York Harbor

43° 8' 12"N , 70° 38' 44"W

York Harbor

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Photo: Marshall Jarvis

York Harbor is a small, well-protected harbor about halfway between Cape Elizabeth and Cape Ann. The town is attractive with many well-kept historic buildings and inns around the waterfront. The harbor is often busy with limited mooring and dockage spaces. With no anchoring allowed, you are encouraged to call ahead.

Approach & Cautions

Photo: Joan Jarvis

From the north, head for Nun “2” and then turn west to enter the harbor. From the south, leave Nun “2SR” marking Stones Rock to port and follow the deepwater line until you get to Can “3” at the south side of the entrance, then turn west and follow the marked channel staying in the middle until you get to N “8” marking the southern tip of Stage Neck. There you will make a sharp turn to starboard. If the tide is running hard, watch that it doesn’t push you to one side or the other, and be alert for other traffic in the channel heading seaward. Leave G “9” to port, and you will be in the harbor.

CAUTION: The tide swirls around in the harbor, so boats go every which way. If there is a large boat on a mooring nearby, you might be wise to check the distance. We bumped in the middle of the night one time when our 44′ sloop bumped stern to stern with another boat swinging in the opposite direction. It resulted in quite a fire drill.

A sailboat aground at low tide in the York Harbor entrance.

An experienced local sailor tried departing the harbor before high tide. It didn’t work, and he ended up waiting for high tide anyhow. Then he departed for the Caribbean. Photo by Joan Jarvis, who took the picture and then called his wife.

Click the chart to open Navionics

Not to be used for Navigation .


Docking, Anchorages, or Moorings

Anchoring is not allowed in the harbor, so you will probably need to pick up one of the town moorings. The town maintains several moorings available on a first-come-first-served basis. The moorings are right at the entrance, so they’re easy to find. Call the harbormaster at 207-363-0433 or VHF radio to check availability. See the town’s website for complete details.  Dockage (up to 8-foot draft) may sometimes be available at Donnell’s Marina on the north side of the harbor, adjacent to the Agamenticus Yacht Club, but you must book in advance (207-363-4308). You can get gas and diesel at York Harbor Marine Service, though vessels with drafts over 6 feet will have to plan to fuel at mid- to high-tide. YH Marine has services for smaller, shallow-draft boats but not larger cruising sailboats.

VHF

Harbormaster Ch 16 and 9

FUEL

York Harbor Marine Caution: 6-foot draft at low tide

WATER

York Harbor Marine Donnell's Marina

ELECTRICITY

York Harbor Marine for smaller boats

SHOWERS

York Harbor Marine

LAUNDRY

York Harbor Marine

WIFI

Inquire via Harbormaster York Public Library

PUMP OUT

Not available No discharge rules enforced

SERVICES

York Harbor Marine Donnel's Marina (limited services)

TRASH

By special arrangement with Harbormaster

MEDICAL

York Hospital 1 Loving Kindness Way, York Harbor Open 24 hours · (207) 363-4321

MORE BOAT AMENITIES

Donnell’s Marina and York Harbor Marine Services have limited service capabilities.

Getting Ashore

Photo: Marshall Jarvis

Getting ashore via dinghy is best arranged via the harbormaster or Donnell’s wharf or the Agamamenticus YC. AYC suggests if you are arriving by dinghy after 6 pm, please tie up on the back (street) side of the docks–to the right as you look at the shore–keeping the front of the dock open. Contact: AYC (207) 363-8510.
This photo is looking from the Stage Neck condos across to York Harbor Marine and the Dockside Restaurant.

York Harbor, with York Harbor Marine and the Dockside Restaurant in the background and several boats moored in the harbor.
Entrance to Hannaford Supermarket with sign lit and interior lights on.

Photo: Courtesy of Hannaford stores

Provisioning

  • A Cumberland Farms store (next to Sundrop Restaurant) has groceries, ice, and beer/wine — about 1.25 miles inland.
  • Hannaford Supermarket on Route 1, is about 2.5-miles from the harbor. You’ll want to borrow a car or local taxi for that trip

Shearwater Restaurant at Stage Neck Inn, with ivory upholstered chairs and a view of the ocean.

Photo: Stage Neck Inn's Shearwater Restaurant used by permission

Dine Out

There are several good restaurants, all within easy walking distance. The Dockside Restaurant is next door to York Harbor Marine Service on the harbor’s south side. On the north side, within an easy walk from Donnell’s Marina, both the York Harbor Inn and the Stage Neck Inn offer fine dining. The Sundrop American Restaurant is in York Village at 240 York St, offering an interesting menu from local farms and fisheries. Fat Tomato Grill, across the road at 241 York St, offers simple fare. The Bagel Basket, also in the village at 280 York St, is open for breakfast, lunch and coffee. And as you walk back to the boat, you just happen to pass Village Scoop Ice Cream.

Fisherman's Trail leading to Wiggly Bridge, a long stony path with a man running with his dog.

Photo: Bella Goldendoodle Gilfix, [email protected]

Hikes

There are three delightful and easy walks in York Harbor:

  1. Fisherman’s Walk is right on the harborfront near the town dock.
  2. Cliff Walk is a continuation of the Fisherman’s Walk and heads east, overlooking the ocean. The footing here is a little less “friendly.”
  3. Steedman Woods and the “Wiggly Bridge” can be accessed via the Fisherman’s Walk. The boardwalk leads to an underpass just under the road bridge and out to the woods, where you can return via the outbound path or the connecting roads.

All three walks start near the town dock — across the street, you’ll find a signpost marking the trails.

Old red house and barn in the Old York section of the village.

Photo: Old farmhouse and barn courtesy of Old York Historical Society

Other Things To Do

The Old York Historical Society has meticulously preserved numerous buildings and properties. The buildings are a short walk (1 mile) up York Street from the harbor.

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