Many years ago we visited Acadia when there were no permits, long lines or obnoxious crowds…. Oh those were the days.
We knew going into Acadia in the Summer that things were going to be crowded so we opted to stay just outside the park in the town of Trenton (a 30 minute drive to the entrance) for an entire month. Hoping this would give us more opportunities for quieter times and avoid the crowds. For the most part, it worked. We managed to stay out of the hordes by going very early, staying late and really trying to avoid the middle of the day. We opted for week days and stayed away from weekends in the park itself. We also tried the trails less traveled which really worked for us since I was still in my cast from my bike accident when I shattered my wrist. I was quite able to do most of the hikes and all of the driving, photography sessions and general exploring.
We spent countless days and nights gasping at the sheer beauty of the park with it’s rugged coastline and mountain peaks. The many harbor towns that pepper the area are quaint and such a joy to meander the streets, shop the boutiques and enjoy the local cuisine.
It is our opinion that Acadia National Park has three different sides or areas. The quieter area is the west side of Mount Desert. The very busy section is the East side of Mount Desert. Then you have Schoodic Peninsula that is visited the least of the three.
This post will break down the different corners and highlight our experiences in the quieter area. We will do a second post featuring the busier section and how we maneuvered around the crowds.
- West Side
- Bass Harbor
- Lighthouse
- Fishing Village
- Southwest Harbor (Fishing Village & Quaint Tourist Town)
- Bernard (Fishing Village)
- Flying Mountain (Hike)
- Seawall Picnic Area
- Bass Harbor
- Northeast
- Asticou Azalea Garden
- Southern
- Stonington (Fishing Village)
- Schoodic Peninsula
- Raven’s Nest
The Quiet Side – West Side
This area stretches from Pretty Marsh Picnic Area in the northeast corner to Bass Harbor Head Lighthouse on the southern-most tip of the island — totaling roughly 10,000 acres. It is bordered by Seal Cove Pond, Hodgdon Pond, Echo Lake, Long Pond, Somes Sound, the Atlantic Ocean, and local communities of Southwest Harbor and Bass Harbor.
Bass Harbor Lighthouse
Bass Harbor Head Light Station is located a half mile from Bass Harbor fishing village. The best times to visit the lighthouse is during sunset or sunrise during the weekday. The problem is everyone else seems to know this. The parking lot is small, so get there early for a parking spot. Be prepared to have lots of other people scrambling on the rocks around you trying to get the perfect spot for their photo. Also mid to high tide provides a better photo.
Bass Harbor (Fishing Village)
As we were leaving the lighthouse one evening we were passing this small fishing village after sunset. To our delight, this was our view.
On another evening drive, leaving Bass Harbor, we were heading back to our campground. There is a bridge going over a small inland marsh. Here again, the sunset did not disappoint.
While in Bass Harbor we opted for the Nature Cruise through Island Cruises and we were not disappointed. It was a spectacular blue-sky day when we set off on this very special tour. Not only is it affordable but the wealth of knowledge of the Captain enlighteners you on the challenges of past and present citizens of the Coast of Maine, viewing marine life, the coastal beauty and first hand glimpse of a lobster from a trap.
Southwest Harbor
Southwest Harbor, a beautiful yacht center and harbor – aptly named for its locale on the south west side of Mount Desert Island, between Northeast Harbor and Bass Harbor is a very touristy fishing village with a great deal of restaurants and gift shops. We passed through several times but only stopped to visit twice. Here we dined on lobster at Beal’s Seafood, a destination unto itself with an authentic lobster pier experience. This small town was always busy with lots of tourist.
Bernard (Small Fishing Village)
Bernard, one of the most beautiful and active fishing communities on the East Coast, is located on the west side of a harbor, which looks across to the more well-known village of Bass Harbor.
Although we embraced the Maine Lobster dining experience all around the area, Thurston’s Lobster Pound was by far our favorite. I chose the traditional Maine Lobster Roll and Mike opted for a Grilled Cheese Lobster Sandwich. Both were SPECTACULAR and we really embraced the harbor view from our table.
Flying Mountain (Hike)
There are several hiking options on the west side of the island. We chose two hikes: Bernard Mountain and Flying Mountain.
By far, Flying Mountain was our favorite for the variety and the view. This was a 3.1-mile loop trail rated as Moderate by All Trails for hi elevation gain of 931′. We opted to take the hike to the Valley Peak intersection and follow the loop back down instead of traversing over to Saint Sauveur Mountain because of my limitations with my cast we didn’t want to encroach on the “challenging” part of the hike.
Seawall Picnic Area
Seawall Picnic Area, an area just past Southwest Harbor where you have easy access to the coastline and several short hiking trails. The rocky shoreline provides an interesting foreground for photography. When we arrived, there was fog still rolling in adding a nice mistic imagery. The hiking trails are called the Wonderland Trail and the Ship Harbor Trail.
We visited this area several times and would sit on the rock with the waves crashing for an hour or more at a time. It was tranquil and quiet and you could never tire of the view.
Although not in the West side of the park, we would be remiss to not mention these two jewels that are on “the road less traveled”.
Asticou Azalea Gardens (Northeast Harbor)
The Asticou Azalea Garden is an inspiring garden at the Preserve, combining the best natural features of Mount Desert Island with design elements inspired by classic Japanese gardens where the beauty changes and evolves throughout the year.
There is not an entry fee to walk and explore the tranquility of the gardens but there are donation boxes to show your appreciation.
Stonington, Maine (Fishing Village)
Stonington, is located on the southern portion of the island of Deer Isle. Approximately 35 minutes from Acadia National Park, this small fishing village is one of the busiest lobster harbors in the area. There is a well done main street area with restaurants, boutiques and quaint shops to browse. We walked the entirety of the town for picture taking opportunities and really enjoyed the tranquility Stonington had to offer.
Schoodic Peninsula
I hear that many visitors don’t get a chance to visit the Schoodic Peninsula and it would be a true shame to miss this jewel. It is a bit of a drive but every bit worth the effort. This might have been my most favorite part of our visit.
The first time we were visiting, there was a hurricane brewing off the coast and the surf was incredible crashing against the rocks.
There was a small harbor leading into Schoodic Peninsula called Winter Harbor. Here a boat dock caught Mikes eye for some interesting photographs.
Raven’s Nest
Last but not least is this hidden gem. You will not find this on any park map or a roadside sign. It is known by Ravens Nest, a rocky cove where one can see amazing sunsets along with extraordinary steep rocky cliffs. The only way to find it is count the roadside pull-offs. This is the third pull-off when on the one way road.
In Closing
Acadia National Park is one of the most visited National Parks in the United States and for good reason. Be sure to plan ahead and anticipate crowds.
We will follow-up with a explosion of photographs from the busier sections of the park in our next post. Stay tuned!
Dream Big….Travel Far….Live Well
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