Maine’s coastal national park, Acadia National Park, protects almost 64 miles of coastline on Mount Desert Island, Schoodic Peninsula, Isle au Haut, and other islands. The park started its national recognition in 1916 when President Wilson created Sieur de Monts National Monument. After more land was acquired to obtain park status, it became Lafayette National Park in 1919. It wasn’t until 1929 when the name Acadia National Park was adopted.
Acadia National Park
2022 Price: Free due to my Annual Pass (Fee would have been $30 for a 7-day pass)
How It Works
For people used to how other national parks like Yellowstone and Glacier operate, Acadia works a little differently.
Fees
Acadia doesn’t have a fee station right at the park entrance. If you already have a park pass, you can drive directly to a trailhead or parking area. In addition to the Annual Pass, you can buy a yearly Acadia pass or online weekly passes. Visitors can also purchase from one of 5 fee stations in the park (along Park Loop Road at Schooner Head Road, at the visitor center, and three campgrounds).
If you want to drive to the top of Cadillac Mountain, a separate fee and reservation are required to drive up Cadillac Summit Road.
Visitor Center
Hulls Cove Visitor Center is not universally accessible. There are more than 50 stairs to the center. A gift shop and restrooms accompany the visitor center.
Parking
Parking is limited in the park. To us it seemed like the park used to receive fewer visitors and they have had to find ways to accommodate. You are welcome to drive and park throughout the park; however, there is also an Island Explorer Shuttle system throughout the park from the visitor center.
The most popular drive, with the main attractions, is the 27-mile Park Loop Road. Most of Park Loop Road is one-way with two lanes. There are many areas where signs indicate visitors can park in the right lane. Take caution when driving on the loop road – right lane parking, sharp curves, and people crossing the road are extremely common.
Signage
Not all scenic turnouts have signs to let visitors know where they are. Those with signs often have them right before the turnout, making it hard to get over and stop in time. Take your time as you drive through to better spot them. The end of the loop road, after Jordan Pond, changes back to two-way traffic with minimal signage.
Loop Road Attractions
From Park Loop Road, visitors can hike, relax, swim, and enjoy mountains, lakes, forests, meadows, ocean coastlines, beaches, plants, and animals.
Our first stop was an overlook showing the three main mountains – Champlain Mountain, Dorr Mountain, and Cadillac Mountain.
The Tarn
Tarn means a small mountain lake. This pull-off gave us beautiful views of the pond, mountains, and the start of changing leaves.
Egg Rock Overlook
From the overlook, you can see Egg Rock and its lighthouse. The island is at the entrance to Frenchman Bay. Many seabirds call it home and it is part of the Maine Coastal Island National Wildlife Refuge. No people are allowed on the island during nesting season.
Egg Rock Light Station was established in 1875. It remains an active lighthouse today and is not open to the public.
Sand Beach
This beach is in Newport Cove. Its enclosed location, slope, and smaller waves are what allow an actual sand beach to form. You can swim here but be aware the warmest it gets is 60 degrees Fahrenheit.
This is an extremely popular turnout and parking often fills before 9 a.m. during peak season and the weekends. Visitors will need to take a staircase down the cliffside.
Thunder Hole
There is a small parking lot here on the right. If you visit at high tide, you can watch waves crash into the crevasse. You need to walk down cement stairs with railings to view the natural inlet. When the waves hit, it causes a thunderous boom – hence the name. Be prepared, the water can shoot up to 40-feet in the air and you may get wet.
North of the main path, there is a spur trail down to calmer rocks and water.
Otter Cliff Overlook
This overlook has a small parking lot nearby. You can carefully walk out onto the rocky ledge at the 100-foot Otter Cliff. This is quintessential Acadia National Park. It is also a popular rock-climbing spot.
Otter Point Overlook and Otter Cove Overlook
There is a large parking lot here on the right. From Otter Point you can access the Ocean Path trail which runs the coastline to Sand Beach.
We took a short set of steps and a portion of the Ocean Path down to Otter Cove. At Otter Cove, we didn’t see an otter, but we did see a seal in the cove!
Western Point Overlook
Here you get 180-degree views of the rocky shoreline.
Jordan Pond and Bubble Rock
Jordan Pond is a tarn between mountains – Penobscot Mountain, Pemetic Mountain, and The Bubbles (North and South). There is a walking trail around the pond.
Jordan Pound House is a restaurant on the southern end of the pond. Popular orders include tea and popovers.
Bubble Rock is a boulder perched on the eastern edge of South Bubble’s summit. It was moved here by ancient glaciers. There is a 3/4 -mile hiking trail starting at the parking lot on Park Loop Road.
Eagle Lake Overlook
Eagle Lake is the largest freshwater lake in Acadia. It serves as a water supply for Bar Harbor, so swimming isn’t allowed. Fishing is allowed with a license. From the overlook, you can see the pure size of it!
Penobscot Narrows Observatory
Another attraction we saw on the way to Acadia was the Penobscot Narrows Observatory. It is the tallest bridge observatory in the world. You can ride the elevator to the top. We didn’t ride to the top, but we did drive by it on the bridge.
We only had one day to explore so we stuck to the Park Loop Road. I would recommend at least 2 or 3 days in Acadia National Park so you can take the time to hike some longer trails, visit the west side of Mount Desert Island, or tour the islands.
Wow! the photos are fantastic. Years ago I visited Acadia National Park but did not put that visit to good use. I did not see all you posted and I was there camping for a couple of days. I need to return.