We then took the other trail down a set of stairs to the bottom of the cliff. I made my way out to the tide pools and to get a view of the lighthouse.
Stairs down
The rocky coast
Highly distinct rock colors
Life in the tidepools
In 2012, the lighthouse was featured as part of the US Mint’s America the Beautiful Quarters Program.
(right) The fog-bell bouy
A passing boat
We left (and somebody from the long line of cars immediately took our spot) and drove to the nearby Ship Harbor Trail. It was about half a mile one-way.
A white throated sparrow poses for the camera .... and when he thinks I'm no longer looking!
An eastern gray squirrel forages on the forest floor.
Lovely colors!
The gentle tides at Ship Harbor create a variety of habitats. Low tides reveal these mudflats, which are home to clams, worms, crabs and other small crustaceans. High tides replenish the area with nutrient-rich water and silt. Here there are more salt-tolerant plants.
The tidal mudflats ... all that remains of a crab
The path was wonderful!
A forest of red spruce and balsam fir limit the sunlight, but mosses, lichens and fungi flourish in the shade and moisture they provide.
This flower was the feeding ground for countless ants and other insects.
