Castle Rock Park on Marblehead Neck

Castle Rock Park, Marblehead Neck, Massachusetts

Castle Rock offers spectacular views of Massachusetts Bay. A very short trail off Ocean Avenue on Marblehead Neck leads to the rock. Once named Great Head, it was renamed Castle Rock for the castle-like Carcassonne mansion next to it.

At Castle Rock Park you are invited to carefully explore the cliffs, rock terraces and tide pools. In the past, Castle Rock was a strategic lookout point. Depending on weather and tides, this is a magnificent place to walk or climb rough rocks, watch breakers, feel the ocean spray and browse the waves of the South Essex Ocean Sanctuary.

Beach rocks, miniature coves and tide pools at Castle Rock

Make it a stop

Visitors of the Marblehead Neck peninsula often include Castle Rock as a sight-seeing stop. It is located half-way between the Marblehead Neck Wildlife Sanctuary and Marblehead Light in Chandler Hovey Park at Marblehead's northern tip. After visiting the wildlife sanctuary, drive back on Risley Road and turn left at its junction with Ocean Ave. After about a quarter-mile, find parking on the right near the Castle Rock trail sign.

Paved path at the entrance of Castle Rock Park

References and more to explore

[1] Castle Rock Park. Essex National Heritage Area. Website: https://essexheritage.org/attractions/castle-rock-park. 

[2] Parks. Town of Marblehead - Massachusetts. Website: https://www.marblehead.org/about-marblehead/pages/parks.

[3] Castle Rock & Castle Rock Lane. Marblehead Conservancy Inc. Website: https://marbleheadconservancy.org/explore/secret-passageways/castle-rock-castle-rock-lane/.