Visitors to Acadia National Park can explore more than 47,000 acres of mountains, beaches, and horse trails.
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Scott L. Hall, USA TODAY
Acadia is one of America’s most visited national parks each year, and it’s easy to see why.
“It’s absolutely stunningly beautiful,” said Perrin Doniger, vice president of communications and marketing for Friends of Acadia, an independent nonprofit that has supported the park for 40 years.
“The granite mountains jut out from the ocean, so you have a vast and beautiful view,” she added. “The winding nature of the Maine coast provides some very unique views of both sunrise and sunset on the East Coast.”
That’s not all Acadia has to offer.
position
Most of Acadia is located on Maine’s Mount Desert Island and is accessible by road. However, the intentionally less developed Schoodic Peninsula is located on the mainland.
There is also part of the park on Ile Haut, which can be accessed by third-party ferry, and there are also several remote islands that can be visited on commercial boat tours.
why is it important
There are 63 officially designated national parks in the National Park System.
Acadia was the first permanent one east of the Mississippi River and remains the only one in the Northeast. It was also “the first national park created from private land gifted to the public through the efforts of conservation-minded citizens,” according to the park’s website.
Long before that, it was the ancestral homeland of the Wabanaki people, who have managed this land since time immemorial, Amanda Pollock, deputy director of Acadia Interpretation, told USA TODAY in an email. According to the park, these tribes include the Halton Tribe of Maliseet Indians, the Mi’kmaq Tribe, the Passamaquoddy Tribe of Motakokumik, the Passamaquoddy Tribe of Shipaiq, and the Penobscot Indian Tribe.
Acadia also protects more than 47,000 acres of land that is home to a variety of wildlife, including peregrine falcons, whose populations the park has helped restore.
“(It’s) a really unique place ecologically because there’s a lot of overlap in species, plants and animals, like the northern climate and the southern climate, and Acadia is kind of the intersection of those,” Doniger said.
What to see today
Dramatic seaside cliffs, tranquil ponds, and scenic mountain views greet visitors. Additionally, more than 240 miles of hiking trails and 45 miles of carriage trails, gifted by John D. Rockefeller Jr., are still available for horse-drawn carriages, bicycles, and pedestrians.
On the east side of Mount Desert Island, popular attractions include Cadillac Mountain, Sand Beach, and Thunder Hole. The west side of the MDI includes Bass Harbor Head Light Station, the sea wall, and more.
“One of Acadia National Park’s most unique attractions is the Carroll Homestead. This small, unassuming cabin offers a glimpse into what life was like on Mount Desert Island 200 years ago,” Pollock said. “Built by the Carroll family in 1825, this homestead tells the story of hardworking settlers who cultivated the land and raised their families in this rugged coastal environment.”
Ask the locals
Parking is very limited in this area, but the free Island Explorer shuttle stops throughout the park and surrounding community. Without leaving Mount Desert Island, visitors can take a shuttle to Bar Harbor and enjoy a variety of restaurants, inns, and tourist services.
plan your visit
best time: Early fall is one of the best times of the year to visit this park. The summer crowds have subsided, but everything is still open and the colorful fall foliage is at its peak.
Doniger is also enjoying winter in the park. “We’ve had some great snow in Acadia this year, and one of the activities of Friends of Acadia is a volunteer group that grooms Bashamichi ski trails for skate skiing and classic cross-country skiing,” she said. “This is going to be a truly magical time.”
Business hours/admission fee: The park is open year-round, but many areas are closed seasonally, including the visitor center, campgrounds, Echo Lake and Lakewood beaches, Jordan Pond House, and various roads. Pollock noted that the park’s Sand Beach Entrance Station is staffed year-round and supports staffing of the Bar Harbor Chamber of Commerce Visitor Center during the winter months. Trenton’s new Acadia Gateway Center opens for peak season. Travelers should check the park’s website for location-specific operating details.
For U.S. residents, park admission is $35 per private vehicle. New this year, nonresidents ages 15 and older will be charged an additional $100 per person unless they have an America the Beautiful Public Lands Pass. It costs $250 for non-residents.
Plus, visitors who want to drive a Cadillac Summit Road from May 20th to October 25th requires timed entry reservations for $6 per vehicle.
directions: There is a small airport within 15 minutes of the park, Hancock County Bar Harbor Airport. Operated by JetBlue in partnership with Cape Air. The next closest airport is Bangor International Airport, which is just over an hour’s drive from Acadia.
learn more: For more information, visit nps.gov/acad.
