Big Beach takes its straightforward name from being the largest beach access point along Frenchboro Long Island's southern shore within the 1,159-acre preserve. The beach exemplifies the dramatic rocky coastline characteristic of this remote Maine island community located eight miles south of Bass Harbor.
The beach serves as a destination for hikers exploring the preserve's 8.2 miles of shoreline, hundreds of acres of spruce forests, and dozens of wetlands and headlands. Wildlife watchers can observe nesting bald eagles, migratory songbirds, resident mink, harbor porpoises, seals, and sea ducks, while rare coastal plants including mare's tail and beachhead iris grow along the rocky shores.
Frenchboro's small year-round population of 27 residents supports limited seasonal dining options, with most visitors bringing their own provisions to this isolated island. The community maintains its traditional character as a working fishing village surrounded by protected natural habitat managed by Maine Coast Heritage Trust.
