Marginal Way - Ogunquit, Maine
"Life is what happens to you while you are busy making other plans.” - John Lennon
“You will face many defeats in life, but don’t let yourself be defeated.” - Maya Angelou
“When you are at the end of your rope, tie a knot and hold on.” - Theodore Roosevelt
Ogunquit Coastal Walk & Exploration
Distance: 1.25 miles (one way along the cliff walk)
Time to Read: 4 minutes
Trail Type: Paved cliffside path & sandy coves
Highlights: Daily sunrise and sunset walks on the Marginal Way, hidden swimming spots, local history, and packed beach picnics
Chasing Coastal Magic: Our Family Guide to Ogunquit, Maine
There is a reason the Abenaki indigenous people named this stretch of coastal paradise Ogunquit, translating beautifully to "beautiful place by the sea." For our latest family getaway, Ginger, Maria, Amelia, Alex, and I set out to experience every square inch of this historic Maine village. Our mission was simple: walk the cliffs, catch every sunrise and sunset, and track down the most peaceful, isolated pockets of sand we could find.
Here is how we spent our days exploring Ogunquit's rugged coast, along with a little bit of the history that makes this place so special.
Morning Gold and Evening Glow on The Marginal Way
Walks along The Marginal Way quickly became our daily ritual. Spanning 1.25 miles along the rocky cliffs, this paved pathway connects the main Ogunquit Beach to the historic fishing docks of Perkins Cove. We made it a point to hike it every single day, but the absolute best moments happened when we beat the crowds.
Setting our alarms early, we slipped out of our rooms to catch the sunrise. Watching the sky turn brilliant shades of pink and gold over the Atlantic while waves crashed against the dark Volcanic rocks was pure magic. Later in the day, we would return to watch the sunsets paint the horizon.
What makes this path truly incredible is how it came to be. Back in the 1920s, a generous local developer named Charles Bowden bought up this strip of "marginal" cliffside land—so named because it was deemed useless for farming or building houses. Instead of keeping it for himself, he donated it to the town so that the public could forever access the rugged beauty of the shoreline. Walking past the Lobster Point Lighthouse and pausing on some of the path's 39 dedicated benches, we felt incredibly lucky for that piece of 20th-century foresight.
Finding Our Own Secret Beaches
While the expansive, soft sands of the main Ogunquit Beach are undeniably stunning, our crew of completionists was determined to find a bit more privacy. Ogunquit’s geological history is a beautiful mess of sandy deltas and rugged, glacier-carved granite cliffs. Tucked directly between those massive stone outcrops, we discovered a few remote, isolated coves that felt like our own private islands.
After packing a large cooler with lunch, snacks, and plenty of cold drinks, we navigated down the rocky steps to find these hidden beaches. Without the crowds, we spent hours swimming in the crisp Atlantic water, reading books, and relaxing on the sand completely uninterrupted. At low tide, the kids explored the tide pools carved into the rocks, finding tiny crabs and perfectly preserved shells trapped by the receding ocean.
From Art Colony to Perkins Cove
When we weren't tucked away on a secret beach, we were wandering through Perkins Cove. Originally a quiet, grit-and-salt fishing community, this area transformed dramatically at the turn of the 20th century. Renowned artists like Charles Woodbury established a thriving art colony right here, drawn in by the dramatic ocean light and raw coastal scenery. They actually rented out old fish houses as studios!
Today, that blend of maritime history and creative charm is everywhere. We watched the iconic Perkins Cove manually-operated footbridge swing open to let modern lobster boats pass through the narrow channel. Afterward, we treated ourselves to a classic Maine feast, watching the harbor move to the exact same rhythms it has for over a century.
And the way appears