Whale Beach likely derives its name from historic whale sightings in the waters surrounding Frenchboro Long Island, the easternmost unbridged year-round island community in Maine. This beach forms part of the 1,159-acre preserve managed by Maine Coast Heritage Trust, featuring 8.2 miles of shoreline along the Atlantic Ocean eight miles south of Bass Harbor.
The beach provides access to the preserve's 13.5 miles of remote hiking trails through spruce forests, forested wetlands, and dramatic headlands, with opportunities to observe nesting bald eagles, migratory songbirds, harbor porpoises, and seals. The shoreline supports rare coastal plants and serves as habitat for resident mink, beaver, and deer introduced in the 1900s to this pristine island ecosystem.
Frenchboro's year-round population of 27 residents maintains minimal dining facilities, reflecting the island's character as a remote fishing community. Visitors typically bring provisions for their stay, embracing the isolation and conservation focus that preserve this unique offshore environment donated in part by David Rockefeller.
