Things To Do

Although Acadia is dazzling in summer, the park's beauty flourishes throughout the year. By land and by sea there is no such thing as an off- season at Acadia.

SPRING, SUMMER AND FALL ACTIVITIES

Park Programs

Perhaps the best way to appreciate the park is in the company of a park ranger while enjoying one of the many guided group tours offered during the summer and fall months. Park rangers can help you better "read" the landscape, from its natural history, to the imprint man has left upon the land. Join a park ranger for a nature walk, a bridges tour, an evening star watch or a lecture about the park's geology. There are nature walks for children as well as ranger-led hikes up several mountains. For organized group tours, ask about the "Discover the Nature of Acadia" program. Please call (207) 288-3338 for more information. Some programs require reservations (no earlier than three days in advance). Check at Hulls Cove Visitor Center for current programs and schedules or go online for a schedule. 

Amphitheater Programs

In the evening, Acadia's two campgrounds present free programs in their centrally located amphitheaters. Programs span a wide range of natural and cultural history topics (ideal for families). You do not have to be staying at the campgrounds to attend.

Bicycling

The only tough part about being a cyclist at Acadia is trying to decide which of the many roads to explore. Although Park Loop Road is open to cyclists, most opt, instead, for the carriage roads which are closed to auto traffic and offer a whole new look at Acadia. Many carriage roads are also ideal for wheelchair users. The roads, which wind through the eastern half of the island, are lined with broken stone and some sections are more suitable for mountain bikes than racing ones. Bikes are not allowed on hiking trails or off of designated roads. For more information, please pick up a copy of a park map. Bicycle guides are available for a fee at Hulls Cove Visitor Center. Bicycles can be rented in Bar Harbor, Northeast Harbor and Southwest Harbor. Please call Bar Harbor Chamber of Commerce at (207) 664-2940, Mt. Desert Chamber of Commerce at (207) 276-5040 or Southwest Harbor at (207) 244-9264 for more information.

Birdwatching

Sieur de Monts Spring, Ship Harbor and Wonderland trails are all favorite birdwatching spots, as are the summits of Cadillac and Beech mountains during the fall hawk migration. Ask at a park visitor center about ranger-led hawk-watching. Birding is at its peak from late May through September, but there is never a shortage of birds at Acadia.

Boat Cruises

Some of the best views of Acadia are to be had from the ocean. Out on the open waters of Frenchman Bay, gazing back at Acadia's granite headlands, you'll understand why French explorer Samuel Champlain named the island l'Isles des Monts-déserts, a reference to the fact that the mountains looked deserted or bare. A cruise is also an opportunity to learn about Acadia's marine life, from lobsters to harbor seals to pelagic birds. Dress warmly and bring along a pair of binoculars. Available cruises include four park ranger-led nature cruises, two of which include stops on park-owned islands. Contact the cruise lines listed or check at a visitor center for details and options. Many other cruises—whale watches, deep-sea fishing and lobster fishing—are also available through local charter boat companies. Contact Chambers of Commerce for more information.

Islesford Historical Cruise: This 21⁄2-hour cruise includes some of Somes Sound and a stop at Little Cranberry Island's Islesford Historical Museum, whose collection documents Mount Desert Island's fishing and seafaring heritage. For more information, please call (207) 276-5352.

Schooner Cruise: Set sail on a four-masted schooner for a cruise along the rocky coastline of Acadia. Please call (207) 288-4585 for more information. For information on the two other ranger-led cruises, call (207) 288-3338.

Fishing

Fishing is allowed on all of Acadia's ponds and lakes. Children 12 and younger may fish with worms in upper Hadlock Pond. Land-locked salmon and brook trout can be caught in the larger lakes. A state fishing license is required for freshwater fishing, but not for ocean fishing. Please see "Park Regulations & Safety" on pages 18—19 for more information.

Hiking

Please see "Walking & Hiking" on pages 58—60.

Horseback Riding

For park visitors traveling with their own horses, Acadia's carriage roads make ideal riding trails. For additional information, please see "Carriage Roads" on page 33.

Kayaking

Whether you are a novice or a skilled paddler, you can enjoy sea-kayaking in the waters around Mount Desert Island. Guided tours of varying lengths are offered, including overnight camping trips to remote island campsites. Call island Chambers of Commerce for more information.

Museums

Abbe Museum is located just off Park Loop Road near Sieur de Monts Spring and houses a handsome collection of American Indian artifacts. This location is open daily, mid-May through mid-October and fees are $2 per adult and $1 per child. The expanded Abbe Museum on Mt. Desert Street in Bar Harbor is open every day in the summer. Times vary in the winter. Fees are $6 per adult and $2 per child ages six through 15, and include admission to the Abbe at Sieur de Monts Spring. Please call (207) 288-3519 for more information.

The Nature Center is located near Abbe Museum. It has several natural history exhibits, guidebooks and brochures. Children (as well as adults) are encouraged to record wildlife sightings in the center's logbook. Open weekends in May and daily from June through September.

You need to take a mail or a tour boat to Little Cranberry Island to visit Islesford Historical Museum. It has fascinating exhibits about New En-gland's maritime history. It is open daily from mid-June through September. Call (207) 288-3338 for more information.

Lifelike exhibits of animals native to Mount Desert Island (and the surrounding waters) are mounted at the College of the Atlantic's Natural History Museum, located on Route 3 in Bar Harbor. Children will enjoy the hands-on discovery room and summer field studies programs. Please call (207) 288-5395 or (207) 288-5015 for more information.

Birds of a different feather can be found at the Wendell Gilley Museum, located on Route 102 in the town of Southwest Harbor (on the west side of Mount Desert Island). This small gem of a gallery features exhibitions and demonstrations on the Down East art of bird woodcarving. Gilley, a Southwest Harbor native, gained a national reputation for his exquisite woodcarvings. It is open year-round. Please call (207) 244-7555 for more information.

The Mount Desert Oceanarium offers activities at two locations. The Bar Harbor Site on Route 3 includes a lobster hatchery and a Lobster Museum focusing on the lobster industry. The Southwest Harbor Site on Clark Point Road has a Fisherman's Museum, aquarium featuring local marine life, and a Discovery program.

The Thomas Bay Marsh Walk takes you over the salt marsh to a two-deck viewing tower with a telescope for observing a rich variety of birds and aquatic animals. Please call (207) 244-7330 for more information.

Picnicking

You'll find picnic areas at Bear Brook, Fabbri (-), Seawall and Pretty Marsh on Mount Desert Island and at Frazer Point on the Schoodic Peninsula and Thompson Island. Each has picnic tables, fire grills, water fountains and restrooms. Picnicking is permitted elsewhere in the park, provided visitors observe Acadia's carry-in, carry-out policy.

Rock Climbing

This adventurous sport is increasing in popularity at Acadia. Mount Desert offers lofty challenges for individuals or groups. You can climb Otter Cliffs, 60-foot rocky sea cliffs overlooking the ocean, or the South Wall of Champlain Mountain, a 200-foot scaling up a granite mountain face. There are no outfitters in the park, but you can hire a guide. For more information, please call the Bar Harbor Chamber of Commerce at (207) 288-5103.

Self-Guiding Tours

Eastern National has prepared an audio tour of Acadia National Park. The 56-mile driving tour (which can take between four and six hours to complete) covers the entire Park Loop Road, as well as Sargeant Drive along lovely Somes Sound. Scenic points of interest are highlighted and the park's natural and cultural history is explained. The CD or cassette may be purchased at the Hulls Cove Visitor Center. Please call (207) 288-4988 for more information.

Fall is foliage season at Acadia and a great time to tour the park. The weather, of course, has the final say when it comes to timing and intensity—warm days and cold nights make for a quicker color change and more brilliant reds, oranges and yellows. Generally, the leaves are at their peak during the first two weeks of October. The Maine Department of Conservation issues weekly foliage reports between mid-September and mid-October, describing the amount of color and leaf fall in seven separate regions of the state. Acadia is part of Zone 2. Call (800) 533-9595 for more information or visit online at www.mainefoliage.com.

Swimming 

Swimming is permitted at Sand Beach (saltwater) and Echo Lake (freshwater). Ocean temperatures average an invigorating 55—60ºF. Both beaches have lifeguards on duty during the summer.

WINTER ACTIVITIES

Winter at Acadia is as beautiful as summer and, for the resourceful visitor, every bit as stimulating. Hulls Cove Visitor Center closes on October 31 and reopens in mid-April. During winter, Acadia Park Headquarters, located on Route 233, serves as the park's visitor center. Park rangers will be glad to help you plan your winter outing for maximum enjoyment and safety.

Winter Sports

Covered with a mantle of snow, the park's carriage roads make ideal cross-country ski trails. Because they are often covered with snow, Acadia's lakes are not ideal for ice skating. Ice fishermen fare well, however, and between January and early March, their fishing shacks are a familiar sight on the park's lakes and ponds. Snowmobilers can use the 27-mile Park Loop Road, but are not allowed on the carriage roads. 

Winter Camping

The Blackwoods Campground is available for winter camping November through April. Call (207) 288-3338 for more information. From December 1 through March 31, only primitive tent camping is available, and hikers must walk in from the campground entrance. Winter visitors should be prepared for quick changes in weather. Dress in layers and bring extra clothing, a first-aid kit, water, food, a blanket and maps.