Giant's Stairs

Midcoast Maine’s Most Dramatic Shoreline Walk

Giant’s Stairs is a short coastal trail that packs more geological drama into one mile than most hikes deliver in ten. Located at the southern tip of Bailey Island in the town of Harpswell, the trail follows the edge of a rocky headland where massive slabs of dark basalt and schist have been fractured, tilted, and stacked by millions of years of geological force and relentless ocean erosion. The result is a staircase of enormous rock formations that rise from the crashing surf like the steps of some ancient giant.

The walk itself is easy in terms of distance and elevation. The loop covers roughly one mile with minimal climbing, making it accessible to almost anyone. But the terrain is uneven rock rather than groomed trail, and the coastline here is exposed to open ocean, so the experience feels far more adventurous than the distance suggests. Waves crash against the base of the cliffs, sea spray reaches the trail on windy days, and the tidal pools between the rocks are alive with sea urchins, periwinkles, hermit crabs, and rockweed.

This is not a backcountry wilderness hike. It is a short walk through a quiet residential neighborhood that suddenly opens onto one of the most striking pieces of coastline in Maine. The contrast is part of the charm.

The Trail

The trail starts at the end of Ocean Street on Bailey Island, at a small Harpswell Heritage Land Trust preserve sign. Limited roadside parking is available near the trailhead. From the sign, a short path through spruce trees leads quickly to the shoreline, where the character of the walk changes completely.

The trail follows the edge of the rocky coast, picking a route across dark, angular rock formations. These are not smooth, wave-polished stones. They are fractured sheets of metasedimentary rock, tilted at steep angles, with sharp edges and deep crevices between them. The rock is a mix of schist and basalt, part of the Cushing Formation that dates back roughly 450 million years to the Ordovician period. The layered, stepped appearance of the formations is what gives the trail its name.

The path loops along the headland, passing through sections of spruce and bayberry before returning to the coast. At the farthest point, you look south across open water toward the outer islands of Casco Bay. On stormy days, the waves explode against the rocks in plumes of white spray. On calm days, the tidal pools are the main attraction, each one a miniature aquarium of marine life.

The trail eventually loops back through the trees and returns to the starting point near Ocean Street. The entire walk takes most people 30 to 45 minutes, though you can easily spend an hour or more exploring the rock formations and tidal pools.

What You’ll See

The rock formations are the star of the show. The dark, layered slabs stand at dramatic angles, creating narrow channels and deep crevices where the ocean surges in and out with each wave. The contrast between the dark rock and the white foam of the breaking waves is striking, especially on overcast days when the colors are most saturated.

In the tidal pools, look for green sea urchins, periwinkles, dog whelks, hermit crabs, barnacles, and several species of rockweed and kelp. Blue mussels cluster on the lower rocks. In summer, harbor seals sometimes haul out on the outer ledges, and you may see them bobbing in the water just offshore, their dark heads watching you with curiosity.

Seabirds are common along this stretch of coast. Double-crested cormorants dry their wings on the rocks. Herring gulls and great black-backed gulls patrol the shoreline. In migration season, eiders raft up in large flocks just offshore, and occasional loons or grebes appear in the deeper water. Ospreys nest nearby and can sometimes be seen diving for fish.

The vegetation at the trail edges is typical of the Maine coast: bayberry, rosa rugosa, red spruce, and juniper, all shaped by the salt wind into low, sculpted forms. In July and August, the bayberry and wild rose fill the air with fragrance.

When to Go

Getting There

From Portland, take I-295 north to exit 28 for Brunswick/Bath. Follow Route 1 through Brunswick, then turn right onto Route 24 south toward Bailey Island. Follow Route 24 for approximately 12 miles through Orr’s Island and across the famous cribstone bridge onto Bailey Island. Continue to the end of Route 24, then turn right onto Ocean Street. The trailhead is at the end of Ocean Street. Total drive time from Portland is about 45 minutes.

Parking is limited to roadside spaces near the trailhead. There is no formal parking lot. Be respectful of the residential neighborhood and do not block driveways.

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