Marginal Way

Ogunquit takes its name from the Abenaki language, commonly rendered as beautiful place by the sea, and the Wabanaki peoples have long known this stretch of shore. The village grew in the late nineteenth century into a summer resort and an artists' colony drawn by exactly the scenery the path shows off.

The Marginal Way itself was pieced together in the early twentieth century, and a key parcel was donated to the town in the 1920s by a landowner named Josiah Chase, helping secure public access to the cliffs. Over the years the town extended and improved the walkway into the continuous path of today.

Because it was set aside for the public and protected as open shore, the Marginal Way has stayed a walking route rather than being lost to private development, a piece of foresight that keeps this coastline open to everyone who comes to Ogunquit.

The path runs between Ogunquit Beach and Perkins Cove, and most people walk it in one direction and return along the same route or through the village. It is paved and largely gentle, with a few gradual rises, so it suits a wide range of walkers.

Dozens of benches line the way, many given in memory of loved ones, and they invite the unhurried pace the walk deserves, stopping to watch the surf, scan for seabirds, or follow a lobster boat hauling traps offshore.

At the southern end lies Perkins Cove, a small working harbor crossed by a hand-operated pedestrian drawbridge and ringed by galleries, shops, and seafood spots, a natural place to reward the walk with a meal by the water.

The rocks along the way are classic Maine coast, weathered ledge splashed by the tide, and the pools and crevices shelter periwinkles, barnacles, and seaweed between the waves.

Watch offshore for eiders, cormorants, and gulls, and in the right seasons for harbor seals hauled out on rocks or the spouts of whales feeding farther out. Storms send spectacular surf against the cliffs, best admired from a safe distance behind the railings.

The exposure that makes the walk so dramatic also makes it powerful in rough weather. High surf can overtop parts of the path, and the town closes sections when the sea runs dangerously, so it pays to respect posted warnings.

Summer is the classic time to walk the way, with warm air, blue water, and lobster boats working offshore, though it also brings the biggest crowds, which is why locals favor an early-morning stroll before the day fills.

The shoulder seasons and winter reveal a different Marginal Way. Autumn brings crisp light and thinner crowds, and a clear winter day, with the sea steely and the surf loud, can be the most beautiful and solitary time of all to have the cliffs nearly to yourself.

The closest Boutel™ stays, so you can turn this stop into an overnight. Each is a place we chose through independent editorial review, never a paid placement.

The Marginal Way, in the seaside town of Ogunquit, Maine, is one of the most beautiful public coastal walking paths in the country, a scenic paved footpath winding for over a mile along the rugged shoreline between Ogunquit village and Perkins Cove. The cliffside path offers stunning ocean views, crashing surf against the rocks, benches for pausing, wildflowers, and glimpses of tide pools and coves, all just steps from the town's beaches, shops, and restaurants. A beloved stroll, it captures the beauty of the southern Maine coast. With its scenic clifftop path and ocean views, the Marginal Way offers a delightful destination in Maine.

You can walk the scenic paved path along the rugged shoreline for over a mile, taking in stunning ocean views, watching the surf crash against the rocks, pausing on the many benches, spotting tide pools and coves, enjoying wildflowers, and connecting between Ogunquit village and the charming Perkins Cove with its shops and restaurants. The beautiful coastal views and the pleasant, accessible stroll are the highlights. It is lovely at any time of day. With its scenic cliffside walk and ocean scenery, the Marginal Way offers a rewarding experience in Ogunquit, Maine.

While the paved path itself is easy and well-maintained, the shoreline features rocky ledges and cliffs, so stay on the path and behind any barriers, keep off the wet rocks near the surf, watch children closely, and never turn your back on the ocean, as waves can surge and the water is cold and dangerous. The path can be crowded in summer, so be courteous. Wear comfortable shoes. Staying on the path, keeping back from the surf, and watching children ensure a safe and enjoyable walk on the Marginal Way in Ogunquit, Maine.

Late spring through fall offers the most pleasant weather for the walk, with summer the liveliest though busiest season, and fall bringing crisp air, color, and thinner crowds, a lovely time, while spring brings fresh greenery. Early morning offers beautiful light and a peaceful, uncrowded stroll, especially welcome in busy summer. The path is scenic year-round. For the best combination of pleasant weather and a rewarding walk, aim for late spring through fall, ideally early in the day, on the Marginal Way in Ogunquit, Maine.

The Marginal Way is in Ogunquit, Maine, on the southern coast, connecting the village to Perkins Cove, within reach of Ogunquit Beach, the Ogunquit Museum of American Art, the York beaches and Nubble Light to the south, and the southern Maine coast towns. That makes the Marginal Way a delightful stop to combine with the Ogunquit Museum of American Art, the York area, and the other attractions of the southern Maine coast on a visit to the state.