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Downeast Maine

Bold Coast
Beaches

Maine isn't known for beaches — and that's exactly the point. The ones that exist here are wilder, quieter, and more interesting than anything you'll find down the coast. No umbrellas. No crowds. Just the Atlantic.

Plan My Trip → View All Beaches
5
Bold Coast Beaches
🌊
One-of-a-Kind in the World
Free
Most Beaches No Fee
🌡️ Water temperatures on the Bold Coast run 50–60°F in summer — cold by most standards, refreshing by Maine standards. Locals swim. Visitors are brave. Wetsuits are welcome.
The Beaches

Wild, quiet,
unforgettable.

Each Bold Coast beach has its own character — sandy, rocky, singing, or freshwater. None of them look like anything you've seen before.

🏖️
Best Swimming
State Park · Day Use Fee
Roque Bluffs, Maine
Roque Bluffs State Park
The best beach day on the Bold Coast, and one of the most unusual in all of Maine. A half-mile crescent of sand and pebbles along Englishman Bay — a geological rarity on this otherwise rocky coast, formed from glacial sediment eroded over thousands of years. On one side, the open Atlantic. On the other, Simpson Pond, a 60-acre freshwater pond that runs significantly warmer than the ocean. Want a bracing saltwater swim? It's right there. Want to warm up? Cross the narrow strip of land to the pond. The 274-acre park also has 6 miles of hiking trails through old orchards and coastal woods, picnic areas, a playground, and kayak access to the bay. Dogs are welcome in the park but not on the ocean beach. No lifeguard on duty.
Sandy Beach — Rare in Downeast Maine Saltwater + Freshwater Swimming 6 mi of Trails Picnic Areas Dogs Welcome (not on beach)
Park Info → Explore Machias
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One of a Kind
Town Park · Free
Machiasport, Maine
Jasper Beach
There are only two beaches like this in the entire world — Jasper Beach in Machiasport, and one in Japan. A half-mile pocket beach made entirely of millions of smooth, polished volcanic stones in shades of deep red, burgundy, and grey. No sand. Just stones, piled 30 feet high along the shore. What makes it truly extraordinary is the sound. As the tide rolls in and out, the stones tumble against each other in a low, rhythmic clatter — a sound unlike anything else on the Maine coast. Visitors describe it as hypnotic. Come at low tide for the full effect. The beach sits in Howard Cove off Port Road (Route 92) in Machiasport, owned and managed by the town as a free public park. Dogs are welcome under voice control. Solid footwear is strongly recommended — the stones roll and shift underfoot.
One of Two in the World Volcanic Stone Beach Singing Stones at Low Tide Dogs Welcome Free · Town Park
Get Directions → Explore Machias
🌅
Local Favorite
Public Beach · Free · Lubec
Lubec, Maine
Mowry Beach
Lubec's local beach — a quiet, pebbled shoreline on the western side of town with views across the water toward the mainland. A favorite with residents for an evening walk, a low-key swim, or watching the tide move through the channel. Far less trafficked than the state park beaches, and with that comes something increasingly rare: genuine solitude. A good spot for birdwatching and seal-spotting, especially in the early morning. Free public access, easy parking, and right in town — pair it with a trip to West Quoddy Head for a full Lubec beach day.
Pebble Beach Seal Spotting Birdwatching Free · Public Access
Explore Lubec →
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Hidden Gem
Near West Quoddy Head · Lubec
Lubec, Maine
Sand Cove
A small, tucked-away sandy beach near West Quoddy Head — easy to miss if you don't know it's there. With West Quoddy Head just up the road, most visitors walk straight past Sand Cove, which makes it one of the quieter spots on the Lubec peninsula. The cove is sheltered, the beach is sandy, and the views out toward the Bay of Fundy are wide open. A natural add-on to a West Quoddy Head visit — park at the state park and walk down, or drive to the small pullout just off South Lubec Road. Best explored at low tide when the cove opens up fully.
Sandy Cove Near West Quoddy Head Best at Low Tide Free · Quiet
Explore Lubec → West Quoddy Head
⚓
Near Eastport
Public Beach · Perry, ME
Perry, Maine
Gleason Cove
A rocky but swimmable cove on Passamaquoddy Bay, just outside Eastport near the town of Perry. The beach is a mix of sand, cobble, and flat ledge — classic Downeast Maine. At low tide the cove expands considerably and tide pool exploration becomes the main attraction. Good views across the bay toward Campobello Island. Far less crowded than Roque Bluffs, and convenient for anyone basing themselves in Eastport. Easy roadside parking and free public access. Bring water shoes — the bottom is rocky.
Rocky Cove Tide Pools Passamaquoddy Bay Views Free · Public Access
Explore Eastport →
Quick Reference

Find your perfect beach.

Not sure which beach to visit? Here's how they compare at a glance.

Bold Coast Beach Comparison
Beach Town Type Swimming Cost Best For
Roque Bluffs Roque Bluffs Sand + Pond ✅ Ocean + Freshwater Small day-use fee Families, swimming, hiking
Jasper Beach Machiasport Volcanic stone ✅ Cold but swimmable Free Unique experience, photography
Mowry Beach Lubec Pebble ✅ Swimmable Free Quiet walks, seals, sunsets
Sand Cove Lubec Sand ✅ Sheltered cove Free Quiet, pairs with Quoddy Head
Gleason Cove Perry Rocky/cobble ✅ Bring water shoes Free Tide pools, Eastport day trip
Build Your Itinerary

Beach days, hiking,
all of it.

Tell our trip planner what you're after and it'll build a day-by-day Bold Coast itinerary around it — beaches, lighthouses, restaurants, and where to stay.

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