Posted on July 20, 2017 and last updated on October 04, 2022

Quoddy Head State Park, Lubec

QUICK TRAIL FACTS

  • Preserve Size: 541 acres
  • Trail Mileage: ~5 miles in network
  • Pets: yes
  • Difficulty: easy
  • Sights: dramatic coastline, beaches, coastal plateau bog, boardwalk

This is an amazing state park — dramatic, windswept and comfortably cool on hot summer days — with a really decent hiking loop. Actually, it has two hiking loops. The trail closest to the famous striped lighthouse (West Quoddy Head Light) is called the Coast Guard Trail. It’s about 1 mile, and is wheelchair friendly, being wide and smooth but not paved. There are a couple of spur trails to harrowing overlooks from towering bluffs, as well as to a well-built staircase that leads up to a high wooden platform.

On the other side of the park, the western side, you can do a 3.8-mile or so loop hike along the gorgeous coast to a cove with a sandy beach (there is a path across the meadow from the beach to the park’s access road if you don’t want to walk all the way along the coastline). The first 1/4-mile of this coastal path is well trafficked, and then the crowds really thin out. On a recent weekend day, there was nobody on the path. The trail on this side is very easy going up to Green Point, and then it gets a little narrower and more rooty, albeit stays well marked. You can walk back through the forest. Don’t miss the little boardwalk loop in the bog!

This is a great little guide to the trail system.

Directions: From intersection of Route 1 and Route 189 in Whiting, follow Route 189 for 8.5 miles to South Lubec Road. Turn right and continue on the road for 2 miles to a fork. Bear left and continue 2 more miles to the park entrance. You can park in one of two lots: closer to the lighthouse or closer to the trailhead for the longer loop trail. The Coast Guard Trail starts close to the lighthouse — you’ll see a sign for it on your left if you’re looking at the ocean. The longer loop trail heads off to the right.

Let me know if you have any trail updates or corrections!