Nantasket Roads is a major shipping channel and deep-water anchorage forming the primary entrance to Boston Harbor from the east, located between Hull and the Boston Harbor Islands. It is a wide, open sea area approximately one mile across, flanked by islands such as Georges, Peddocks, and Rainsford. This channel serves as a critical passage for commercial and recreational vessel traffic heading to and from the inner harbor, making boat traffic a primary hazard for paddlers. Conditions in Nantasket Roads can become rough, especially when an east swell combines with an ebbing tide, and it is being particularly dicey on summer weekends or when winds blow from the east or southwest. The channel is completely exposed to the open ocean to the east, leading out to features like The Graves lighthouse. Paddlers frequently use this corridor to access the outer Boston Harbor Islands, with common destinations including Calf Island, Green Island, and The Graves. A key landmark is Boston Harbor Lighthouse on Little Brewster Island, which marks the entrance to Nantasket Roads from the harbor side. Recommended access points for launching are located in Hull, specifically at Pemberton Point near Hull Gut, which provides a shorter trip to the area, though Hull Gut itself has very strong currents and heavy boat traffic requiring careful timing near slack tide. Another urban launch option with ample parking is the boat ramp on Morrissey Boulevard, though it is near marinas and can be littered. Tides here have a significant range, affecting beach launches like at Wollaston Beach where the water's edge can be a few hundred feet away at low tide. The area is part of the Boston Harbor Islands National and State Park, offering historical sites like Fort Warren on Georges Island and the historic Boston Light. The crossing of Nantasket Roads is a committing open-water segment that requires careful assessment of wind, swell, tide, and traffic.