Jones Beach – Carrying Place Cove

In the easternmost place of the easternmost city in the United States sits dog-friendly Jones Beach on Carrying Place Cove as part of Quoddy Head State Park. We have everything you need to know before you go to Lubec, Maine.

Carrying Place Cove/Jones Beach Dog-Friendly Details

Jones Beach is tucked into the crescent shape of the neck to the peninsula. You'll pass it on your way in, but you can also access it from several trails within Quoddy Head State Park.

You do have to follow Maine's State Park pet restrictions, which bans dogs from the beaches from April 1 through September 30. Dogs are allowed on state park beaches from October through March 31, but they must be on a leash that is held by a person. No off-leash time is allowed.

NOTE: Most parks will make exceptions for dogs walking across the beach as you join connecting trails. Just don't linger on the beach during the time of year dogs aren't allowed.

You'll need to drive to the main parking area at the end of the peninsula and hike to the beach, even though you'll pass the beach on the drive to the entrance.

Here's a trail description from the Maine State Parks Department.

• Bog Trail (One mile, easy) has a raised boardwalk and interpretive signs describing how the plants here adapt to high levels of acidic water and few nutrients. Please stay on the raised boardwalk to prevent damaging bog plants.
• Coastal Trail (Four miles, moderate) affords more challenging terrain (and spectacular ocean views), with some steep and rocky sections. This trail passes Gulliver’s Hole (a narrow chasm formed from the erosion of a vertical fault in the volcanic gabbro rock); High Ledge (a 150-foot bluff); and Green Point (a large ledge outcropping where hikers can reach the beach).
• Coast Guard Trail (One mile, easy/moderate) allows easy access to a high cliff overlooking typical of the “Bold Coast” with views north across the Lubec Channel to the town of Lubec.
• Inland Trail (Less than one mile, easy-moderate) offers a walk through conifer woods rich in mosses and lichens and climbs steadily uphill to Green Point.
• Thompson Trail (1.25 miles, easy) offers a fairly level wooded route running inland between the Bog Trail and Coastal Trail.

Thompson Trail and the Coastal Trail are the two that leads to Jones Beach and Carrying Place Cove. When you reach the beach, there are 1,200 feet of sandy and rocky shoreline to explore, but do not go east of that area. It's private property. This also means you shouldn't attempt to reach the beach from Carrying Place Cove Road.

Is Carrying Place Cove/Jones Beach Safe for Dogs?

The visit is as safe as you make it, but you need to know a few things about preparation before you go.

You are required to pick up pet waste as you go and must carry it with you. Do not bag and drop, plan to come back for it later, or assume it's natural fertilizer. Leave No Trace means you leave it how you found it, and pet waste can introduce bacteria and disease to a pristine natural area.

The Coastal Trail will pique your interest, but it's a rugged, rocky section. The view is as stunning as the shoreline is dangerous. You must know the tide schedules here and be prepared for tides to come in faster than you'd expect.

"Exercise caution and supervise children when walking on cliffside trails or by the shore. Tides can fluctuate more than 20 feet and flow in quickly." - Maine State Parks

As much as it's a beach and shoreline, this part of Maine gets cloaked in fog. Visibility is limited, and the fog can make temperatures drop quickly. The trails have wooden walkways that are about as wide as "walking the plank" of a ship. This might make dogs nervous, but you don't want them running back and forth over the trail, especially if it's wet or disturbing the plants and wildlife.

Given the number of ticks and poison ivy in the woods, it's in your best interest to keep them close. Other plants to watch out for are:

• Labrador Tea: Despite its friendly name of America's favorite dog, this is very toxic to pets and can lead to illness. Even people should only consume the homemade version of this tea.
• Black Crowberry: Toxic to dogs.
• Baked Appleberry: Unclear about its toxicity, but don't risk it.
• Pitcher Plants: Not toxic to dogs
• Sundew: Has a sticky surface used to catch and consume bugs. Keep pets away.

With limited visibility due to fog most of the time, use a GPS system to track your trails. Don't rely on your mobile device mapping since service will be limited.

Summer will bring mosquitoes and biting black flies. Make sure your dog is on heartworm medication well in advance of your trip. You have no recourse against the biting black flies.

Parking at Carrying Place Cove and Jones Beach

On Lubec Road, you'll see a small area to park near the bog. That is not the beach. The beach is behind the marsh on the other side of the road. You cannot walk to the beach from here, though some people will. It's hit or miss if neighbors will complain, but why risk it?

There is free parking at the entrance to the park near the lighthouse, but you will need to pay a park entrance fee. That's also where the trails start.

The park is only open from May 15 through October 15, officially, but off-season guests can park outside the gate and walk in. You'll only have access to the trails and will walk at your own risk.

What's Near Carrying Place Cove and Jones Beach?

You shouldn't miss the chance to visit the West Quoddy Head lighthouse. Dogs are allowed outside the structure and gift shop, but you can't bring them inside or on the tours to the top. There is an "Easternmost Point in the U.S." sign that makes a great photo op. You can also shop for gifts (and a new dog collar or leash) at the Easternmost Gift Shop at the entrance to the park.

Carrying Place Cove Beach Dog-Friendly Beach Rating: B