Goat Trail (Isle au Haut)

Goat Trail is a 2.1-mile, one-way walk along Isle au Haut’s south coast, from Merchant Cove to Deep Cove. The trail itself usually takes about 1½ hours; add time for the rocky coves and cliff views. You move through marshy woods, cobble beaches and exposed rock, with short climbs and drops that make the footing feel rougher than the mileage suggests. It’s a good choice if you’re already on the island and want a varied coastal hike. Treat it as point to point and plan your road return before setting out.

Isle au Haut has no car access. A passenger ferry connects Stonington with Town Landing year round, and makes a seasonal stop at Duck Harbor Boat Landing from mid-June through late September. Duck Harbor is the better base for hiking. From there, the Merchant Cove junction is about 1.2 miles along the island road; that approach is separate from the 2.1-mile Goat Trail distance. The trail ends at Deep Cove and Western Head Road. Head north by road to return toward Duck Harbor, or continue south on the Cliff and Western Head trails. There are few services on the island; water and composting toilets are at Duck Harbor, with no water source along Goat Trail. Dogs are allowed on park trails on a leash no longer than six feet. Check ferry schedules before you go.

From the road junction, the trail slips into dense, damp forest. Plank sections cross wet ground. Merchant Cove is a flat, partly overgrown shoreline; vegetation can hide the tread, and large cairns help mark the way before the trail returns among the trees. After a smaller rocky cove, the path climbs over a rocky rise and drops to Barred Harbor. A short detour reaches its cobble beach, while the main route stays near the treeline.

Beyond Barred Harbor, old trees carry Old Man’s Beard lichen and the trail climbs across jagged exposed rock. The rocky high point opens views in several directions. Look back along the broken coast as you climb; the coves and wooded points line up below you. The route then rolls through lush forest and drops to Squeaker Cove’s cobble beach. Expect repeated short ups and downs between the shore and the woods.

A final short stretch through dense forest reaches Deep Cove and Western Head Road. From here you can return north toward Duck Harbor or keep going south on the Cliff and Western Head trails. The Goat Trail is the 2.1-mile cove-to-cove segment only; include the island road walk and your return when planning the day. The island is remote and the path is rough, so this one suits hikers comfortable with uneven rock and a little route-finding along overgrown shore.