Ogunquit Village and Marginal Way

Ogunquit's Marginal Way is a 1.25-mile paved cliff-top footpath along the Atlantic Ocean in Ogunquit, Maine — the southernmost coastal town in the state, 75 miles south of Portland. The path begins at the end of Shore Road at Israel Head and follows the rugged granite shoreline north to Perkins Cove, a picturesque working harbor lined with lobster pounds, seafood restaurants, and art galleries. Along the way, benches positioned at intervals face the open Atlantic, offering unobstructed views of crashing surf on the rock ledges below, offshore islands, and clear-day views extending toward Cape Porpoise to the north. The path was deeded to the town in 1923 by Josiah Chase to ensure public access to the shoreline in perpetuity. Perkins Cove at the north end is a destination in its own right — the hand-operated footbridge at its entrance is one of the most photographed features on the Southern Maine Coast, and a fleet of lobster boats and whale-watching vessels operate from the cove. The town of Ogunquit supports a flourishing arts community: the Ogunquit Museum of American Art sits at the western end of the Marginal Way approach, and the Ogunquit Playhouse — one of America's oldest summer theaters — operates a short distance inland. Ogunquit Beach, a three-mile barrier beach, begins north of Perkins Cove and is among the finest swimming beaches in Maine. The full Marginal Way walk takes about 40 minutes one-way at a comfortable pace.