from October through March, and watching daybreak there is a pilgrimage for East Coast nature lovers. Cadillac Mountain also catches the very first light to strike the continental U.S. Portland Press Herald/Getty Cadillac Mountain sunriseĭawn at 1,527-foot Cadillac Mountain raises the curtain on a panorama of pint-sized islands, deep bays, and inky forests among Maine’s most spectacular views. Oven-fresh popovers at Jordan Pond House are an Acadia National Park tradition. For the most romantic way to explore, take an open carriage drawn by the shaggy draft horses from family-owned Carriages of Acadia located off Park Loop Road. Though surface conditions vary, moderate Eagle Lake and Bubble Pond are the best roads for wheelchair users. With wheels from Bar Harbor’s Acadia Bike, you can pedal 1.8 miles to the Duck Brook Bridge carriage road entrance, or hop the free Bicycle Express shuttle to the northern tip of Eagle Lake. Carriage roadsĬrushed stone, car-free carriage roads spiderweb for 45 cruisable miles between Acadia’s mountains and rain-fed lakes, passing big views, granite bridges, and mossy brooks along the way. Sauveur Mountain and Acadia Mountain loop, which passes through dense woods to a pair of summits overlooking Somes Sound. Solitude is further afield: For pine-scented trails and ridge-line views hike Sargent Mountain via the 6.5-mile, out-and-back South Ridge Trail, or head west to the 3.7-mile St. For something more challenging, test your vertigo on the justifiably popular 3.2-mile Beehive Loop, an adventurous trail that emerges from a forested gully onto pink granite boulders, traversing rock faces fixed with iron rungs and staircases. Weaving between forest and ocean views is the mostly flat Great Head Trail, a 1.7-mile round trip that starts by crossing pretty Sand Beach. Trails in Acadia range from quick, coastal jaunts to all-day adventures, with many trailheads dotting the curve of Park Loop Road. Now, a host of cool offerings are opening this gem to a new wave of travelers. Endless hiking trails and a network of car-free carriage roads open the park interior to walkers, cyclists, equestrians, and wheelchair users.įor decades, the western side of Mount Desert Island has been favored by prominent families and in-the-know summer vacationers. Attractions and views are concentrated along the 27-mile, one-way Park Loop Road looping Mount Desert Island’s eastern side, but don’t just stay on the pavement. Located just north of Bar Harbor, Hulls Cove Visitor Center is the starting point for park passes, maps, and trail information. Blustery midwinter days hover around freezing, with periodic snow that transforms carriage roads into snowshoe and cross-country ski trails. (If the latter calls to you, you'll understand why we consider Acadia one of the best national parks to visit in winter.) What to do in Acadia National Park The official low season is November through May, and while the park itself is open its campgrounds close along with many restaurants and hotels-especially those outside of Bar Harbor. Visiting outside of these busy months means bypassing throngs: consider June’s clear skies and blooming lilacs, or the crisp nights and bright foliage that arrive in autumn. When to visitīeach weather brings big crowds to Acadia through July and August, when highs in the mid 70s temper the always-brisk ocean temps. to visit car-free-in season, free shuttle buses zip between trailheads, beaches, and gateway town Bar Harbor. After arrival, consider parking for the duration of your stay, as Acadia is among the best national parks in the U.S. Slower and more scenic is Route 1’s coastal meander past ocean-side charmers Rockland and Camden time your departure with care, because while it’s three and a half hours with no traffic, busier periods turn the two-lane Route 1 into an aggravating snarl. Most people drive to Acadia, which is a three-hour, 170-mile jaunt from Portland, Maine, via inland highways 295 and 95. Noppawat Tom Charoensinphon/Getty How to get to Acadia National Park Just remember to make a reservation if you plan to visit by car from May through October. At Blue Hill Overlook on Cadillac Mountain, sunrise-and sunset-are striking views.
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