Island Beacons
The legacy of working waters and waterfronts still shine their light on Acadia National Park. Many lighthouses dot the area’s island settings from Blue Hill Bay to Frenchman Bay signaling with flashing lights and fog blasts to keep boaters safe in foul weather. Two of them, the Mount Desert Rock Light and the Great Duck Island Light, are owned by the College of the Atlantic, where students study whales and nesting seabirds. The other four are Baker Island, Bear Island Light, Burnt Coat Harbor, and Egg Rock Light. Some of these great old lighthouses can be viewed and photographed on boat tours that reveal their incredible histories.
Mount Desert Island-area Lighthouses BASS HARBOR A single lighthouse stands on Mount Desert Island: Bass Harbor Head Light. Located at the southwestern section of Acadia National Park in Bass Harbor, the light guards the southern entrance of Blue Hill Bay and warns against Bass Harbor Bar. The light is still fully operational, signaling an occulting red four seconds—three red flashes, one second of darkness. Built in 1858, the lighthouse sits high atop a rugged granite shoreline, making it one of the most scenic views in New England. Visitors may tour the grounds at Bass Harbor Head, but not the lighthouse itself. The lighthouse is extremely congested from May to October and visitors should plan accordingly. 18 18
2022 Visitors’ Guide 2020 Visitors’ Guide
