A Sandbar With a View of the Cribstone Bridge
Stover’s Point Preserve, owned and managed by the Harpswell Heritage Land Trust, is a narrow gravel sandbar that wraps around a salt marsh near the southern end of Orr’s Island. It is one of the better places to swim in Harpswell, a town that is mostly rocky shore, and it comes with a postcard backdrop: a clear view across the water to the Cribstone Bridge, the unique granite-slab bridge that links Orr’s Island to Bailey Island and is one of only a few of its kind in the world.
The preserve is small and low-key, the kind of spot known to locals and people staying nearby rather than to the wider tourist crowd. The gravel bar gives you a place to spread a towel, the protected water inside the bar is calm and good for swimming and wading, and the tidal stream that runs through the marsh is fun to explore by kayak or paddleboard at the right tide. It is a gentle, scenic place to spend a warm afternoon.
The Beach
The beach here is gravel rather than soft sand, a thin curving bar that separates the open water from the salt marsh behind it. That gravel means water shoes are genuinely useful, because the bar and shallows are barnacle-covered in places. Once you are in, though, the swimming is good. The bar shelters the inner water, and the shallows warm through a sunny afternoon, making this one of the more comfortable swims in the area by Maine standards.
The salt marsh behind the bar is the ecological heart of the preserve, a productive nursery for fish, birds, and shellfish, so tread lightly and stay off the marsh grasses. The Cribstone Bridge view across the water is the scenic payoff, especially in the long light of late afternoon, and the tidal stream invites a short paddle when the tide is up.
The beach at Stover’s Point is gravel and the shallows have barnacles, so water shoes make the difference between an easy swim and sore feet. They also help on the rough access road and bar.
Rocky beaches & streams
Parking & Access
Parking is limited and the access is genuinely rough. A gravel road in poor condition leads to the preserve, and the land trust advises driving it carefully or parking on gravel surfaces and walking the last bit. Be mindful of your car’s undercarriage. There are no facilities at the preserve, no restrooms, no trash service, and no lifeguard. The nearest public restrooms are at Mitchell Field, about two and a half miles north. Carry in and carry out everything, including dog waste.
Dogs are allowed but must be under control, and the land trust requires dogs to be leashed between 10 a.m. and 5 p.m. from May 15 to September 15. Keep the speed on the access road to a walking pace and yield to pedestrians, since people are often walking the gravel road and the bar.
Pair Stover’s Point with a drive across the Cribstone Bridge itself onto Bailey Island. Seeing the bridge from the preserve and then driving its granite slabs gives you both halves of one of Harpswell’s signature sights.
Getting There
From Brunswick, take Route 24 south through Cooks Corner and across Great Island onto Orr’s Island. Near the south end of Orr’s Island, turn onto Stover’s Cove Road, then onto Stover’s Point Road, following it as it curves toward the water and onto the rough gravel road to the preserve. The drive from Brunswick is about 25 minutes, and from Portland roughly 50 minutes via I-295 and Route 24.
When to Visit
Spring
Quiet and cool. Pleasant for a walk on the bar and the Cribstone Bridge view, but the water is too cold for swimming.
Summer
Warmest, calmest water for swimming inside the bar. Parking is tight, so arrive early. Dog leash hours apply 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Fall
Crisp and uncrowded. Warm September days still allow a swim, and the low light on the bridge and marsh is beautiful.
Winter
Empty and stark, a good short walk for the view. No swimming, and the access road may be worse in winter.
Packing List
Stover's Point Day
- Beach towel
- Sunscreen and hat
- Water shoes (gravel bar and barnacles)
- Swimsuit
- Water and snacks (no facilities)
- A trash bag, including for dog waste
- Kayak or paddleboard if you want to explore the tidal stream
FAQ
Is Stover's Point a sand beach?
It is a gravel sandbar rather than soft sand, a narrow bar that wraps around a salt marsh. Water shoes are recommended because the bar and shallows can be barnacly.
Can you swim there?
Yes. It is one of the better swimming spots in Harpswell. The bar shelters the inner water, which is calm and warms in the sun. There is no lifeguard.
What is the parking like?
Limited, and the access road is a rough gravel road in poor condition. Drive carefully or park on gravel and walk the last stretch, and mind your car's undercarriage.
Are dogs allowed?
Yes, under control, but they must be leashed between 10 a.m. and 5 p.m. from May 15 to September 15. Carry out all dog waste, as there is no trash service.
What is the view?
The preserve looks across the water to the Cribstone Bridge, the rare granite-slab bridge connecting Orr's Island to Bailey Island, which is the scenic highlight of the spot.
