Owls Head

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Owls Head State Park

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MonnieR
MonnieR
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5 out of 5
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4
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Owls Head State Park

  • March 12, 2007
  • Rated 5 of 5 by MonnieR from Niles, Ohio
Owls Head State Park

Whether Owls Head State Park got its name because some folks claim the promontory looks like the bird from the water or because it's the English translation for the name of the spot, Medadacut, I'll leave to historians to determine (apparently, there's been no consensus yet). Heck, they can't even seem to agree whether or not to use an apostrophe (some use it in the name of the town but not in the state park or lighthouse).

The reason my husband Jack and I visited this picturesque park, in fact, was to add the Owls Head Light to our lighthouse photo collection. With a 30-foot tower, it's certainly one of the shortest lighthouses in our collection.

Actually, more height isn't necessary. The lighthouse, authorized by then-President John Quincy Adams, is perched atop a tall promontory at the entrance to Rockland Harbor, making it stand 100 feet above sea level and easily seen by seagoing vessels. Seeing the lighthouse itself, though, is a bit more tricky; it's part of a Coast Guard complex, so neither the keeper's house - built in 1854 - nor the lighthouse are open to the public.

It's possible, though, to walk up the stairway to the bottom of the lighthouse and get great views of Rockland Harbor. It's also possible to get some neat photos of the lighthouse itself, although seeing it from some of the angles we'd have liked would have meant either trespassing on Coast Guard property - a no-no, the signs warned - or finding a boat owner willing to take a couple of tourists from Ohio out into the bay.

Owls Head remains a working lighthouse, equipped with a fourth order Fresnel lens installed way back in 1856. Visitors are warned that the fog horn is quite loud (thankfully, we got in, up and out without learning just how loud). The keeper's house next door is in use as a residence for Coast Guard personnel, and both the house and light are extremely well maintained.

Parks of the park are within walking distance of nearby Rockland, Maine, and beach areas are quite popular. The path leading into the lighthouse is wooded and scenic with occasional views of the harbor, but photo opportunities for waterscapes are limited because of heavy foliage at the water's edge. At one point, the path splits into two - one leading to the lighthouse and the other to a rocky beach (from which you can see the top of the lighthouse).

When you visit the park, be sure to explore the town of Owl's Head as well, especially the Owls Head Transportation Museum. It includes some 28 aircraft from the late 1800s to early 1900s as well as antique automobiles, carriages, coaches, and bicycles. The museum is open from 10am to 5pm, April through October (it closes at 4pm the other months). Admission for adults age 18 and up is $7.

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