Clear your schedules and grab some treats, we’re going on a Maine Virtual Vacation! Our vacation had to be canceled this year, but that doesn’t mean we can’t let our minds travel. Therefore, Asa and I invite you to join us this week for a virtual hike down memory lane as we revisit some of the places we explored on past vacations.
First up, let’s enjoy a dog friendly hike at the eastern most point of the United States at Quoddy Head State Park in Lubec, Maine. In 1808 West Quoddy Head Light became the eastern most lighthouse in the United States. Yes, you read that correctly. The WEST Quoddy Head Light is the farthest point EAST on the continental United States. That’s because it is located on West Quoddy Peninsula. Commissioned by President Thomas Jefferson, the original structure was replaced by the iconic red and white stripped lighthouse in 1858.
Quoddy Head State Park consists of 541 acres with spectacular ocean views of Maine’s Bold Coast, extensive forests, and diverse habitats with sub-arctic and arctic plants rarely found south of Canada. In fact, on a clear day you can see the cliffs of Grand Manan Island in New Brunswick, Canada.
The waters off of West Quoddy Head Peninsula form part of Canada’s Bay of Fundy. The Bay of Fundy causes extreme high tides at Quoddy Head, with it rising an average of 15.8 feet in six hours. Thus making for breathtaking vistas no matter what time of day you visit.
On the day we visited in 2016, we hiked the moderate to difficult Coastal Trail which is approximately 4 miles roundtrip over steep and rocky terrain. We also explored the 1 mile round trip Bog Trail with it’s unique plant life. With its 5 trails leading to different areas of the park, ranging from easy to difficult, there is something for every pup to explore at Quoddy Head State Park.
Quoddy Head State Park is open 9:00 AM to sunset from May 15 through October 15, and during the off-season visitors may continue to enjoy the trails by parking outside the gated parking lot. There is a nominal admission fee. Dog must remain on-leash.
Now enough chatting! Let’s go on that virtual hike at Quoddy Head State Park!
