The Atlantic Path and Halibut Point

Starting just past The Emerson Inn, a stunning old hotel overlooking the sea on Cathedral Avenue in Rockport, a scenic two-mile walk along the shore, over rock ledges that slope to the sea, and continues to Halibut Point State Park. Here, you'll find 2.5 miles of trails that wind around a granite quarry that springs have filled with water and along an even more rocky shore. It is one of the nicest hiking spots near Boston you shouldn't miss.

The operation of the quarry and the fascinating history of this location are both explained on an interpretive trail. Boston's Custom House Tower was constructed using local granite that was quarried and cut for paving stones. The visitor center and museum offer more information about the natural history and granite quarrying of Halibut Point and Cape Ann.

This beautiful hike will take you along through the woods to a deep, water-filled quarry, then you’ll loop over to the shoreline where you can relax to the metronome of the crashing waves. The views along the coast reach across Ipswich Bay as far as New Hampshire and Maine. Birders will like this park, with its rocky coast covered in bayberry and shad, good habitats for small birds. The Atlantic Path continues from the far side of the park.

Address: Gott Ave, Rockport, MA 01966