Acadia National Park: A Gem of the Northeast Acadia National Park, located on the rugged coast of Maine, is a natural wonderland that draws visitors from all over the world. With over 47,000 acres of mountains, forests, lakes, and coastline, Acadia offers a diverse range of outdoor activities and breathtaking scenery. Whether you're an avid hiker, a wildlife enthusiast, or simply looking for a peaceful escape, Acadia has something to offer for everyone. When my siblings and I were looking for a National Park to visit Acadia was at the top of our list since we have done quite a few of the West Coast parks we opted for an East Coast park and we were no disappointed.
History
Acadia National Park was originally founded as Sieur de Monts National Monument in 1916, making it the first national park east of the Mississippi River. The park was later renamed Acadia National Park in 1929, in recognition of the area's early French explorers who named the region "Acadie" after the Greek word for "idyllic place." It truly is idyllic.
v. In addition to its natural beauty, Acadia has a rich cultural history. The park is home to several historic landmarks, including the Bass Harbor Head Lighthouse, which has been guiding ships to safety since 1858, and the Jordan Pond House, a historic restaurant and lodge that has been welcoming visitors since the 1800s.
HIKING One of the most popular activities in Acadia is hiking and the main reason we chose
Acadia was for the hiking. The park boasts over 120 miles of hiking trails, ranging from easy nature walks to strenuous mountain climbs. Some of the most popular hikes include the Precipice Trail, which offers stunning views of the park's coastline, and the Jordan Pond Path, which winds around a serene freshwater lake.
We chose several other hikes since we were limited on time and I was a bit nervous after reading all the reviews of the Precipice Trail. Let me tell you, that was a mistake on my part. Here is why:
We opted for the "less scary" Beehive Trail. The Beehive is rated Hard. Part of that rating stems from the fact that you climb ladders, scaling rocks and if you are afraid of heights this hike may not be for you. The Beehive is only 3.5 miles long with an elevation gain of 784 feet but it is the challenge that makes it a hard hike. The views from the Beehive are spectacular. After doing, and loving, the Beehive I wish I wouldn't have let the fear of others stop me from doing the Precipice since it is similar in technicality to the Beehive Trail.
(Photo of me on the Beehive Trail).
Cadillac Mountain is known for being the first place in the US to see the sunrise for a majority of the year. Cadillac mountain can be done as a hike, or if you get a special reservation to drive to the top of the mountain you can do that too. Unfortunately, for some of my siblings we did not get a reservation to drive up. So my sister and I got up in the middle of the night, parked our car on the side of the road in the dark, and hiked our way up! We did not make it to the summit for the sunrise.....BUT we did see the sunrise from the mountain on our way up. It was breathtaking and what made it even better....we were alone. We were the only two people on the trail at that time. We happily missed
the crazy crowds that drove to the top and I can honestly recommend doing it the way we did. The beauty, the solitude, the peaceful feeling of watching the sun come up in one of
the most beautiful places in the US is indescribable. I feel very fortunate that we chose to hike up alone and have the amazing experience to ourselves. We took the time to stop midway up the mountain and soak it all in before we continued to the Summit. The summit was still crowded with people and cars everywhere. If you are a hiker.....I seriously recommend hiking up. (photos of the sunrise on the way to Cadillac Summit)
We also did the sunrise along the Beech Cliff Trail one morning. Again, the sunrise was spectacular. There were people stopped along the path to watch the sunrise and it is an easy walk/hike so it is doable for a range of abilities. The path takes you along the coast and it is such a peaceful, quiet and beautiful trail. It was amazing because most people opted to get back in their cars and leave after the sunrise. We were the only group that completed the hike. I also highly recommend doing so if you have the time.
Thunderhole is listed as a hike but it is more like a stop along the way. It is an easy supposed an easy at 1.7 miles to see the tide rise and the hole "scream". I was not impressed but there was so much that I was impressed by the thunderhole was underwhelming in comparison. However, it is worth a visit if you have the time.
Activities: Wildlife, e-bikes, water activities AND OTHER OPTIONS If you are looking for things to do in Acadia you will be happy to know that Acadia is also a paradise for wildlife enthusiasts. The park is home to a diverse array of wildlife, including moose, black bears, bald eagles, and peregrine falcons. Visitors can observe these creatures in their natural habitat by taking a wildlife tour, or simply exploring the park on their own. We did not see any bear but we did see the peregrine falcons and other birds.
We also spent a day renting and riding e-bikes. As I stated earlier I went on this trip with my siblings. I am the youngest, but all of my siblings are in really good shape. There is a 13 year age difference between me and my oldest brother. We decided prior to arriving that we wanted to explore the park but that it would probably be best if we broke up the hiking days with less strenuous activities..... we chose the e-bikes. We reserved 10 e-bikes from:
Bar Harbor Bike Shop
141 Cottage Street
Bar Harbor, ME
They were great to work with, explained how to ride and use an e-bike and the most important part was that we could use the
e-bikes on the carriage roads. Winding through the heart of the park, the carriage roads have crushed rock surfaces perfect for biking, no cars are allowed on the carriage roads so it is safer than street biking. The bike shop is just a short ride to the carriage roads. If you do not want to rent a bike I still highly suggest a visit to the carriage roads. Here are the rules of the carriage roads from the NPS website
Cyclists share the carriage roads with horses and pedestrians. Everyone yields to horses and bicyclists yield to everyone. (photo of my siblings/spouses on our ebikes)
Class 1 E-bikes are permitted on carriage roads. Class 2 and 3 are not allowed.
No bicycle may exceed 20 mph on the carriage roads.
Bicycling is not permitted on hiking trails or on privately owned carriage roads.
In the spring, carriage roads often close to all traffic during mud season, typically March and April. Please respect all posted signs and notices. To stay updated on temporary closures, visit http://go.nps.gov/AcadiaAlerts.
This is why we chose Bar Harbor Bike Shop. They had the Class 1 e-bikes. The carriage roads offer views of Jordan Pond, several bridges, trees and beautiful landscapes. There are 45 miles of rustic carriage roads. If you havent tried an e-bike this should be your first time. My brother is 6'4 and has a bigger build weighing close to 300 pounds. He loved the bike and the freedom it gave him to see the inner roadways of the park without the stress on his knees since it was our "rest" day.. None of us ran out of electricity for our bikes despite spending the majority of the day on the trails.
For those who prefer water activities, Acadia offers plenty of options. The park's coastline is dotted with secluded coves and beaches, perfect for swimming, kayaking, and fishing. Visitors can also take a whale watching tour to observe the majestic creatures that inhabit the waters off the coast of Maine when in season. We did do a fishing expedition but that was not associated with Acadia NP.
Finally, no visit to Acadia is complete without experiencing the park's famous fall foliage. Each year, the leaves of the park's maple, birch, and oak trees burst into vibrant shades of red, orange, and gold, creating a breathtaking display of color. We were there in early September so the leaves were just starting to turn. I wish we could have waited a few weeks to see the park in full color.
Accommodations Acadia National Park offers a variety of accommodations to suit every budget and preference. For those who prefer to camp, the park has several campgrounds with both tent and RV sites. For those who prefer a more luxurious experience, there are several lodges and hotels located within the park, including the historic Jordan Pond House.
We opted to stay in the town of Bar Harbor just outside the park. The town is super cute and we stayed at the Inn at Mount Desert. It is a quaint B & B type hotel with delicious homemade free breakfast each morning. The town of Bar Harbor has numerous places to stay in a wide range of price points. The town of Bar Harbor has the usual gift shops, restauraunts and even a music venue. Christopher Cross was in town and he was playing at the Criterion Theater. I wasn't a huge fan of his before the show but I did recognize some songs and he told us some great stories, and the venue was up close and personal.
Conclusion Acadia National Park is truly a gem of the Northeast. With its stunning natural beauty, rich cultural history, and diverse range of activities, the park offers something for everyone. Whether you're an avid hiker, a wildlife enthusiast, or simply looking for a peaceful escape, Acadia is a must-visit destination. So why not plan your trip today? Please feel free to email me hikingunlimired@gmail.com with any questions.
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