Every hike in Maine is a beautiful experience, whether muddling through a bog, making your way through the forest, or looking out over the ocean. But the ones we love the most these days offer great views and the salty air that we've come to associate with being in Maine. If you're looking for more ways to get closer to the water you'll want to head to Bailey Island to explore this rocky route. Located in Harpswell, Giant's Stairs in Maine is a unique formation of rocks leading into the water that actually looks like the perfect staircase for a giant.
is a 0.7-mile route that begins on Bailey Island, near beautiful Harpswell.
To find it, cross the Cribstone Bridge (more information on that beauty at the end of this article!) and make your way to the end of Ocean Street. This is where you'll find the trailhead, which is marked and not terribly hard to find.
The trail, which hugs the coast, provides incredible views of Casco Bay. And, if the conditions are right, you'll be able to see all the way out to the Atlantic Ocean.
And, the area can be visited throughout the year. This is always important in Maine when the weather can get cold and icy. Just be sure to take caution when walking as colder conditions can make the trail slippery.
While the views are certainly incredible, we especially love hearing the waves hit the rocks. This action send quintessential sea-spray into the air.
While we've all come to expect the Maine coast to be rocky, this particular section has been eroded by continuous waves hitting the shore. That has forced the rocks to form into the shape of stairs.
But these stairs are so huge they look better suited for a family of giants climbing out of the sea than for you or I!
The route is out-and-back, which means you'll eventually come to a place where the path ends. When that happens, simply turn around and head back the same way you came.
We love this trail year-round. In the winter there's something special about the grey tones, but in the summer things are lush and green.
This is a beautiful way to see Maine at her finest. We hope you'll make the trip!
If you do, let us know how you liked it and if you have any tips for other readers.
Giant's Stairs Trail is accessible throughout the year, but always take care when navigating in wet or snowy conditions. Rocks and the ground surrounding the trail can become quite slippery. If you love adventuring with your pup you'll love that they can come too, just be sure to keep them on a leash. To learn more about the route check out the Giants Stairs Trail page on AllTrails. You can also check out the official website for the town of Harpswell to get more information.
If you love to hike and plan on doing more of it, consider an upgrade to AllTrails+ which allows for offline map downloads and wrong turn notifications.
While you're in the area you should certainly plan some extra time to explore beyond the trail. We recommend considering a vacation rental for the weekend. And, if you're in search of something else to explore, I absolutely love the unique Cribstone Bridge.
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