Where to Go in Acadia National Park and Bar Harbor

Notes:

Always check to see if reservations are required for park entry

Entrance Fee: $30/private vehicle

Purchase and Print online here

Cadillac Mountain Fee: $6/vehicle ($4 for ticket + $2 fee)

IN ADDITION to the entrance fee. Make sure to book way in advance
Consider purchasing tickets for 2 days just in case weather stinks
- If you don’t end up using the second, consider giving it away to someone else! (Helped a group of people who didn’t find my website before their trip!)
- Mentally prepare to wake up at 2:30 AM

Purchase and print online here
Get good parking and stay away from crowds by get to the park as early as possible
- I suggest getting there no later than 7:30am
Download the NPS app on your phone for a quick reference and hike descriptions

Trip Details

Flight:

We flew in to Bangor, which is ~ 30 minutes from out AirBnB and ~ 1 hour from Acadia
- It a small airport that’s easy to navigate (God I love small airports)
- Pricier than flying in to Portland but a heck of a lot closer
- I recommend you check out Stephen King’s spooky house and stop for a Lobstah roll at the food truck below
  random question about Maine: We stopped in a grocery store and saw PINK HOT DOGS! Has anyone tried these?

Our AirBnB was this River Front Apartment in Downtown Ellsworth

Loved the location (conveniently located across the street from the host’s restaurant Union River Lobster Pot, which is delicious)
The host greeted us in person with freshly baked blueberry muffins
There is a full sized kitchen and a washer/dryer
I would definitely recommend this place

Cadillac Mountain

Because I am insane, I got my boyfriend to somehow agree to start hiking right after watching the 3:30am sunrise. AMAZING PARKING SPOTS!

**Jordan Pond and South Bubble Rock**
Jordan Pond: 3.5 mile, easy
Bubble Rock: 1 mile, moderate
Bubble rock is an offshoot of Jordan Pond. I would suggest going clockwise around the pond until you reach the trailhead for the Bubbles, do that hike then finish the remainder of Jordan Pond. If you don't want to hike Jordan Pond, just go counter clockwise to get to the Bubbles.
If you go clockwise like we did, you will encounter a lot of steep scrambles. I personally prefer going up on this type of terrain than coming down.
I highly suggest you check out Jordan Pond House for some popovers and lobster bisque. They are open **11:00am - 5:00pm**. It fills up fast though. The minimize your wait get their around 10:30 and go to the window to reserve your spot.

Ocean Path & Great Head Trail
Entire Loop: ~ 2 miles, easy-moderate
The Ocean Path follows Acadia’s granite coastline and reveals stunning ocean scenery!
This area was once a hotspot for swanky mansions, but in 1947 most of the area burned in a fire. The millionaires lost their homes, and instead of rebuilding, they elected to donate the land to Acadia National Park in 1949.

The trail can be accessed from either a parking lot on Schooner Head Road or from Sand Beach. I recommend Schooner Head Road because parking fills up quick at Sand Beach (Unless you get there really early).

Beehive Trail

1.4 mile loop, moderate to strenuous
One of the most popular hikes in Acadia, so get here early to avoid crowds
Iron rungs and exposed cliff faces
Slightly tamer version of Precipice Trail
Great the hiking in the summer when the Precipice Trail is closed for Peregrine falcon nesting (March - summer)
The second part of the loop takes you through the forest, where the skeeters like to hang, so bring bug spray!

This adventurous hike is one of Acadia's rung and ladder trails. It boasts steep granite staircases, iron rungs, and awe inspiring cliff faces. The rewards for making it to the top include stunning views of Sand Beach, Thunder Hole, and the Gulf of Maine.

Beech Cliff Trail at Echo Lake

1.8 miles round trip, moderate to strenuous
Iron Ladders!
This trail starts at the Echo Lake beach parking lot (~1 mile south of Acadia Mountain parking area). You’ll find the trailhead marker at the north end of the parking lot.
This is the only hike in Acadia that I know of that has actual ladders (not just iron rungs)
Once you reach the top you can admire the view of Echo Lake to the northeast and the Atlantic Ocean far in the distance to the south.

Bar Harbor

While visiting Maine, my friends and I spent a couple hours in Bar Harbor to hike across the land bridge, go whale watching and finding lobster goodies to feast on.
Parking: There are several parking areas. The one we had the best luck with is next to a park and has a fairly clean public restroom. I marked it with a star on the map.
Land Bridge
This path is only accessible during low tide, which changes from day to day.
People have actually gotten stranded on the island because they didn’t pay attention to the tide!
Check out the tide report here

Whale Watching
- Bar Harbor Whale Watching Co. take you on a multi-hour tour to see whales as well as a small research island that is home to seals.
- The boat can get very chilly, so make sure to bundle up. I recommend a hat and gloves. HotHands are another great options.
Food
- We tried to grab lunch at Cafe This Way. I was super excited to try it because it was recommended to me by a friend from Maine. Unfortunately I failed to realize its only open for breakfast and dinner! My plans were foiled, but if you check this place out let me know what you think!
- While taking a stroll, we came across Mt. Desert Island Ice Cream, which serves up homemade ice cream in all kinds of neat flavors. I sampled a bunch, but ultimately chose the “Maine Sweet Cream” in the end. The clean simple flavor reminded me of the sweet cream ice cream I adored as a kid while visiting family in Poland. I’m an ice cream-ophile and I can honestly say that it was some of the best ice cream I’ve ever had. This place also has a few vegan options.
- Ben & Bill's Chocolate Emporium is home of the very peculiar lobster ice cream. Although it sounds crazy, we figured that since we tried lobster just about every other way, this was the natural next step. Basically its a sweet butter flavored ice cream with chunks of frozen lobster. As a caveat, I love me some butter pecan ice cream, and the base was basically identical to that. You honestly couldn’t really taste the lobster and overall I felt like I would rather eat lobster in basically any other way. Made for a cute picture though!