Halibut Point State Park —
Your Complete Guide
A flooded granite quarry, a 60-foot WWII tower and tide pools on Cape Ann's granite shore. Open year-round, 8:00 am to sunset.
What is Halibut Point State Park?
Halibut Point State Park is a state park on Cape Ann's granite coast, at 4 Gott Avenue in the Pigeon Cove part of Rockport, Massachusetts.It surrounds the Babson Farm Quarry, which was worked for granite until 1929 and has since filled with spring water. A 60-foot World War II fire-control tower beside the quarry is now the visitor center. The adjacent Trustees reservation has granite ledges and tide pools at the ocean's edge. The state park is run by the Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR); The Trustees run the adjacent 12-acre Halibut Point Reservation along the shore.
DCR says that on a clear day you can see Mount Agamenticus, 40 miles away in Maine, and the Isles of Shoals off New Hampshire. The rock under your feet is about 450 million years old, according to DCR's quarry brochure. The Trustees suggest allowing at least an hour, or two if you also visit the visitor center and museum.
Halibut Point State Park at a Glance
What to Do at Halibut Point
The first four cards are in the park and on the adjacent reservation; the last two cover the rest of Rockport.
Babson Farm Quarry
A flooded granite quarry, worked until 1929, ringed by an easy 0.7-mile loop with ten numbered stops from DCR's self-guided tour.
Walk the Quarry Loop →
WWII Tower & Visitor Center
A 60-foot World War II fire-control tower, now the park's visitor center, with exhibits on the park's natural and cultural history.
Visit the Tower →
Tide Pools & Ledges
Granite ledges at the ocean's edge with tide pools that, The Trustees say, hold snails, hermit crabs and sea stars. Look, then leave everything where it is.
Tide Pool Guide →
Halibut Point Reservation
The Trustees' 12 acres next door: the low coastal shelf, more trail, and a link to Rockport's Atlantic Path.
The Trustees' Side →
Rockport Beaches
You can't swim at Halibut Point. Rockport's six town beaches, from Front Beach downtown to Long Beach, are where people go in.
Where to Swim →
Things to Do in Rockport
Bearskin Neck, Motif No. 1 and the harbor are a short drive back toward town on Route 127.
Plan the Rest of the Day →Two Agencies, One Walk
Halibut Point is really two properties that you walk through as one. DCR's state park holds the entrance, the parking lot, the quarry and the tower. The Trustees of Reservations run the 12-acre reservation on the low shelf by the water. The Town of Rockport owns Sea Rocks, a coastal strip next to them on DCR's map. No gate separates them, but the rules differ in small ways, so this site names whose rule is whose.How the Trustees' side differs.
What Not to Do
The quarry is the one rule everyone asks about. DCR bans swimming in it or entering it "for any reason." Alcohol, fires and grills, bikes and scooters, camping, drones and metal detectors are also not allowed, and you may not take shells, rocks, plants or tide-pool animals home. The full list, with whose rule each one is, is on the rules page.
When to Go
Searches for Halibut Point peak in August. The Trustees say that from Memorial Day through Labor Day, when the lot is full it closes for two hours and no one may wait at the gate. Arrive early in summer, or come November through April, when parking is free. Plan your visit.
How to Get to Halibut Point State Park
Parking is a 70-car lot on Gott Avenue (The Trustees), so timing matters more than the route.
By Car
The Trustees' directions: from Route 128, take Route 127 north 3 miles to Rockport center, turn left onto Railroad Avenue (still Route 127) for 2.4 miles, then right onto Gott Avenue. The entrance and lot are on the right. Parking guide.
On Foot or by Bike
Pedestrians and bicyclists pay no fee, per The Trustees. DCR does not allow bicycles inside the park, so walk your wheels.
Park Office
DCR, 4 Gott Avenue, Rockport, MA 01966. Phone (978) 546-2997. DCR's brochure says the visitor center building is also the park's headquarters.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Halibut Point State Park free?
Walking in is free. Parking costs $5 for cars with Massachusetts plates and $20 for other plates from May 23 to October 12 (2026 dates), and parking is free November through April. Pedestrians and bicyclists pay nothing, and The Trustees let their members park free.
Where is Halibut Point State Park?
At 4 Gott Avenue in the Pigeon Cove part of Rockport, on Cape Ann in Massachusetts. Gott Avenue turns off Route 127 (Granite Street). The park entrance and its parking lot are on the right.
Can you swim at Halibut Point?
No. DCR prohibits swimming in or entering the quarry for any reason, and swimming is not part of what the park offers. For swimming, use one of Rockport's town beaches such as Front Beach or Old Garden Beach.
Are dogs allowed at Halibut Point?
Yes, on a leash. DCR's guidelines say no off-leash pets, and its hiking sheet sets a 10-foot maximum leash. The Trustees also require dogs to be leashed at all times on their side.
What are the hours at Halibut Point?
DCR opens the state park year-round from 8:00 am to sunset. The visitor center keeps its own hours; see the hours page for the current schedule.
How long do you need at Halibut Point?
The Trustees suggest at least one hour, or two if you also visit the state park's visitor center and museum. The quarry loop alone is 0.7 mile, which DCR rates easy.