Jasper Beach derives its name from the reddish volcanic pebbles covering its shore, though the stones are actually rhyolite rather than true jasper, polished smooth by millennia of glacial and tidal action along Machiasport's Howard Cove coastline. This town-owned park beach represents one of the few rocky cobble beaches in the United States, where volcanic geology creates a unique pebble beach rather than traditional sand, serving Washington County's Downeast coastal heritage and geological education.
The beach offers beachcombing among millions of smooth volcanic stones that create musical sounds as waves wash over them, with visitors exploring the unique geology, searching for colorful rhyolite specimens, and photographing the distinctive pebbled shoreline. Low tide reveals petroglyphs in a coastal cave, while bald eagles and harbor seals frequent the surrounding waters and bluffs. Swimming opportunities exist in the typically calm cove waters for those comfortable with North Atlantic temperatures, complemented by picnicking and wildlife observation along this geologically significant shoreline.
Nearby Machias dining includes Helen's Restaurant for award-winning blueberry pie and fresh seafood including lobster rolls and crab rolls served since 1950, The Public House for farm-to-table seasonal Maine cuisine, and Mason's Brewing Company for craft beer and inventive menu items in a riverside brewpub setting, serving Washington County's easternmost coastal communities twenty minutes from the beach.
