Giant's Stairs and McIntosh Lot Preserve — Attraction in Harpswell

June 25, 2021 - This quick excursion by the sea coast conjures up the story of Captain Ahab’s quest for the great whale, Moby Dick! Stop for an hour, and share the tale with your kids, or your friend’s kids! Start the “tale” as you park your car at All Saints Episcopal Church on Bailey’s Island. ( limited parking) Then you walk down the street to the sea! Casco Bay lies ahead . . . listen as the waves slap rocks along the shore. Smell the sea breeze filling the sails of Ahab’s ship, and hear seagulls pitched calls of trouble ahead! Take the path through the over growth of beach roses, green shrub brush, and loads of poison ivy . . . only 700 feet to the Giant Steps!

( Pause for this brief explanation)

Thanks go to Captain William Henry Sinnett and his wife Joanna who donated these 2 acres to the Town of Harpswell in 1910. Later in 1991, an adjoining parcel to the south, the McIntosh Lot was gifted to Harpswell. In 2008 the Maine Recreation Trail Grant, Maine Conservation Corps, and members of the Harpswell Heritage Land Trust resurfaced the 700 foot path that links the Giant Steps to Thunder Hole.

(Back to Herman Melville’s 1851 classic tale of Moby Dick)

As you approach these 500 million year old layers of sedimentary minerals, quartz, garnet, and dark seams of basalt rock. . . imagine a three mast ship on the horizon? Looking intently you may see several white sails approaching! Fix your eyes to the bow, you will see tattooed Queequeg’s hoisted harpoon at the ready? Gulls circling several hundred feet ahead of the Pequod . . . as the sailor in the crows nest, Ishmael alerts the crew with a shout, “ There she blows, off starboard!”

Captain Ahab, with spyglass in hand tells the men to ready themselves for a fight with that cursed white whale! “Come and see if ye can swerve me?” Ahab yells out to Moby Dick, while his crew is transfixed to the spot where the seagulls continue to circle up ahead of the ship. . . “The path to my fixed purpose is laid with iron rails, where on my soul is grooved to run.” ( quotes from book)

While standing at these Giant Steps, maybe you can visualize the battle between Ahab & Moby Dick? As you walk further on the trail you’ll reach Thunder Hole! The sounds of the waves crashing into the cliffs . . . Might suggest expulsions of water gushing through a whale’s blow hole?

Hey, if you’re not a Moby Dick fan, maybe switch to Robert Louis Stevenson’s Treasure Island!

You’ll reach these awesome natural wonders on Bailey Island via Rt. 24. Turn left onto Washington Street. With children. . . be careful of poison ivy, and cliffs ! Afterward, stop at one of the local ice cream shops along the way.

With binoculars or a powerful camera you notice Jaquish Island / House , also Halfway Rock Lighthouse!

2 Suggestions :

A. Clean up poison Ivy along the path. ( there are warning signs)

B. A few historic signs would...

I have lived all my adult life within an hours drive of Harpswell and am still discovering great new places to go and things to do there. All of route 24 past Brunswick is a disneyland for tourists, artists, hikers, photographers, kayakers, and kids of all ages. Admission is free and parking is very limited. Mcintosh is a beautiful site on a bluff that yields stunning ocean views. There are craggy rocks to explore and a small sand beach. No changing rooms or rest rooms but there is a large gift shop that was closed when we went. Views were awesom but access to shore was by narrow paths and is not handicap accessible. This is a must see if youre in the area. Giamts stairs is nearby but again has very limited parking. This is basically a giant rock formation and photos tell the tale There is a paved inclined road from the parking area suitable for wheelchairs. Expect to walk about 500 feet. There is an excellent bike trail here and given the density of great sites and limited parking a bike is probably the best way to see this...

Beautiful location with some very interesting rock formations. Great views of the the ocean a good place to sit and have a chat, sketch, photograph, or contemplate life. 5 stars for these activities but I put a low star rating because I don’t think the location is great for everyone. Growing up on the coast of Maine I was ingrained to be cautious. Every year we would hear about tourists falling from the rocks due to their naïveté of the risk, this is such a place. Without exception I wouldn’t bring young children here because of terrain ( cliffs ) and all of the poison ivy. Anyway they may have trouble figuring out the “giant’s stairs ” since the best view of them is from the sea. Fun cliff walking if you are very careful, wear sensible shoes, and it’s dry. If not, don’t expect a speedy coast guard rescue. Easy place to get really hurt (or worse) if you are careless. Parking was limited and was in a quiet neighborhood so be respectful...