Reversing Falls

Downeast Coastal Conservancy and the town of Pembroke together protect around 240 acres of land around this remarkable spot, which the Conservancy explains like this: “On the incoming tide, the water filling Dennys and Whiting bays passes through the narrow channel between Mahar Point and Falls Island. In this channel, a huge ledge impedes the 9-12 knot current to create the falls, deep whirlpools and high swells. On the outgoing tide, the process occurs in the reverse direction.”

The tides, some of the most powerful in the world, rise and fall up to 24 feet every 6.4 hours, transforming the channel from peaceful and still to a churning torrent. Make sure you time your visit to catch the channel changing and maybe plan to stay for a while, as the sight can be mesmerizing. Some say two or three hours before or after low or high tide is the best time. But the Conservancy is reassuring: “Reversing Falls is well worth visiting at different times of the tide!”

Seals are known to play in the swells and currents here! Also, ducks appear to like to ride the tides. The trail heads out to a couple of peninsula tips where you can get different views of the falls.

The name Cobscook, for the large bay that makes this watery region so extraordinary, is derived from kapscook, a Maliseet-Passamaquoddy word for “boiling tides,” an accurate description of these cold ocean waters.

Directions:  Take Route 1 to Pembroke. Turn east onto the extension of Route 214. From the Route 214 extension, turn right at the stop sign and then take an immediate left up a small hill onto the Leighton Point Road. Continue 3.3 miles, then turn right onto Clarkside Road and continue 1.2 miles. At the end of Clarkside Road, turn left onto a dirt road and go 1.5 miles to the town of Pembroke land and parking area.