettle hole definitely feels like its own small harbor with a mooring field in its east lobe and a few boats in its west cove. Native Americans living around it spelled Polpis “Podpis”, which in their tongue meant “divided or branched harbor.”
The Polpis area was first called “Spotso Country” for an Indian chief named Spotso who lived nearby for about 40 years. In the 1600s, farms sprouted all around the harbor, along with fulling mills to clean and prepare wool. Some industrious islanders built sea salt evaporator operations and also excavated peat from the saltmarsh to burn in stoves for heat.
Festooned with salt marshes populated with nesting and fishing shorebirds, Polpis Harbor also has beautiful meadows overlooking the east cove with trails looping around this property and through the remains of a holly tree farm’s former inventory.

We also offer Polpis Harbor as a sunset hike. Hike pickup times varies dependent on time of sunset.

Logging your steps and counting the miles.
If you’re counting your steps with a fitness/activity tracker, this hike offers around 4,100 steps and is 1.1 miles in length.

Hiking fees.
This hike costs $50 for adults and $30 for children under 13. Nantucket Walkabout offers a 20-percent military discount to active and retired military personnel, and their spouses. When booking your hike, please enter the promo code, MILITARYDISCOUNT when prompted to do so. If you’re booking a hike with non-military hikers, please book for yourself or, yourself and your spouse in a separate booking from your friends and family. Also, please present your military ID card to our guide at the time of pick up. Check the Hike Calendar to see when we are hiking the Polpis Harbor and to book it. To arrange for a private hike on this route, call or email us for our rates and to discuss your hiking needs.

Continuing your island discovery!
We encourage you to explore Nantucket on your own! There are more than 15,000 acres open for exploration on land owned by the Nantucket Conservation Foundation, the Nantucket Islands Land Bank, the Linda Loring Nature Foundation, the Massachusetts Audubon Society, The Trustees of Reservations and The ’Sconset Trust. After your hike with Nantucket Walkabout, ask your guide for a package of maps from most of these conservation organizations.