Odiorne Point State Park

State Park On The Rye Shore Protecting One Of The Longest Undeveloped Stretches Of New Hampshire'S Coast; Traditionally The Site Of Early European Settlement In 1623 And Of The Second World War Gun Emplacements Of Fort Dearborn; Home Of The Seacoast Science Center. · Rye, New Hampshire

A state park on the Rye shore, just south of the mouth of Portsmouth Harbor, that protects one of the longest undeveloped stretches of New Hampshire's short coastline, roughly 135 acres (confirm) of ledges, cobble coves, salt marsh and thickets. The shore here is a classic place for tide pooling: at low tide the ledges uncover pools full of periwinkles, crabs, barnacles, sea stars and seaweed. The point has a long human history. Tradition places one of the first European settlements in New Hampshire here in 1623, and in the Second World War the Army built Fort Dearborn, whose concrete gun emplacements and bunkers still rise from the brush beside the paths. Inside the park, the Seacoast Science Center runs exhibits, touch tanks and programs on the Gulf of Maine, with its own admission. Paved and gravel paths wind through the park for walking and easy cycling, picnic lawns look out to the Isles of Shoals, and birders watch the shore and the marsh through the seasons. There is no sandy swimming beach; the water is cold and the shore rocky, a place to explore rather than sunbathe.

570 Ocean Boulevard, Rye, New Hampshire, 03870, United States

The park is open all year, generally from dawn or about 8 am until dusk, with a staffed fee booth at the entrance in the main season from about late spring to autumn and self-service or free entry at other times (confirm). The Seacoast Science Center keeps its own hours, typically daytime and daily in summer, with fewer days in the off-season and some closed days in winter; check its schedule before a special trip. The boat launch at the north end follows its own rules and hours. Restrooms may be limited outside summer. Tide pools are only worth visiting within a couple of hours of low tide, so the tide table matters more than the clock.

Odiorne Point State Park on Spottos · Explore more places on Spottos