Orby Head

Orby Head is a named headland on the north shore of Prince Edward Island National Park, where red sandstone cliffs stand above the water of the Gulf of St. Lawrence. Low green coastal vegetation runs to the cliff top, and the coastline curves away in both directions toward distant sand beaches.

Following post-tropical storm Fiona, Parks Canada permanently closed the Orby Head look-off and its parking area because of coastal erosion. The cliffs here were severely impacted and undercut by the storm, and the closure applies to both vehicle and pedestrian access.

• Do not route to Orby Head or enter the closed look-off. The closure is permanent, not seasonal.
• There are no verified visitor facilities at the site. Nothing here should be planned around as a stop.
• Treat this entry as context for the shoreline you pass, not as a destination on a driving day.

The soft sandstone of this coast erodes steadily, and the closure reflects how much ground the cliffs have lost. The headland is also identified by Parks Canada as a Black Guillemot nesting and roosting area, which is another reason the cliffs are left undisturbed rather than visited.

For years Orby Head was a short scenic pull-off known for its cliff views, and visitors still search for it by name. It is listed so that you know what it was, why it is gone, and that access is closed for good.