Visiting the Picturesque Town of York, Maine
Continuing south on the Maine day trip from Kennebunkport and Ogunquit, the last stop along the way was York, Maine. As I was driving into town, the temperature quickly changed from a high of 90 degrees Fahrenheit to a cloudy and breezy sub-70 degree afternoon. However, the cloudy weather and moody clouds made for a fantastic way to cap off the day.
Nubble Lighthouse
The first stop in York was the The Cape Neddick Light, which stands on Nubble Island. The lighthouse is commonly known as "Nubble Light" or simply "the Nubble".
Nubble Lighthouse in York, Maine.
Nubble Lighthouse. Do you see a person walking on the island?
The United States Congress appropriated $15,000 for the building of a lighthouse on the Nubble Island in 1876. The first illumination from the lighthouse occurred on July 1, 1879.
Fun fact: Nubble Light belongs to the U.S. Registry of Historic Places. The Voyager I spacecraft, which carries a set of 116 images/illustrations of Earth’s most important man-made structures and natural features includes a photo of Nubble Light as part of its Golden Record💡. Why was Nubble Light chosen to represent one of 116 images on Voyager? According to the Voyager Record’s Design Director Jon Lomberg, the record’s creators wanted to depict the diversity of life and landscapes on Earth:
“The picture shows a seashore, emphasizing humans’ preferred proximity to water. The wave splashes might be used to deduce some details of our gravity, atmospheric composition and surface pressure. The buildings are similar to buildings in other shots, but the tower form of the lighthouse might even give a clue as to its function—lighthouses might be required on the shores of many worlds. We’ll never know how much of this is understood—or even if the record is ever found. But the handsome, rugged shore of Maine is a fitting snapshot of the beauty of our planet, whatever else it says.”
A lone fisherman on the rocks at Nubble Point in York, Maine.
Views from Sohier Park (Nubble Point) in York, Maine.
Cliff Walk in York, Maine
The Cliff Walk in York, Maine was absolutely spectacular. There were very few tourists along the path and it allowed me ample time to take photographs.
York Harbor Beach. The Cliff Walk is steps away.
The long days of summer call for reflection. Look closely: how many people can you spot in the photo? I also posted this photo on Instagram.
Curling toward the light on the York Cliffs.
One of my favorite compositions from the Cliff Walk in York, Maine:
Waves crashing against rocks at the York Cliff Walk. Also posted on Instagram.
A windy afternoon in York, Maine.
After I reached the northern tip of the Cliff Walk, I walked back in the same direction as I arrived. I stepped foot on the York Harbor Beach once again to capture the last light at the beach:
Last light in York, Maine.
Finding the Cliff Walk in York, Maine
Finding the cliff walk in York, Maine took a bit of an effort. First, Google Maps showing the surrounding area of York Cliffs led me astray—at one point I followed the GPS and arrived to a private neighborhood, hoping to find to a path to York Cliffs. However, all of the private houses in the area had no public access to the cliffs.
So, learn from my mistake... To get to the York Cliff Walk, head south on York Street and turn left on Harbor Beach Road. At the end of the road there is a circular roundabout with parking spaces and a public restroom.
To get to the York Cliff Walk, follow Harbor Beach Road to the end.
The detailed map from Google Maps is below. Note that the north end of the Cliff Walk is next to a private house and there is no public access to the York Cliff Walk there. You must start at the southern tip (York Harbor Beach pin below) if you want to traverse the York Cliff Walk.The GPS coordinates for the start of the York Cliff Walk are 43.132953, -70.638735 (43°07'58.6"N 70°38'19.5"W).
If You Go
The York Cliff Walk was a spectacular ending to an exploration of three towns in Maine: Kennebunkport, Ogunquit, and York. If you are traveling from Boston, I would recommend starting from the north (Kennebunkport) and traveling in the southern direction toward York if you want to visit all three towns in one day. See my other two blog posts below: