The islands, are located immediately north of Bartlett Cove. Some scientists theorize that the Beardslees were deposited as the last glacier melted northward, uncovering the bay in the 1700s.
Most islands are quite low, and gentle in slope.
Channels that were passable just a few years ago are not usable today. Of the many rocks and shoal areas exposed at low tide, most but not all are shown on the marine chart. Running onto a rock could produce scratches, or a cracked hull. Kayakers can avoid such problems in the Beardslees both by checking the chart carefully, and by keeping a lookout for obstructions under the water. Shoaling water does mean that you need to carefully select channels to paddle at low tides.