About Halibut Point Reservation

12 acres

Scramble across ledges scarred by the granite industry and examine tide pools teeming with marine life.

What makes Halibut Point a special place?
Bird watchers get an eyeful from this low coastal shelf overlooking dramatic surf. The weather-beaten bluffs here make up a low rocky coastal shelf covered in bayberry, greenbriar, and shadbush. During storms, waves crash over the rocky shore. Tidal pools harbor snails, hermit crabs, and sea stars.

Above the reservation is the former Babson Farm Quarry, now filled by natural underground springs. Granite quarried here at the turn of the 20th century paved thousands of city streets and built bridges, tunnels, monuments, warehouses, and buildings, such as Boston's Custom House Tower.

Halibut Point is cooperatively managed by The Trustees of Reservations and the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Management (DEM), which acquired an adjoining 54-acre state park in 1981 with the assistance of The Trustees. DEM operates a small visitor center and museum dedicated to telling the story of Cape Ann's historic granite industry.

Trails
2.5 miles of trails. Moderate walking. The reservation is a link in Rockport's Atlantic Path.

When to Visit
Year-round, daily, sunrise to sunset. Allow a minimum of 1 hour, 2 hours if visiting state park and its visitor center and museum.

Facilities
The state park operates a small visitor center and museum devoted to Halibut Point's natural history and Cape Ann's historic granite quarrying industry, of which Halibut Point's Babson Farm Quarry was a major part. The visitor center has public restrooms.

Regulations & Advisories

Dogs must be kept on a leash at all times.

Directions

Gott Avenue
Pigeon Cove
Rockport, MA
Telephone: 978.526.8687
E-mail: neregion@ttor.org

Get directions on Google Maps.

From Rt. 128 Exit 9, take Rt. 127 North for 3 mi. At Rockport Center, turn left onto Railroad Ave. (remains Rt. 127) and follow for 2.4 mi. Turn right onto Gott Ave. Entrance and parking (70 cars) on right.

Admission

When to Visit
Year-round, daily, sunrise to sunset. Allow a minimum of 1 hour, 2 hours if visiting state park and its visitor center and museum.

Admission
Trustees members, pedestrians, and bicyclists: FREE. Parking fee for nonmembers from Memorial Day through Columbus Day, weekends and holidays, 8AM to 8PM. FREE parking at other times.

Property History

Halibut Point was once home to a large granite-quarrying operation in the years around the turn of the 20th century. Granite quarried here at the turn of the 20th century paved thousands of city streets and built bridges, tunnels, monuments, warehouses, and buildings, such as Boston's Custom House Tower.

Property Acquisition History
Purchased in 1934 with funds given by Dr. John C. Phillips and Rockport residents.

Volunteer Opportunities

Work Parties

Maps and Resources

Interpretive brochure with map available for free from the gatehouse attendant and the State Park's visitor center. The brochure covers both Halibut Point State Park (Department of Conservation and Recreation) and The Trustees' Halibut Point Reservation. You can also download a trail map before you go.

Planning Your Visit

Travel Links
Essex National Heritage Area
North of Boston CVB
Cape Ann.com
Cape Ann Chamber of Commerce
North Shore Chamber of Commerce

Before You Go
We encourage you to visit as many Trustees properties as you can.

Wherever your travels take you, please observe all posted regulations, follow special instructions from property staff, and keep in mind the Stewardship Code:

• Protect wildlife and plants.
• Guard against all risk of fire.
• Help keep air and water clean.
• Carry out what you carry in.
• Use marked footpaths and bridle paths.
• Leave livestock, crops, and machinery alone.
• Respect the privacy of neighboring land.
• Enjoy and share the landscape with others.

Click on links below for further visitor information:

Before Setting Out

Enjoying Trustees Reservations

Safety

About Hunting on Trustees of Reservations Land

Tell Us What You Think

We’d love to hear about your visit. Click here to take our visitor survey. If you have a question for us about this reservation, you can use this form to send it to us, too.

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