Acadia National Park is excited to have guests from all across the world this summer! On April 15, motorists will be able to drive on the whole Park Loop Road, which includes the Cadillac Summit Road.
On May 6, the Hulls Cove Visitor Center doors will officially open to the public. It's still being determined when the park's campgrounds and other amenities will open to the public in April and May. Find out when Acadia is open and closed.
Go Hiking
Acadia National Park has a fantastic selection of paths for hikers of all abilities. There are many hiking opportunities, from tranquil strolls along coastal routes to challenging ascents of peaks and exhilarating treks along the edge of cliffs.
Acadia's many intriguing and novel features include its abundance of paths equipped with ladders and metal rungs. These metal rungs are used for hiking over tiny ledges and climbing up steep rock walls like a via Ferrata.
Cadillac Mountain
Cadillac Mountain is the most popular place to see the dawn in Acadia National Park because of its proximity to the sunrise and elevation as one of the earliest places in the United States to see the sunrise.
Any time of day is OK if you don't like waking up early. I've also been told that the sunset is beautiful here. Each morning of our visit, the sky was clouded up, so we could not witness the sunrise from the top of Cadillac Mountain.
It is optional to hike to reach the top of Cadillac Mountain. However, paths leading there do exist. Simply drive up, find a parking spot, and then have a good day touring the peak. While in the area, stroll around the 0.3-mile Cadillac Mountain Summit Loop.
Drive Park Loop Road
Mount Desert Island's Park Loop Road encompasses a total of 27 miles. This gorgeous route links Acadia's must-see attractions, including Jordan Pond, Cadillac Mountain, and the carriage routes. If you're driving the Park Loop Road from Bar Harbor, you should go around the park in a clockwise direction.
Travelling south down the coast, you'll reach Sand Beach, Ocean Path, and Thunder Hole before reaching the trailheads for Precipice Trail and Beehive Trail. When Park Loop Road reaches the other side of Otter Point, it turns inland to reach Jordan Pond. Travelling northward, you'll go by the exit for Cadillac Mountain and eventually return to Bar Harbor.
Sand beach
A beautiful beach is well worth stopping at along Park Loop Road. From here, you can also access a wealth of fantastic walking routes. Hike the challenging Beehive Trail, accessible by crossing Park Loop Road, or take a stroll along the more scenic Great Head Trail.
Walking to Thunder Hole from Sand Beach is a two-mile round-trip journey via Ocean Path. Taking little excursions, you may explore the seaside cliffs on foot.
Thunder hole
The crashing of the waves on the rocks at Thunder Hole gives the area its name. The water's spray can cover up to 40 feet of airspace. You can count on a lot of people at this Acadia landmark. Sand Beach is a short walk away, and a parking lot is right across the street.
If you want to hear the waves' thunderclap, I've read that the optimum time to visit Thunder Hole is two hours before high tide. If you visit on a still day or at low tide, you will miss out on some of the action.
What a stunning stretch of shoreline. The sights along the shore were more appealing to me than watching the water crash against the rocks.
Jordan Pond House
You must try the popovers at Jordan Pond House. Snack on these delicious delicacies before or after taking one of several fantastic walks in the vicinity, all of which begin right on the restaurant's doorstep on the bank of Jordan Pond.
Big numbers are to be expected around lunchtime. We had to come back later in the day because we needed more parking on our first visit.
The Jordan Pond House serves as a jumping-off point for several hikes, including the short and simple Jordan Pond Trail, the more adventurous Jordan Cliffs Trail, and the ascent of South Bubble.
Echo Lake
Beautiful Echo Lake may be found on Mount Desert Island. Due to its location west of Park Loop Road, Jordan Pond sees fewer tourists than this one. Take in the lake vistas from the little beach or explore the area farther via the beautiful Beech Cliff Ladder Trail. From these rocks, you can see Echo Lake in all its splendour.
