Exploring Owls Head
Owls Head State Park Lighthouse
There are over 60 lighthouses in Maine and I've decided that I haven't seen nearly enough of them, so I packed my things into my car and drove out to Owls Head. In my mind, the little coastal town is often overshadowed by its tourist-hub neighbor, Rockland, with Camden just a short drive further north, but like the bird it's named after, you could swivel your head 360 degrees and still see something worth looking at.
My first stop was at Owls Head Lighthouse, an active light that sits overlooking Penobscot Bay. First built in 1825, it's no surprise that the place has collected a series of ghost stories to add to its cultural charm. One ghost is said to be an old lighthouse keeper, while another is called “Little Lady” and reported to be seen in the kitchen with a comforting presence despite the sound of rattling silverware.
After a short walk to reach the lighthouse, I climbed the many steps to stand next to it. The bees buzzed next to me, soaking up the pollen of nearby flower blooms like my skin soaked up the August sunshine. The lighthouse was closed for tours during my visit, so there was no chance of spotting any ghosts, but I circumnavigated the bluff to the rocky beach on the other side of the state park. I could see the rocks battered by the waves that threatened to sink many ships and imagined what the bluff must have looked like before time and storms eroded it away.
My next stop in Owls Head was nearby at Birch Point Beach State Park. After a year of recording Maine's beaches for work and a lifetime of exploring the state for fun, I was quite surprised to find a sandy beach along the Midcoast. The sand was as thick and soft as a Southern Maine beach and I happily walked it barefoot. Interestingly, the space where the sand hit the water turned into cobble rock with settled seaweed. Although the beach was perfect for lounging, I don't think I'd ever want to go swimming there.
Just outside of Owls Head, the road home winds along the protected lands of Weskeag Marsh. At a small pull out, I found an interpretive sign explaining the bird population that made its home between the St. George and Weskeag rivers. This is a little tip for people exploring the state of Maine: keep a lookout for these signs because there are a lot of them on and near conserved lands. Maine has always prioritized preserving nature’s beauty, and these little signs are often products of land trusts and towns who are trying to share their attempts to do just that. I didn't stay long enough to catch sight of any egrets, sandpipers, or herons, but I did enjoy viewing the rich vegetative ecosystem that glowed warmly in the late afternoon light.