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Acadia National Park, ME

Must-See Carriage Roads, Bar Harbor & Wildlife

by Celeste Lipford and Terry Lipford - last updated on 11/20/2024

We have visited Acadia National Park on several occasions, and prefer to stay in the Bar Harbor area due to it's scenic harbor and numerous accommodations & restaurants. Most of the imagery on this page came from a 2018 trip we made to Maine ( click here to view that page) with some additional imagery from a trip here in 2021 ( click here to view that page).

Visiting Acadia National Park is a captivating experience, offering a mix of natural beauty, recreational activities, and rich history. Located on Maine's stunning coastline, the park is known for its dramatic landscapes, including rocky shorelines, dense forests, and scenic mountain vistas. Key highlights include Cadillac Mountain, famous for being one of the first places to see the sunrise in the U.S., the historic carriage roads ideal for biking, and serene spots like Jordan Pond and Sand Beach.

Interesting facts about Acadia National Park / Where is it? Map

The Park was Named After a Region of Greece
Acadia National Park was Founded by Private Citizens
Acadia National Park is Home to More Than 1,000 Plant Species
Acadia National Park's weather Can Change Rapidly
Acadia National Park contains 158 Miles of Hiking Trails
Conservation Easements Protect Over 25% of Park Land
The Park's Lands Are Home to the Wabanaki
Acadia Has Three Campgrounds and Five Lean-To Shelters
The Park's Curatorial Program Has Collected 1.4 Million Objects
10,000 Acres of Acadia Caught Fire in 1947

Acadia National Park, Maine

Must-See Carriage Roads, Bar Harbor & Wildlife

Acadia National Park, ME

Image # 1 (left side) is a view of Eagle Lake as our Acadia National Park tour bus made it's way up Cadillac Mountain.

Image # 2 (right side) is a view from the summit of Cadillac Mountain, looking at the Atlantic Ocean in the distance. It was somewhat hazy that day, otherwise the view would have been amazing, due to our height.

Acadia National Park, Maine

Image # 1 (left side) is a view from the summit of Cadillac Mountain, looking down at Bar Harbor in the distance. The little island on the right is "Sutton Island" and the larger island to the left is "Little Cranberry Island".

Image # 2 (right side) is one of our "selfies" before re-boarding the Tour Bus.

Acadia National Park Geography

The coastline geography & composition varies, but in this area, it was all granite with cliffs. Image # 1 (left side) is the area just above Thunder Hole.

Image # 2 (right side) shows Thunder Hole and it's small cave, which has been carved out by the ocean waves. At certain tide levels, when the waves surge into the hole strongly, it makes a "booming noise" that acquired the name "Thunder Hole".

Thunder Hole Cave

These images are a view of the cave & surrounding area, this was not a heavy surf day so the sound that the water makes as it slams into the cave was not present when we were there.

Thunder Hole Area Geography

This cove was just immediately north of the Thunder Hole, and you can see the granite cliffs. This was the dominant type of geography all along this coastline.

What do you Think ?

While Celeste is taking pictures, my brother in law and I are comparing notes on the tour. We've come to an agreement that this area is not only amazing, but beautiful as well.

Thunder Hole

This is a naturally formed inlet caused by the repeated erosion of ocean waves. At the end of the inlet is a small cavern. When crashing waves from the ocean travel down the inlet and into the cavern, air and water are forced out.

Click this video image (below) to view our Video, or you could also click here to view this video on YouTube. Please note that our video does not contain the amazing "thunder wave sound" as the wave conditions have to be stronger in order to create the amazing sound one can hear there.

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Thunder Hole is famous for the deep, booming sound it produces when waves crash into its narrow inlet. As the tide rises and the sea surges into the cavern below, air and water are forced out with a powerful roar, resembling thunder. The sound can range from a soft gurgling to a resounding clap, depending on the intensity of the waves and the tide level. When the ocean is rough, the noise becomes even more dramatic, echoing off the surrounding cliffs. The combination of the rushing water and the thunderous boom creates a sensory experience that is both thrilling and awe-inspiring, embodying the raw power of the Atlantic Ocean.

Useful Links for Acadia National Park

Bar Harbor, ME

Bar Harbor has been one of our favorite places to visit in Maine for quite a while. The beautiful harbor, beautiful beaches & forests, and great seafood around every corner - what uis not to like?

Sand Beach in Acadia Park Map

Sand Beach sits between a rocky shore area and the mountains. It’s quite surprising to see a sand beach here rather than a rocky one. In fact, the beach reminded us of Makena beach on the Hawaiian island of Maui which is also located between a rocky shoreline and the mountains. Great head trail is a trail that you can take to climb above the beach and capture some beautiful views.

Sand Beach is also where you can pick up the Ocean Path trail which follows the coastline over to the Thunder Hole area. Since Terry was still recovering from his hip replacement surgery and the Arethusa Falls trail hike we didn’t walk the entire 1.7 mile trail but we were able to park at various areas along the road which is a one way loop around the park. We arrived later in the afternoon which seemed to be a good choice as we were able to snag parking spots fairly easily.

NOTE: Parking is limited here and what there is gets used quickly on nice days. If you plan to go here, you should go early in the day, or all the parking will be occupied. The Park Service does not allow parking except for designated parking lots and specific road side areas, other areas are blocked by large stones.

There are restrooms adjacent to the main parking lot. Bear in mind that parking is limited here, and you will not find a parking spot on a nice day unless you get here early.

Sand Beach Acadia National Park: You can see by the elevation changes of these pictures that we trekked across the Great Head Trail.

More Info for Sand Beach, ME

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Schoodic Peninsula, ME Map

Schoodic point is also part of Acadia National Park but is located on Schoodic Peninsula. It’s only just over 4 miles from Bar Harbor as the crow flies but it is 45.4 miles by car. Since it was very crowded in Acadia in early August when we were there, we decided that exploring Schoodic point would be a good alternative. The rock formations and views of the coastline did not disappoint us. We meandered for well over an hour taking in the sites. It is a great spot for a picnic. There aren’t many places to stop for a bite so bringing a picnic lunch might be your best choice.

Useful Links for Schoodic Peninsula

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