Acadia National Park is made up of 47,000 acres of protected lands located on the coast of Maine. Most of the park is on Mount Desert Island, but outer regions extend across nearby islands and peninsulas. The park is home to Cadillac Mountain, the tallest mountain on the east coast. Designated in 1916, it was the first American National Park east of the Mississippi River, and in 2022 it was America’s 5th most visited National Park. I spent 3 days exploring the park in early September 2023, and these are top 10 things that I discovered!
(Images taken from https://www.nps.gov/acad)
10. Cruise down the Park Loop Road
Perhaps the most accessible activity in the park is the Park Loop, a winding road that hits many of the major attractions on Mount Desert Island. Many scenic pull-offs allow visitors stop and admire the oceans, sea walls, cobble beaches, and islands beyond. Harbor porpoises, seals, various raptors, and seabirds are often easy to spot from these lookout points.
Most of the road only allows traffic in one direction, so make sure you know where you’re going to save yourself the headache of doubling back.
9. Visit Sand Beach
Sand Beach is one of the only non-rocky beaches in Maine, and it’s the perfect place to relax on a hot summer day. Since my visit was in September, the temperature of the water was tolerable for about…4 seconds. It didn’t bother some people though!
The moderately-sized parking lot is used by both hikers and beachgoers, so it fills up quickly on busy days. Best to get there early.
8. Visit Bass Harbor Head Light Station
Acadia Nation Park operates three lighthouses, but Bass Harbor Head Light Station is the only one accessible by land (the others are on Baker and Bear Islands).
I recommend visiting at night, when you can see the eerie red glow of the bulb pierce through the dark sky.
Gentle waves, thick foggy mist, and the constant ringing of a distant buoy bell gave my visit a creepy, ominous vibe.
7. Hike to Beech Mountain Fire Tower
Beech Mountain is on the quieter, western half of Mount Desert Island, and a lone fire tower idly sits on its peak and watches over the surrounding forest. The tower hasn’t been actively operated since 1976, but visitors can still enter top of the structure when park rangers are present (plus, the stairs are always open). This is a great place to watch a sunset because the hike back down the mountain can be completed fairly quickly.
6. Visit Downtown Bar Harbor
Bar Harbor is the largest town on Mount Desert Island, and is located only a few minutes from Acadia. There are limited camping options inside the park, so most visitors stay in one of Bar Harbor’s many inns and hotels. The town presents itself as a resort, with many fine dining restaurants, art galleries, and souvenir shops. I found this beautiful beach by Grant Park on the town’s shore path.
5. Hike the Jordan Pond Loop
Perhaps the most photographed location in Acadia is the Jordan Pond area, a calm lake with a 3 mile paved/boardwalk path around the perimeter. The route has virtually no elevation change, so it’s perfect for families with small children and hikers looking for a relaxing stroll. Wildlife is abundant, and you’ll likely see loons, birds of prey, and evidence of beavers.
4. Eat at the Jordan Pond House
After a stroll around Jordan Pond, many visitors grab a bite to eat at the historic Jordan Pond House Restaurant. Being in operation since 1893, the restaurant is relatively expensive and there’s often a wait, but the food is top notch. Their famous dish is tea with “popovers”– a light, fluffy muffin made from thin eggy batter that rises to form a hollow shell when baked. It’s crispy on the outside, gooey on the inside, and served hot with butter and strawberry jam.
3. Hike Beehive Trail, Gorham Mountain Trail, & Ocean Path
One of the most trafficked trails in Acadia, the Beehive Trail challenges hikers to ascend a 450-foot cliff using little more than narrow granite ledges and iron rung ladders. Hikers who reach the summit are rewarded with beautiful views of Sand Beach, Gorham Mountain, Thunder Hole, and the Gulf of Maine. The quickest loop to the top is 1.4 miles, but I recommend extending it using the Gorham Mountain Trail and the Ocean Path (see the dotted red line on the map).
Soon after leaving the parking lot, you’ll reach a fork where the trial splits between easy and difficult routes. The difficult route features bouldering sections, iron rung ladders, and steep overlooks.
It’s completely worth it for those who are able, but do not underestimate the risks.
People have fallen and died on this trail, so small children, pets, and people afraid of heights should absolutely not embark. Sturdy shoes, dry conditions, and decent upper body strength are also needed for success. Be safe, folks.
Along the Ocean Path you’ll have the opportunity to stop by Thunder Hole, which is a famous sea cave that emits lightning-crack noises when waves crash into it. This sound effect is strongest 2 hours before high tide on days with strong wave patterns, so you should track the tides and weather if you want to arrive during optimal conditions. I did NOT do this, so I watched a calm sea with a crowd of disappointed spectators.
2. Hike the Precipice Trail
Similar to the Beehive Trail, the Precipice Trail is not for the feint of heart. Be prepared for narrow ledges, steep drops, and iron-rung ladders that climb straight up cliff faces.
Hikers ascend over 1000 feet in just under a mile to get to the top of this mountain. Traversing this trail is more like rock climbing than it is hiking, and many have compared it to Angels Landing in Zion. This hike has the same hazards as the Beehive Trail (see above), so the same precautions should be taken.
Furthermore, hikers on Precipice Trail only go one way: up. Once you’re at the top, you’ll have to take another route down, and most of the options add another 3-5 miles to the hike.
1. Watch the Sunrise from Cadillac Mountain
Yeah, yeah, I know. Google any top 10 Acadia travel list, and you’ll probably find this at the top. But for good reason! Look!
Cadillac Mountain is the tallest mountain on the east coast, and for most of the year it’s the first place in America that sees the sunrise. There’s even a super convenient road that goes straight to the top!
Unfortunately, visitors need to acquire a $6 permit to drive on Cadillac Mountain Road. Permits for any given day are released 2 days prior, and in my experience they sell out immediately. I wasn’t lucky enough to get one, so I woke up extra early to hike up the mountain in the dark. In retrospect, my biggest regret of the whole trip is hiking up a 3 mile road and NOT bringing my skateboard for the way down.
And that’s it! Those activities were the highlights of my Acadia trip. Thanks for joining me on this adventure, and stay tuned for more!
Cheers 🙂
Chris Monteferrante 
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