Dates we visited: June 9th & 10th, 2021
Where we stayed: Mt. Desert Narrows
After visiting the Great Smoky Mountains, we headed north up through New England to reach Acadia National Park. Acadia is located on an island along the Atlantic coast, near Bar Harbor, Maine. If you want to sound like a local Mainer, it’s important that you pronounce that “Baahr Haarbahr”. Acadia is home to a variety of ecosystems, and is known as place in the U.S. where you can first see the sun rise. Kristy scored us a great campground right outside of the park, so we were able to make several trips in to explore.
Cadillac Mountain and Thunder Hole
Kristy capturing the Cadillac Mountain view
Acadia is unique in the respect that the majority of the land was donated over time to from local landowners. This resulted in a bit of a patchwork of park land across the islands and peninsulas. One of the main attractions, found on the east side of Mt. Desert Island is Cadillac Mountain. At an elevation of 1,530 feet, it is the highest point along the east coast. If you want to experience what it’s like to be the first person in America to see the sunlight of a new day, the summit of Cadillac Mountain is where you can make it happen. Cadillac Mountain does require a timed entry pass. Unfortunately, we were not able to secure a pass for sunrise, but we did get one for mid-day. After completing the scenic drive around the area of the park we did a hike at the summit, and took in the splendor of the park from this elevated vantage point.
We also stopped off at the famed Thunder Hole. This is a section of the coast where the ocean has eroded a unique formation in the coastal rocks. A few hours before high tide, as the tide is making its way inland, this formation creates a thunderous sound that can be heard up and down the trail. We made it to the Thunder Hole, but we didn’t time it quite right and experienced something more akin to a mild rumble, rather than thunder.
Jordan Pond to Wonderland
Popovers at the Jordan Pond House Restaurant
On the recommendation of a friend, we decided to stop for lunch at the Jordan Pond House restaurant. While the restaurant was open for indoor dining, it was a beautiful day and we opted for eating out on the lawn overlooking the lake. The warm sun and cool breeze made for a stunning natural setting. All the food was good here, but their popovers are their claim to fame. If you stop here, order extras of these tasty treats. If you limit carb intake in your diet, plan this stop on a cheat day, because these are delicious.
Later in the evening we headed to the southwestern tip of the island, known within the park as Wonderland. This area of the park is much less visited, and we encountered only a handful of other visitors. Here we were able to hike through the woods and explore tide pools in search of anemones, crabs and other sea life. We even found a beach where we were able to kick off our shoes, roll up our pants and enjoy the Atlantic ocean lapping at our feet.
We enjoyed our time at Acadia. We especially appreciated the cooler climate found here as compared to the heat and humidity we experienced further south. With its coastal waters, laid back attitude, and delicious popovers, this was certainly a unique park experience for us. The only thing we feel like we missed on this visit was a trip out to Schoodic Point. The entire Schoodic Peninsula was closed due to rains washing out several trails and roads. Maybe next time!