25 Sep Exploring Exciting Adventures in Acadia National Park, Maine
Acadia National Park in Maine offers an array of spectacular adventures. Nestled in Bar Harbor on Mount Desert Island, we’ve had the pleasure of visiting Acadia National Park three times, and we believe it’s time to share our experiences!
Throughout our visits, we’ve managed to carve out additional days to explore the park independently. We’ve visited the Jordan Pond House for their famous popovers, hiked the Bubble Trails, relaxed at the beach, watched the sun rise and set from Cadillac Mountain, driven along Park Loop Road, explored a lighthouse, and walked some of the Old Carriage Roads. Keep reading for more details about our adventures in Acadia National Park!
Our first stop at Acadia was the Jordan Pond House. Established in the late 1800s, it has upheld the tradition of serving afternoon tea and popovers on the lawn—a historic delight! Arriving around 2:30 p.m., we were pleased to find that there was only a 5-minute wait for a table.
While the picnic tables outside looked charming, we opted for a table inside the restaurant, which was equally delightful. We each ordered two popovers with jam and coffee. When they arrived, the popovers were impressively large! Thankfully, their hollow center made them less filling than expected. The fresh strawberry jam complemented the warm popovers perfectly, providing a delicious boost before our evening hike.
In addition to afternoon tea, Jordan Pond House serves breakfast and lunch. Situated next to Jordan Pond, it offers stunning views of the surrounding scenery.
Jordan Pond is one of the most famous locations within Acadia National Park. If you’ve ever seen a photo of a lake flanked by two bubble-shaped mountains, that would be Jordan Pond! There are numerous trails to hike around the lake and the surrounding mountains, or you can simply take a short stroll from the parking area to enjoy the iconic view of the lake. The Jordan Pond Path is a scenic trail that runs along the lakeshore, spanning a little over 3 miles. While we have not yet had the chance to complete this trail, we have visited the lake several times during our park visits and can confirm it’s a sight you don’t want to miss!
There are numerous hiking trails across Acadia National Park, many of which we hope to explore someday. On our short visits, we were able to hike the Bubble Trails. Initially, I aimed to cover both the Bubbles and Nubble Trails, but due to time constraints and an early call the next day, we opted to hike only the North Bubble Trail and South Bubble Trail. Thankfully, these trails were excellent choices and really delivered on their promise!
We began our hike from the Bubbles Divide parking lot, taking the South Bubble Trail first. The vistas from the summit were breathtaking—we could catch a glimpse of a small section of Jordan Pond, another distant lake, and the forests and mountains surrounding us. We also visited the famous bubble rock, which looks as though it might roll off the mountain, and took pictures with the elevation sign before continuing our adventure.
We returned down the same trail before detouring to the North Bubble Trail. To our surprise, the views from this summit were even more impressive. We enjoyed unobstructed sights of Jordan Pond, the surrounding mountains, and even spotted the Jordan Pond Restaurant across the lake.
In total, the hike was a quick and enjoyable 1.5 miles round trip. The hikes on both Bubbles Trails involved some rock scrambling and a steady uphill trek to each summit, but overall, we found the trails manageable, and the views made it more than worth it.
Beaches always beckon, and the beach at Acadia is no exception! During our visit to Sand Beach, it was a sweltering 90-degree day, and the beach was bustling. We were astonished by how tropical it felt that day—it was hard to believe we were on a beach in Maine!
Although we didn’t swim, we did dip our toes in the water, stroll along the shoreline, and climb on the boulders for some fun photos. We also delighted in exploring the tide pools near the rocks, observing all sorts of creatures and plants. Spending time soaking up the sun was a perfect way to enjoy this stop!
One of the park’s most iconic locations is Cadillac Mountain, especially renowned for its sunrise views. Due to its elevation and eastern location, it offers the first glimpse of the sunrise in the United States.
For sunrise watchers, the wake-up call can come as early as 3 a.m. in June, with the first light starting to illuminate the horizon. During our visit, a reservation system was in place for driving the summit road, and we were fortunate that our colleague secured the earliest slot available. This allowed us to start our scenic 3-mile drive up at 3:00 a.m., arriving just before 5:00 a.m. for the breathtaking sunrise. When we reached the top, the sun was already casting a warm glow over the horizon, inviting us to find a perfect spot to soak in the view.
As the sun fully rose over the horizon, we were surprised by how many others had joined us atop the mountain. It’s clear why watching the sunrise here is a must-do experience—it’s a breathtaking display of beauty. We spent just over an hour on the mountain, taking in nature’s splendor before heading to breakfast at the only open café we could find in Bar Harbor. Fortunately, it turned out to be quite delicious—more on that below!
Currently, for the 2022 season, a reservation is required for those wishing to drive the 3-mile scenic road to Cadillac Mountain between May 25 and October 22. A limited number of tickets (30% of total availability) are released 90 days in advance, while the remaining 70% are made available two days prior. These tickets go quickly and cost $6.00 per vehicle. If you’re unable to secure a reservation, keep checking the site for possible cancellations. Always refer to the national park website for updated permit information and regulations.
Visitors can also choose to hike up Cadillac Mountain or visit during times other than sunrise! We haven’t yet hiked up, but we did drive up for the sunset during our first visit. While the sunrise was unmatched, the sunset was equally beautiful, proving it’s worth making the trek no matter the time of day or mode of access.
The Park Loop Road is a fantastic way to experience many sights throughout Acadia National Park. This 27-mile route circles the eastern side of Mount Desert Island and provides access to trailheads, beaches, stunning scenery, and more. Notable stops include Cadillac Mountain, Sand Beach, and Jordan Pond.
On our final morning at the park, we drove along the loop, stopping frequently to enjoy the breathtaking scenery and stretch our legs. We made stops at the beach, Jordan Pond, and several scenic viewpoints. It was the perfect way to wrap up our time in Acadia National Park!
On a future visit, we hope to hike the Jordan Cliffs Loop, Beehive Loop Trail, Precipice Trail, and the entire Bubbles Nubble Loop. With so many fantastic locations to explore in Acadia, we eagerly anticipate our next adventure!
Acadia National Park boasts impressively dark skies, making it an excellent spot for star-gazing. Mount Desert Island features low levels of light pollution, especially if you venture deeper into the park, away from Bar Harbor. During our first visit, we sought out Jordan Pond for a stunning night sky view. Fortunately, we were met with clear skies and brilliant stars! The sight of Jordan Pond at night was extraordinary, and there are many other spots within the park that offer remarkable views of the stars. You might even be lucky enough to see the northern lights!
During our first visit to Acadia, we also strolled along some of the Old Carriage Roads. This historic trail system was built between 1913 and 1940 to provide visitors with access to Mount Desert Island via horse-drawn carriages on car-free routes. Now, the 45 miles of trails are open for hiking, biking, and carriage rides during summer, as well as snowshoeing and cross-country skiing in winter. We took pleasure in walking along these roads, enjoying the stone bridges, dense forests, and meandering rivers.
No trip to Maine would be complete without a glimpse of a lighthouse! Within Acadia National Park, there are several lighthouses, as well as a few nearby. Some are situated on islands and can be viewed primarily by boat, while the Bass Harbor Head Lighthouse is located on Mount Desert Island and accessible by foot. There are two trails providing views of this lighthouse. The right trail leads down a short staircase to the base of the lighthouse, adorned with a plaque sharing its history. Although you can’t enter, it’s fascinating to see and learn about.
The left trail meanders through the trees before leading to larger stairs down to the rocky coast. From here, you can admire nearby islands, see the lighthouse, and possibly watch wildlife frolicking in the waves.
Another captivating spot in Acadia is Thunder Hole. The rugged coastline here is quintessentially Maine, and if you time your visit correctly, you may experience a thrilling natural event. A small inlet nestled in the rocks creates an impressive spray when the waves crash, sending water soaring up to 40 feet high!
Though we haven’t been fortunate enough to visit Thunder Hole during an impressive spray, we did witness a smaller one during our first visit. The best time to observe this phenomenon is said to be about 1-2 hours before high tide, so if you’re lucky, you may catch the action! Regardless, it’s a picturesque spot with stunning coastal views.
There are countless other adventures awaiting us in Acadia National Park. We’re eager to hike various trails, including the Beehive Loop, Jordan Cliffs Loop, Gorge Path, Precipice Trail, and the full Bubbles Nubble Loop, to name a few! In addition to hiking, visitors can indulge in swimming, rock climbing, camping, biking, tide pooling, and more. A boat tour to one of the park’s islands is also an exciting option! Acadia National Park is a stunning destination overflowing with diverse adventures and an absolute must-see when exploring the East Coast!
