Nature & Outdoors Guide
Popham Beach: The Wildest Beach in Maine
Massive sandbars, spinning currents, and Civil War forts. A guide to Popham Beach State Park.
Popham Beach State Park in Phippsburg is not your average beach. Located at the mouth of the mighty Kennebec River, it is a place of shifting sands, powerful currents, and dramatic beauty.
The Landscape
The beach changes constantly. The river carries massive amounts of sand down to the ocean, creating a vast, flat beach that can stretch for miles at low tide.
- Fox Island: Just offshore sits Fox Island. At low tide, a massive sandbar (“tombolo”) connects it to the mainland, and you can walk right out to it.
- The Warning: You must watch the tide. When the tide turns, the sandbar floods quickly. People get stranded on Fox Island every year and have to be rescued. Don’t be that person.
Swimming & Safety
Popham is famous for its dangerous currents.
- The Spin: The collision of the river outflow and the incoming ocean tide creates wild swirls and undertows.
- Lifeguards: Lifeguards are on duty in summer, but stay within the designated areas. This is not a beach for casual long-distance swimming.
Fort Popham
Just down the road is Fort Popham, a Civil War-era semicircular granite fort.
- Exploring: It is open to the public (though currently undergoing some restoration). You can walk through the dark archways and spiral staircases.
- Fishing: The pier at the fort is a legendary spot for fishing for striped bass.
Visiting Tips
- Surfing: Popham is a popular surf spot, especially in winter.
- Sand Dollars: It is one of the best places in Maine to find sand dollars at low tide.
- Parking: The State Park lot is large but fills up on sunny weekends. Arrive before 10 AM.
Location: 10 Perkins Farm Ln, Phippsburg.