Hike Great Head Trail
What to Expect
Safety Advisory
The cliff edges along the eastern loop have no railings and the granite gets slick when wet or icy — one wrong step on a foggy morning and you're dealing with a very unforgiving drop to the ocean.
Incoming tide can make the beach crossing at the south end tricky. Check tide charts before you go; if the tide is high, stick to the inland connector trail instead of trying to rock-hop along the shoreline.
Trail Details
- 1
Go counterclockwise from Sand Beach to hit the exposed ocean cliffs first while your legs are fresh and the morning light rakes across the granite — the forest section on the return feels like a cool-down lap.
- 2
Between mid-June and mid-October, driving to Sand Beach requires a timed reservation through Recreation.gov. Skip the headache entirely by taking the free Island Explorer bus (Route 3/Sand Beach) and walk right to the trailhead.
- 3
The millstone near the top of the granite steps is easy to miss — look left about 30 feet off-trail once you crest the first rise. It's nearly seven feet across, a relic from the Satterlee estate, and most hikers walk right past it.
Photos
NPS
