Lubec

Like Eastport across the bay, Lubec was a sardine town, at its peak it had more than twenty canneries. All of them are gone. What is left is a quiet grid above the water with a strong sense of being at the edge of something.

What Lubec is known for

West Quoddy Head Lighthouse (4.9 across 1,488 Google reviews) is the landmark, and unusually for a Maine light it is genuinely set up for visitors, with a visitor center in the keeper's house and trails along the cliffs. It sits inside Quoddy Head State Park (4.9 from 1,387 reviews), which is the real reason to spend a day. The coastal trail runs along high headlands with views to Grand Manan, through a rare coastal bog.

The other draw is Campobello Island, reached by the bridge from downtown. Roosevelt Campobello International Park preserves the Roosevelt family's summer home and is jointly run by the US and Canada. It is in New Brunswick, so bring a passport.

Things to do

Walk the coastal trail at Quoddy Head, cross to Campobello, and watch the tide, which here runs among the highest in the country. Cobscook Bay State Park (4.6 across 201 Google reviews) and Roque Bluffs State Park (4.7 from 628 reviews) are both within reach and both quiet.

The Public House (4.6 from 205 reviews) is the reliable option for a meal in a town where choices are limited.

Getting here and when to go

Lubec is at the end of Route 189, about two and a half hours east of Ellsworth. There is no quick way; that is part of the point.

June through September is the practical season, and it is worth noting that fog is common here even in high summer. Winter closes most of the town.

Common questions

Is Lubec the easternmost town in the United States?

Yes, in the contiguous United States. West Quoddy Head, just outside the village, is the easternmost point of land in the lower 48, which is why the drive out here feels like reaching the end of something. The lighthouse rates 4.9 from 1,488 reviews and the surrounding Quoddy Head State Park 4.9 from 1,387, the two highest-rated stops in town.

Why is West Quoddy Head Lighthouse striped?

The red-and-white bands are a daymark, a paint scheme that makes the tower readable against sky, snow and fog when the light itself is not doing the work. Fog is a near-constant on this coast, so the contrast earns its keep. The candy-stripe pattern is rare in the United States, and it is most of the reason the lighthouse gets photographed so often.

Can you cross to Campobello Island from Lubec?

Yes. A bridge links Lubec directly to Campobello Island, and it is the only road crossing to the island from the American side. This is an international border with Canada, so everyone needs a passport or equivalent document in both directions. Confirm current border requirements before you drive out rather than assuming what worked previously still applies.

How big are the tides in Lubec?

Dramatic. Lubec sits in the Bay of Fundy tidal system, and the range here is among the largest anywhere in the country. A harbor that looks full at high water drains to mud and ledge a few hours later, which changes what you can launch, land or walk out to. Plan kayaking, clamming and shoreline walks from a tide chart.