Cobscook Bay State Park

{{Short description|State park in Washington County, Maine}}

{{Use mdy dates|date=August 2023}}

{{Infobox protected area

| name = Cobscook Bay State Park

| photo = {{multiple image |border=infobox

| width = 150

| image1 = Broadcove low.jpg

| alt1 = 1893

| caption1 = Low tide

| image2 = Broadcove high.jpg

| alt2 = 1853

| caption2 = High tide

}}

| photo_caption =

| map = USA Maine

| map_size = 280

| map_caption = Location in Maine

| relief = 1

| location = Edmunds, East Central Washington, Maine, United States

| coordinates = {{coord|44|50|36|N|67|9|30|W|display=inline,title}}

| coords_ref =

| area_acre = 871

| area_ref =

| elevation = {{convert|157|ft|m|abbr=on}}{{cite gnis|564663|Cunningham Mountain}}

| designation =

| established = 1964

| named_for =

| visitation_num =

| visitation_year =

| visitation_ref =

| administrator = Maine Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry

| website = [http://www.maine.gov/cobscookbay Cobscook Bay State Park]

| embedded =

}}

Cobscook Bay State Park is a public recreation area occupying {{convert|888|acre}} on the western shore of Cobscook Bay in Washington County, Maine. The park offers a view of dramatically changing tides that on average can rise to {{convert|24|ft}} high with some reaching as high as {{convert|28|ft}}. The name Cobscook is a Maliseet-Passamaquoddy word for boiling tides. The state park is located on Whiting Bay approximately {{convert|6|mi}} south of Dennysville and {{convert|6|mi}} north of Whiting. It is managed by the Maine Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry.

History

The park was created in 1964 when the Federal government offered to lease to the state of Maine lands that remain part of Moosehorn National Wildlife Refuge. The long-term agreement was arranged at no cost to the state.

==Activities and amenities==

The park offers hiking trails, picnicking, camping, boat launch, and bird watching. Over 200 species of birds have been noted, including the American bald eagle.

References

{{reflist|refs=

{{cite web |url=http://www.maine.gov/cobscookbay |title=Cobscook Bay State Park |publisher=Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry |accessdate=July 29, 2014}}

{{cite web |url=http://www.maine.gov/dacf/parks/camping/pdf/outdoorsmini.pdf |title=Outdoors in Maine: State Parks, Public Lands, and Historic Sites |publisher=Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry |date=September 2016 |accessdate=August 9, 2017}}

When the Moosehorn National Wildlife Refuge was closed during the U.S. federal government shutdown of 2013, the state park was effectively closed as well, which prompted Governor Paul LePage to declare he would order the sheriff to use force to keep the park open should another shutdown occur. (See {{cite news |last=Cox |first=Tim |title=LePage vows Cobscook Bay State Park won't be closed by federal action again |newspaper=Bangor Daily News |date=October 18, 2013 |url=http://bangordailynews.com/2013/10/17/news/down-east/lepage-vows-cobscook-bay-state-park-wont-be-closed-by-federal-action-again/ |accessdate=October 23, 2013}})

}}