How to Find Sea Glass in Maine

Common glass objects are transformed into frosty gems of the ocean by the constant tumbling and polishing of currents and waves. Maine's beaches, coves and harbors are a treasure chest of sea glass waiting to be discovered. Sea glass comes in all colors, with wine reds and cobalt blues the rarer and highly prized finds. Some places offer up more treasures than others, if you know where to look.

Instructions

Difficulty: Easy

Things You’ll Need:

Good walking shoes Bag or pail
Good walking shoes
Bag or pail

Step 1

Find the right conditions. Look for place where bluffs back up to the beach, the shoreline is or was populated, and the wind blows unobstructed for miles. Beaches that are dragged and cleaned regularly yield few results. Bar Island in Bar Harbor, Maine, is a tidal island with plentiful finds. Wear good walking shoes to protect your feet and have a bag or beach pail to carry your finds.

Step 2

Go when the time is right. Try searching from an hour after high tide until low tide. Fall is a good time to search, as fewer tourists are around. A pool next to the old fort at Fort Popham in Phippsburg yields a variety of colorful sea glass that is visible on the surface.

Step 3

Determine a source of the sea glass. You are more likely to find sea glass on beaches near old pottery or glass shops or where household goods--such as colorful dinnerware, oil lamps and chandeliers--may have been dumped into the ocean.

Step 4

Contact the local historical society, museum or library to find information on previous settlements. Discover if any shipwrecks lie along the coast and where finds have washed up before. Sea glass, china or pottery shards will likely be found nearby. East End Beach in Portland is a hot spot for sea glass.

Step 5

Look for wave action. Waves tumble the glass and make it smooth and frosty. Waves should be higher than 1 foot, but not so high that they'd drag you into the ocean. Rocky coastlines with coves or rocks that can trap the glass without dragging it back out to sea are ideal places to look. Head Beach, not far from Phippsburg, has a rock-strewn area where sea glass collects.

Tips & Warnings

Be mindful that some sea glass may still have a sharp edge or two. Wear thin gloves to prevent scratches and ward off the chill of the cold waters.

Article Written By Lynn Star

Lynn Star has a BA in Communications, is a 20+ year professional in real estate, tax analysis and preparation, and an in-depth researcher of any topic that catches her interest. She is also an avid do-it-yourselfer in home improvement, crafts and green technologies.

Editor's Pick

5 Top North American Wildflower Hikes

Springtime brings a sense of new beginnings and new life as flowers begin to bloom and fill the air with their sweet and pleasant fragrance. Luckily we can see wildflowers all summer long, since spring hits at different times throughout North America. See flowering cactu...
More National Parks...
Popular Article

National Park Substitutes: Great Spots Without the Crowds

Coping with crowds at national parks can get tiresome, especially during the peak tourist season. If you want to escape from the herd, or just take a breather from the bustle of bigger attractions, the United States has plenty of less-visited but still worthwhile spots t...
More National Parks...
Featured Destination

Prevent Yourself from Getting Lost While Hiking

When you're hiking you're going to want to make sure you stay found. What I mean by that is that you've put an itinerary in the car, you know the area that you're hiking to, you know the route and the trail you plan on being on, you know what the trail markers are going ...
More Camping Basics...