7 minute read
Acadia National Park
Acadia National Park falls in the top ten list of most visited national parks in the United States, welcoming more than three million travelers every year. Planning a trip to this very popular park is sure to be worth your time. Be prepared ahead of your arrival and be sure to have a park entrance pass and separate vehicle reservation for the Cadillac Summit Road. Check nps.gov/acadia before you arrive and when you arrive, visit the Hulls Cove Visitor Center to speak with park rangers about your trip.
What we now know as Acadia National Park has been the ancestral homeland of the Wabanaki people since time immemorial. Later, European colonists and settlers worked these woodlands and waters. Starting in the mid-19th century, wealthy summer residents, landscape architects and engineers, and skilled local craftsmen began formalizing extensive trail and carriage road networks and advocating for protection of this special place from development. In 1916, Woodrow Wilson established the park that now preserves more than 49,000 acres including the vast historic trail and carriage road network. The park encompasses nearly half of Mount Desert Island, many smaller islands, and a portion of the Schoodic Peninsula. Today’s visitors inherit the special responsibility of caring for this heritage landscape while enjoying all that Acadia has to offer.
If you’re an early riser, drive, bike, or walk to watch the sunrise along Acadia’s beautiful rocky shoreline on Ocean Drive. From October to May, you’ll be among the first in the United States to see the dawning of a new day. Later enjoy dinner or simply stop in for popovers and strawberry jam at the famous Jordan Pond House, a delightful restaurant founded in the early 1870s.
Motorists who drive the Park Loop Road enjoy a 27-mile ride along oceanside cliffs and mountain forests, stopping at scenic turnouts and notable attractions along the way, such as the mighty Thunder Hole and Sand Beach. The trip is a must.
One of the most amazing features of Acadia National Park is the interlaced system of historic hiking trails and carriage roads. With varied lengths and levels of difficulty, the 125 miles of trails appeal to everyone from casual walkers to seasoned triathletes. Hike, bike, snowshoe, cross country ski – or go by horse-drawn carriage.
With Acadia’s popularity June - October, plan ahead to avoid traffic congestion and long waits. Consider visiting popular attractions in the early morning or late afternoons or take the fare-free* Island Explorer bus (late June - mid October) instead of driving.
FEES & PASSES
Everyone (16 years old and above) needs an entrance pass to visit Acadia. You can use either a National Park/Federal Lands pass (including Senior, Access, Annual, and more) or an Acadia-specific pass. To purchase your pass, go to recreation.gov, visit an official Acadia National Park location, or stop by the Bar Harbor Chamber of Commerce visitor center when you arrive.
In addition to your entrance pass, vehicle reservations are also required for Cadillac Summit Road from mid-May to mid-October. Reservations can be made at recreation.gov. Vehicle reservations are not required for visitors who enter the Cadillac Summit area by foot, bike, or taxi.
On the While You’re Carriage Here... Roads
Photo by Heather Anderson
Take a step back in time when you walk, hike, bike, snowshoe, or cross-country ski the carriage roads of Mount Desert Island. You can choose to go by horse and carriage, the way John D. Rockefeller, Jr. intended when he helped plan and fund the park’s 45 miles of crushed stone roads between 1913 and 1940 for motorless travel. No matter how you experience the carriage roads, you’ll enjoy the magnificent beauty that surrounds them.
The historic carriage roads are 16 feet wide with generous crowns that keep them well drained. Considered the best example of broken stone roads in the United States, they are, indeed, an engineering wonder. Local workers quarried granite right here on the island to build the intricate network of roads and 17 spectacular stone bridges. In fact, the stone cutters developed such skill that Rockefeller asked them to create a more rustic look. He also took care to preserve trees and to landscape with native plants through the expertise of landscape architect Beatrix Farrand— ferns, sheep laurel, and blueberry bushes—so the roads blend naturally with their surroundings.
The well-marked roads wander through Acadia National Park, covering long, shady stretches of woodland, skirting peaceful lakes and ponds, circling mountain elevations, and showcasing breathtaking views of the Atlantic and nearby islands.
More than 60 years ago, Rockefeller donated 11,000 acres to Acadia National Park, complete with the carriage road system he designed and funded. Today both Mainers and visitors enjoy the quiet beauty of Acadia’s beautiful carriage roads.
Acadia offers more than 125 miles of interconnected and looping hiking trails that appeal to explorers of all skill levels. To simply relax and enjoy your vacation on a scenic yet casual walk, try some local favorites which can all be reached from the Island Explorer Bus Service (late June - mid October) …
Whether it’s adventure or relaxation you crave, MDI is teeming with fabulous experiences.
OCEAN PATH
From the upper parking lot at Sand Beach, this easy walk takes you to Otter Point and back. The entire trail skirts the Atlantic, so you have breathtaking views at every step. Stop at Thunder Hole for photos (Easy, 4-mile round trip).
JESUP PATH
Start in town at the Village Green and connect to the Jesup Path, which meanders through the woods near Kebo Valley Golf Club and across a bog to Great Meadow, a freshwater marsh (2.5 miles, easy). Visit with park rangers at Acadia’s Sieur de Monts Nature Center, take a walk through the Wild Gardens of Acadia, and visit the historic Abbe Museum before returning to Bar Harbor. For a one-way walk, take the Island Explorer bus to Sieur de Monts then take a leisurely stroll back to Bar Harbor after visiting these park highlights.
CADILLAC MOUNTAIN
Hike on the North or South Ridge Trails to the Cadillac summit at 1,530 feet to enjoy spectacular 360-degree views of Bar Harbor, Frenchman Bay, and the Cranberry Isles. Remember, anyone driving to the summit will need a vehicle reservation from May to October.
THE PRECIPICE
On the eastern face of Champlain Mountain, you’ll discover the most challenging of the park’s historic hiking trails. With an exposed 1000-foot vertical surface ascended on rung ladders, the climb is strenuous and recommended for experienced, fit, and fearless adventurers. This hike is not recommended for young children or hikers with a fear of heights. Dogs are prohibited for their safety. The Precipice is also home to a family of endangered peregrine falcons and is typically closed between late spring and early summer while these territorial birds are nesting.
The best place to get expansive scenic views of Acadia National Park is from offshore in Frenchman Bay. Avoid the bustle of mid-day crowds and join a Ranger-led boat tour around Mount Desert Island or visit an offshore island…
BAKER ISLAND CRUISE
Join a park ranger on a five-hour ocean and island tour to Baker Island to visit a historic cemetery and homestead, the Baker Island Lighthouse, and a rugged, rocky shoreline. Enjoy fantastic views of Mount Desert Island and watch for seabirds, seals, porpoise, and other marine life while travelling to this offshore gem. Not recommended for small children or visitors with mobility issues as the island portion of the tour can be strenuous and consist of uneven surfaces. Departs from Bar Harbor. For reservations, call 207-288-2386 or visit www. barharborwhales.com.
COMPASS HARBOR
Visit the remains of the cottage home of the father of Acadia, George B. Dorr. Enjoy an old growth forest and scenic views of the Bar Harbor shoreline. This path is a short walk from the ball fields located on the south side of Bar Harbor. It is the easiest trail to access on foot from Bar Harbor, so it is perfect if you want to leave your car at your downtown hotel or if you want to take a short ride on the Island Explorer bus from another Bar Harbor location.
Photo by Jeff Dobbs
ISLESFORD SCENIC & HISTORIC CRUISE
Join a park ranger for a 3-hour cruise to explore the connections between people and the sea with a visit to the Islesford Historical Museum and Little Cranberry Island. Enjoy sweeping views of Somes Sound, watch for marine mammals and sea birds, and view multiple lighthouses while travelling to the lobstering community of Islesford. Tour departs from Northeast Harbor. For reservations, call (207)276-5352 or visit www. cruiseacadia.com.
These are the boat tours with park rangers on-board but many other boat tour options exist for sea kayaking, lobstering, nature viewing, whale watching, underwater diving, and sunset sailing. Sunset is an amazing time to take a boat trip because you will get 360 degree views of the setting sun as the colors reflect on the offshore waters. For more trip planning ideas and information on ranger-led programs, special use permits, fees, alerts and management efforts in Acadia National Park, visit www.nps.gov/acad or follow Acadia National Park on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram at AcadiaNPS.
