Quoddy Head State Park

Quoddy Head State Park occupies the easternmost tip of the contiguous United States, a narrow peninsula jutting into the Bay of Fundy just outside Lubec, Maine. The park is defined by its dramatic meeting of land and open Atlantic, where bold headlands drop into cold, fast-moving water and fog rolls in without warning even on clear summer days. The red-and-white striped West Quoddy Head Lighthouse is within the Quoddy Head State Park area and is managed by the Maine Bureau of Parks and Lands with assistance from the West Quoddy Light Keepers Association, giving the area its most recognizable landmark. Come here for solitude, coastal scenery, and the genuine sense that you have reached the edge of the continent.

West Quoddy Head Lighthouse and the Eastern Point

The lighthouse is managed by the Maine Bureau of Parks and Lands with assistance from the nonprofit West Quoddy Light Keepers Association, but it is the reason most visitors make the drive to Lubec. Built in 1808 and rebuilt in its current candy-striped form in 1858, the tower marks the entrance to Lubec Channel and stands as a working aid to navigation to this day. The park’s cliffside trails run directly alongside the lighthouse grounds, offering unobstructed views of the tower against the open water. On clear days you can see Grand Manan Island across the channel in New Brunswick, Canada. Tidal ranges in this part of the Bay of Fundy routinely exceed eighteen feet, and watching the water shift between low and high tide reveals just how powerful the currents running through the channel are.

Coastal and Bog Trails

The park contains approximately five miles of trail, split between two very different environments. The Coastal Trail follows the headland south from the lighthouse area, tracing the edge of the cliffs above the water and passing through spruce and fir forest before looping back inland. It is well-maintained but uneven in places, with exposed roots and rocky sections that reward sturdy footwear. Plan for an easy to moderate pace.

The bog trail system is the other half of the park’s trail network, and it tends to surprise visitors who arrive expecting only ocean views. Quoddy Head contains an unusual coastal plateau bog with sub-arctic and arctic plants rarely seen south of Canada. A boardwalk leads through the interior of the bog, keeping visitors above the saturated ground while offering close views of carnivorous pitcher plants, sundews, and the low heath shrubs that cover the sphagnum moss. The contrast between the open windswept coast and the quiet, enclosed bog is one of the more unusual experiences the Maine park system offers.

Whale Watching from Shore

The waters offshore are part of a productive feeding zone, and humpback, minke, and finback whales are regularly spotted from the clifftops during summer and early fall. No boat is required. Visitors with binoculars and patience often see blows and surfacing animals from the park’s elevated headlands. Early morning tends to offer calmer water and better visibility. Whale watching boat tours also depart from Eastport and other nearby ports if you want a closer look, but the view from land at Quoddy Head is genuinely worthwhile on its own.

Pet Policy

Pets are welcome in the park but must be leashed, attended, and under control at all times. The leash requirement applies on all trails, including the bog boardwalk and the coastal cliff sections. Given the narrow trail edges above the water, keeping your dog close and under control is important both for your dog’s safety and for the comfort of other visitors on the path.

Wildlife to Be Aware Of

The offshore whale activity that makes the park exciting also requires some care near the clifftops. The coastal trail runs close to the edge in several places, and the drop to the water below is abrupt. Stay on marked sections of trail and do not approach the cliff edge for a better view of whales or any other wildlife. The rocks below are exposed at low tide and the surf can be unpredictable.

The trails throughout the park attract a wide variety of shorebirds and raptors, particularly during migration. Birding here is rewarding, but keep dogs leashed and under control around nesting areas. Disturbance to ground-nesting birds is one of the more common problems at coastal parks, and the leash rule exists partly for this reason.

The rocky coastal sections also present a general hazard independent of wildlife. Wet rock is consistently slippery along the shoreline and near the bog. Appropriate footwear and staying on designated trails reduces the risk significantly.

Practical Information

Quoddy Head State Park is located at the end of South Lubec Road in Lubec, Maine, approximately 115 miles east of Bangor. Quoddy Head State Park is in Lubec, about four miles from downtown Lubec via South Lubec Road. The drive from Bangor takes roughly two and a half hours, depending on route and conditions. The park is day-use only with no camping available on site.

Fees are payable at the self-service collection station at the picnic area parking lot. Maine resident adults pay $3, non-resident adults pay $4, and non-resident seniors pay $1. Maine residents age 65 and older receive free day-use. Children 5 to 11 pay $1, and children under 5 are free.

The park’s regular staffed and seasonal hours are 9:00 a.m. to sunset daily from May 15 through October 15 unless otherwise posted; off-season visitors are welcome during daylight hours but should use caution in inclement conditions. The peak season runs from late June through early September, when whale sightings are most frequent and the bog wildflowers are at their best. Fog is common throughout the season, especially in the morning, and temperatures stay cool even in midsummer. Bring a wind layer regardless of the forecast.