The Knob Quissett Harbor
Falmouth, Ma.
October 1, 2009
I took an hour out of my day on a late October afternoon and drove to Quissett Harbor for walk out to the Knob.
Quissett Harbor & The Knob Topo Map
The sky was mostly overcast on this afternoon. The temperature was 57 degrees with a light breeze. The tide was drifting in with several feet yet to rise.
Quissett Harbor
The Quissett Harbor House stands at the entrance to the Knob. According to Quissett Harbor Land Trust, “In 1975, the Quissett Harbor House closed its doors for the last time, truly the end of an era. But, largely due to the generosity of Cornelia Carey, Helen Carey, other members of the Carey family and the work of individuals like Lewis W. Francis, Jr., Quissett did not go the way of developers, as did so many old summer resorts. Cornelia Carey left the outer part of the Knob property to Salt Pond Area Bird Sanctuaries, Inc. as a nature preserve, open for public access. The Carey family made possible the purchase of the central portion of the hotel property by the Quissett Harbor House Land Trust, thus preserving the social core of the old summer community and the historic buildings.”
the Quissett Harbor House a former summer hotel
At one time a salt works stood operated at Quissett harbor. A shipbuilding company was formed there in 1802. Deacon Thomas Fish served as its first agent for a period of 10 years until the War of 1812.
Quissett Knob Inner Harbor and marina from trailhead
Stone steps leading along the beginning of the Main Trail to the Knob.
Quissett Knob Entry to Main Trail
The Main Trail is easy and wide.
Quissett Knob Main Trail
After a short walk of about five minutes the Knob comes into view.
Quissett Knob Comes into view.
Stairs climb down the side of the Main Trail onto Crescent Beach.
Beach Stairs to Crescent Beach
Stone steps lead the way up to the top of the Knob.
Steps up to the top of the Knob.
A memorial bench at the top of the Knob dedicated to Cornelia Carey.
Quissett Knob memorial bench
I sat on the bench with the Knob to myself and had a snack.
View from the Knob North toward the Cape Cod Canal.
It was quiet and the cool breeze felt very refreshing with wide views in all directions.
View from the Knob to the southwest toward New Bedford and the Elizabeth Islands.
The Elizabeth Islands lie off Woods Hole to the South beyond Gansett Point.
Gansett Point to the south from the Knob
Coming down from the Knob a stairway leads down to the rocky beach below. I took this trail so as to complete my circular trip around the point.
Stairs to rocky beach below near Quissett Harbor entrance.
The beach is easier walking that it appears. Jumping from rock to rock it’s a quick trip.
Beach rocks on the trail around the inside of the point.
Once around the corner of the rocky beach a large rock sits in the middle of the beach. At this rock a trail re-enters the point connecting with a web of interior trails. This area is known as Fisherman’s Beach.
Just inside the trees grows a twisted oak
The trail along the western side of the point is named the Harbor Cliff Trail. It is easy walking, however, not quite as wide as the Main Trail.
Harbor Cliff Trail
I came across this memorial stone on one of the inner trails.
Painted stone in memorial to "Jim Gilbert"
With views from the Harbor Cliff Trail overlooking Quissett Inner Harbor the beach below changes from rocks to sand.
Sandy Beach along inner harbor
The Harbor Cliff Trail ends with a set of stairs back at the beginning of the Main Trail completing the loop.
Stairs coming down from the Harbor Cliff Trail to the Main Trail.
On this afternoon my walk took me 50 minutes. With a 10 minute break at the Knob to enjoy the view, it was a pleasant afternoon in a beautiful area, which I had all to myself.
Sunsets from the Knob are a great way to end the day.
The views and opinions in the Enterprise blogs are those of the author and are not neccessarily shared by Falmouth Publishing.
