Acadia National Park, ME

Acadia National Park

National Park Guide:

Acadia National Park

Destination: Acadia National Park, ME

Length of Stay: 5 nights (May 2018)

Lodging: Bass Harbor Campground ($37- Water & Electric | $42 Full Hookup) *5/1 - 5/25

National Park Service Fee: 7 day pass - $30 per vehicle | Annual NPS pass $80

Acadia National Park has a surprising amount of diversity ranging from rocky coastlines to granite mountaintops, and seemingly endless ponds and lakes. The borders of the Park are accented by charming maritime villages such as Southwest Harbor, Somesville, Bass Harbor, along with many others. We wanted to go on a lot of great hikes and explore the shores of Maine during our first time in Acadia. In fact, this place exceeded our expectations and we ended up staying a few extra nights in order to see as much as possible. Although we didn't get to see everything we had hoped, we have put together a list of activities we would do again, and ones that are first on our list for next-time.

Destination: Acadia National Park, ME

Length of Stay: 5 nights (May 2018)

Lodging: Bass Harbor Campground ($37- Water & Electric | $42 Full Hookup) *5/1 - 5/25

National Park Service Fee: 7 day pass - $30 per vehicle | Annual NPS pass $80

Acadia at a Glance:

Lodging

Bass Harbor Campground was one of 3 campgrounds open at the beginning of May in Acadia (it was also the least expensive). Full hookups from May 1 - May 25 was only $42 per night ($37 for just Water/Electric).

Top Hikes

Bubbles Divide/Bubble Rock Overlook
Acadia Mountain Trail
Bass Harbor Head Lighthouse
Jordan Pond
Ship Harbor/Wonderland Trails

What We Missed

Bar Harbor: This is the Northwest gateway to Acadia. It is more populated than the Southwest Harbor area and is known for having tides shifting over 10 ft throughout the day!
Sargent Mountain: This trail is lightly trafficked and was recommended to us by a Park Ranger. Legend has it, just past the summit is an unmarked trail leading to a crashed plane from the 1950's with the wreckage still remaining.

Acadia at a Glance:

Lodging

Top Hikes

Bubbles Divide/Bubble Rock Overlook
Acadia Mountain Trail
Bass Harbor Head Lighthouse
Jordan Pond
Ship Harbor/Wonderland Trails

What We Missed

Bar Harbor: This is the Northwest gateway to Acadia. It is more populated than the Southwest Harbor area and is known for having tides shifting over 10 ft throughout the day!
Sargent Mountain: This trail is lightly trafficked and was recommended to us by a Park Ranger. Legend has it, just past the summit is an unmarked trail leading to a crashed plane from the 1950's with the wreckage still remaining.

Bubble Rock Overlook

The South Bubble Mountain trail is a 1.3 mile loop that provides access to the South Bubble peak, along with the North Bubble summit (about an additional mile). From the South peak, you will find a large boulder named 'Bubble Rock' that was carried by glaciers and deposited at the edge of a cliff overlooking Eagle Lake. From the North peak, you will get a spectacular panoramic view of Jordan Pond and the trail that circumvents the water.

Jordan Pond Overlook

Bass Harbor Lighthouse

Lucky for us, this attraction was just a short walk down the road from Bass Harbor campground. The parking lot out front of the U.S. Coast Guard lighthouse leads directly to the west side of the property. However, at the far east end of the parking lot is a quick quarter-mile trail that goes directly down to the shoreline where you can catch a gorgeous glimpse of the rocks leading up to this iconic lighthouse. We spent quite a while taking in the fresh sea breeze and soaking up the sun until it set behind the peninsula.

Lighthouse Viewpoint

Light House Trail

Acadia Mountain Trail

The trailhead for this hike is located on the opposite side of the road from Echo Lake. This 2.5 mile loop takes you to the top of Acadia Mountain and features a sweeping view of the Somes Sound, which has been unofficially labeled the only Fjord on the East Coast of the U.S. This large body of water cuts deep into Mt. Desert Island which causes a longer commute from one end to the other, although the drive around the island feels like a breeze with gorgeous views along the way.

Somes Sound Overlook

Jordan Pond Loop

This 3.4 mile lightly trafficked loop is an excellent stroll to begin your trip in Acadia. At the start of the trail, both North and South Bubble mountains are visible. The trail around Jordan pond is unique in that the majority of it is an elevated path constructed of tree trunks. Passing oncoming hikers is an intimate experience in some parts as the path is only 2 tree trunks wide. This short hike will give you an appreciation for just how big this pond is.