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Marginal Way

The Marginal Way at the Marginal Way Preservation in Ogunquit, Maine is an easy 2 mile out-and-back trail that leads from Perkins Cove to the Sparhawk hotel in the center of Ogunquit and features some of the most scenic coastline found in southern Maine.

Walkers and hikers can enter on either end of the trail, but there's more parking in Perkins Cove. The trail leads along the ocean for 95% of the trip with numerous lookout points, benches, and also includes a couple of small beaches.

This trail also gives access to the rocky coastline where you can explore among the tide pools.

The entire trail length is 1 mile one-way but most people choose to hike it out-and-back. The alternative route is to walk back along Shore Road for a similar distance of about 2 miles.

Pets
Dogs are not allowed between April 1 - September 30; otherwise they're allowed if on a leash. 

Parking

Most parking at the Marginal Way requires a fee. Perkins Cove has the most parking options, but Ogunquit center also has parking options too. Free 2 hour parking can be found in Ogunquit center near the bank, while Perkins Cove requires a fee to park.
Explore 41 trails near Ogunquit, ME

Know Before You Go

  • Marginal Way is a scenic 2-mile (out-and-back) coastal trail in Ogunquit, Maine, offering stunning ocean views, tide pools, and access to small beaches.
  • Parking is available at both Perkins Cove and Ogunquit center, with Perkins Cove providing more options, but Ogunquit center offers some free 2-hour parking spots.
  • Dogs are restricted on the trail from April 1st to September 30th, but are allowed on a leash during the rest of the year.
Interactive topographic map for Marginal Way located in Ogunquit, ME. Click the "View Map" button to load GPS coordinates and trail markers.
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Distance
2.0 mi
Difficulty
Easy
Type
Out-and-Back
Est. Time
1 hrs
Elev. Gain
162'
Rating
5.0
Added
August 26, 2016
Updated
April 26, 2022

Weather Forecast

Overnight
Low 21°F
Chance Light Snow
Saturday
High 37°F
Rain And Snow Likely
Saturday Night
Low 26°F
Chance Rain And Snow then Mostly Cloudy
Sunday
High 37°F
Chance Light Snow
Sunday Night
Low 22°F
Chance Light Snow
M.L. King Jr. Day
High 33°F
Mostly Sunny
Monday Night
Low 16°F
Partly Cloudy
Tuesday
High 24°F
Mostly Sunny
Tuesday Night
Low 10°F
Mostly Clear
Wednesday
High 28°F
Mostly Sunny
Wednesday Night
Low 21°F
Mostly Cloudy then Slight Chance Light Snow
Thursday
High 36°F
Slight Chance Light Snow
Thursday Night
Low 17°F
Slight Chance Light Snow
Friday
High 28°F
Mostly Sunny
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Total Change
36'
Ascent
162'
Descent
162'
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Download the GPX Data for Offline Use

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Download Marginal Way GPX Data to the MyHikes Mobile App

Features

Vista / Lookout Point
Dogs

Points of interest

  1. Parking

    43.237442, -70.591347
  2. Main Trailhead

    43.237672, -70.590931

Safety information

For your own safety: plan ahead, let someone know where you'll be, and hike at your own risk.

Availability

All seasons

Surface type

Dirt

Trip Reports (Reviews)

Rated 5.0 out of 5 based on 1 rating.

Ready to help fellow hikers? Add a trip report to share your experience and provide valuable insights for other hikers!

2.0 miles / 3.2 km
April 24, 2022
Hiking
2.0 miles / 3.2 km
May 27, 2021
Hiking
2.0 miles / 3.2 km
May 27, 2021
Quiet pre-Memorial Day Weekend evening hike along the Marginal Way. Traffic was a bit busier than during COVID 2020.
Hiking
No community routes found. To add your own hike as a Community Route for this Trail guide, leave a Trip Report with an attached GPX file.

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