Halibut Point State Park
Distance: 1.65 miles
Elevation: 141 feet
Time: 41 minutes
Hiking Challenges: 52 Hike Challenge
This side-trip was inspired by my favorite annual Christmas event - Santa arriving by lobster boat in Rockport! I missed the actual arrival due to some nasty weather, but I couldn't give up going to Rockport at all, so I just pushed it a day later. I had been to Halibut Point State Park before, but very briefly during a "Questival" in the pre-pandemic time, so I decided I'd stop here first to do some exploring before heading to the town.
There is a large parking area and sign with porta potties, and a few options for trails. I took the main trail into the park (not the fire road), which brought me to a flooded quarry and a wide loop path around the area. There were numbers on some rocks for an interpretive trail, but I didn't have the literature with me sadly. Apparently Rockport was a bustling granite town, like Quincy, back in the day.
About a quarter around the quarry there was a spur path that appeared to go down to the water, so in the spirit of adventure, I took it! It was a beautiful day with blue skies and passing clouds, and A LOT of cold wind. The spur path split at a fork, and I took the left side, as it looked like it went to the ocean. There were faint red blazes on some rocks, which I followed. This was a really pretty area, reminiscent of the Cape and some trails in Acadia. The trail turns right near the water's edge, and I followed, not wanting to get swept away by the angry seas. There is a really cool view of the quarry overlook from down here, too.
The trail paralleled the edge of the water at a fair distance before turning again at a sign for the "Halibut Point Reservation" and "Sea Rocks," which area a series of flat rocks that appear to be a nice sunbaithing spot in the warmer months. The red blazes continued, making this found trail a loop, eventually rejoining at the original fork. The return trail was more grown-in, which made me nervous for winter ticks, but I survived unscathed!
Now back at the quarry loop, there were nice views of the quarry and then another spur trail on the right, about halfway around the original starting point, that leads to a beautiful overlook. I didn't stay there for long becuase of the wind, and decided not to take the extra spur to the water.
I finished up my hike by closing the loop around the quarry, and following the fire road out to my car. This was a such a beautiful way to start my "me-day," and it turns out Halibut Point State Park is a great spot for Pokemon Go, too!
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