Quarry Trail

Dogs Leashed

Features Birding · River/Creek · Wildflowers

The nearest restrooms are at Blackwoods Campground as there are no other services along the trail. The nearest stores are in the town of Otter Cove.

The main purpose of hiking the Quarry Trail is to access Otter Cove from the Blackwoods Campground. The trail starts across from the check in station at Blackwoods Campground and enters the woods, following a power line for about a tenth of a mile. This means you aren't in the shade of the forest, but exposed to the sun.

The trail breaks off to the right and enters the woods, where birds can be seen and heard in the woods around you, making it a good place for birders. The trail continues straight as it makes its way toward Otter Cove. At a quarter of a mile on the map, there are some spur trails that are no longer there, having been overgrown for some time and are no longer marked or discernible to someone passing through. At half a mile, the trail reaches a junction.

If you continue to the left, the trail continues to meander through the woods until it emerges on Grover Ave in a neighborhood. From here, you have no choice but to retrace your steps. If you continue to the right at the junction, the trail drops down a set of stairs to the Park Loop Road at Otter Cove. Here, you can enjoy the cove as the tides come in and out. If it is high tide, water flows under the bridge inland while at low tide, the water flows out.

You can explore the shore at low tide, seeing all types of animals that call the cove home. From here, you can pick up the Otter Cove Trail to link up with other trails like the Gorham Mountain Trail, or you can retrace your steps back to the campground.

A good mix of birds can be seen along this trail as part of the trail is in the woods, and the trail ends at Otter Cover where a wide variety of sea birds can be seen in the cove. Deer can be seen in the morning or evening feeding along the trail.