Aerial imagery: USGS National Map (public domain)
Birch Island — Islands 40.9 Miles N of Chapman Inn
Oxford County, Maine · USGS Oquossoc Quadrangle · GNIS 562305
40.9 miles north of Chapman Inn, on the USGS Oquossoc topographic quadrangle, Birch Island is a island recorded in Oxford County, Maine by the federal Geographic Names Information System.
Wikidata short description: “island in Oxford County, Maine, United States of America”
Landmark Profile
Classification & USGS reference
The USGS Oquossoc 7.5-minute topographic quadrangle places Birch Island in Oxford County, Maine (FIPS 23/017), classified as a island in the federal GNIS (Feature ID 562305). Catalogued in GNIS since 09/30/1980.
Coordinates & physical setting
Birch Island sits at 44.99616° N, 70.84257° W (DMS 44°59′46″ N, 70°50′33″ W).
Other islands in Oxford County, Maine
Oxford County, ME contains 44 islands catalogued in the USGS Geographic Names Information System, counting Birch Island itself. The ones closest to Birch Island:
| Feature | USGS Quadrangle | Distance |
|---|---|---|
| Blueberry Island | Oquossoc | 1.3 mi |
| Browns Island | Oquossoc | 1.3 mi |
| Griffin Island | Oquossoc | 3.4 mi |
| Turner Island | Oquossoc | 3.7 mi |
| Johnson Island | Oquossoc | 3.7 mi |
| Lunch Island | Oquossoc | 3.8 mi |
| Shelter Island | Oquossoc | 4.4 mi |
| Farrington Island | Oquossoc | 4.8 mi |
| Students Island | Oquossoc | 7.3 mi |
| Beaver Island | Richardson Pond | 7.7 mi |
Features on the USGS Oquossoc Quadrangle
The Oquossoc 7.5-minute topographic quadrangle holds 34 catalogued natural features alongside Birch Island. A sampling nearest to this location:
| Feature | Type | County | Offset |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cupsuptic Lake | Lakes | Oxford County, ME | 0.7 mi |
| Otter Brook | Streams | Oxford County, ME | 0.9 mi |
| Blueberry Island | Islands | Oxford County, ME | 1.3 mi |
| Browns Island | Islands | Oxford County, ME | 1.3 mi |
| Eagle Point | Capes | Franklin County, ME | 2.2 mi |
| Echo Cove | Bays | Franklin County, ME | 2.4 mi |
| Little Mud Pond | Lakes | Oxford County, ME | 2.9 mi |
| Whetstone Brook | Streams | Franklin County, ME | 2.9 mi |
| Kennebago River | Streams | Franklin County, ME | 2.9 mi |
| Indian Rock | Islands | Franklin County, ME | 3 mi |
Visiting from Chapman Inn
Distance, bearing & drive time
Chapman Inn sits 40.9 miles north (bearing N) of Birch Island. At moderate back-road speeds the drive runs about 70 minutes — comfortably inside a half-day outing window after breakfast.
Best time to visit
Late May through early October, when the water is safe for small-boat access. Being this far north (lat 44.996°), first snows typically arrive by mid-October and linger into early May — narrow the window accordingly. At 40.9 miles from the Inn, block the full day — sunrise start, late return, packed meals. Conditions at Birch Island track the nearby Cupsuptic Lake (0.7 mi away) closely — if that is runnable, so is this.
Nearest features to Birch Island
| Feature | Type | County | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cupsuptic Lake | Lakes | Oxford County, ME | 0.7 mi |
| Otter Brook | Streams | Oxford County, ME | 0.9 mi |
| Cupsuptic River | Streams | Oxford County, ME | 1 mi |
| Toothaker Brook Number Two | Streams | Oxford County, ME | 1.2 mi |
| Blueberry Island | Islands | Oxford County, ME | 1.3 mi |
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Birch Island located?
Birch Island is in Oxford County, Maine, approximately 40.9 miles north of Chapman Inn in Bethel, Maine. It appears on the USGS Oquossoc topographic quadrangle.
How far is Birch Island from Chapman Inn?
The drive runs about 70 minutes, 40.9 miles north (bearing N) of the Inn.
What type of natural feature is Birch Island?
The U.S. Geological Survey classifies Birch Island as a island, catalogued under GNIS Feature ID 562305 on the Oquossoc quadrangle.
When is the best time to visit Birch Island?
Late May through early October, when the water is safe for small-boat access.
How many other islands are in Oxford County, Maine?
GNIS lists 43 other islands in Oxford County, Maine.
Wikidata: Q34674020.