Green Cove

Green Cove is a rocky granite headland jutting into the Atlantic beside the Cabot Trail. The easy visit covers about 0.2 km in total, gains 10 m, and takes roughly 10 minutes from the roadside parking lot. It is a worthwhile leg-stretch if you want to get out onto the coast, but a very brief stop rather than a longer hike.

From the exposed rocks, waves break against the point. Lobster fishers tend traps close to shore, whales may appear offshore, and visitors repeatedly report seals. None are guaranteed. For a photo, put a band of pink granite in the foreground and frame the waves breaking on the outer rocks.

Look for krummholz, the twisted, stunted trees, and bayberry with its leathery leaves. Both are adapted to this windy, salt-sprayed shore, details that make the headland more than a quick ocean view.

The route is easy, but the granite edge is exposed. Keep well back from cliffs during high winds and waves, and take care near dark rocks. A park pass is required for hiking year-round.