Camp & Hike
Bike
Acadia National Park, situated on the coast of Maine, started as Sieur de Monts National Monument in 1916. A generous donation of 5,000 acres in Mount Desert Island's Sieur de Monts Spring region marked its beginning.
The island was already a favorite vacation spot, and concerned individuals started buying land in 1901 to prevent excessive development. This initiative made the park unique and established through donated land. It was also the first National Park on the US East Coast, set in the same year as the National Park Service.
After two years, the National Monument was upgraded to a National Park and renamed Lafayette National Park, honoring the Marquis de Lafayette, a French supporter of the American Revolution.
However, since Lafayette had no connection to Maine, the name was changed in 1929 to Acadia National Park, inspired by the term used by the original French explorers.
The park encompasses three units. Mount Desert Island is the largest and most popular, linked to the mainland by a bridge. While the park has expanded since 1916, not all of the island is part of it due to private and federal land intermingling.
The expansion concerned locals, who desired space for growth. A permanent boundary was set, preventing more island land from being added. Donated land on the island now goes to other preservation groups.
To the east lies the only mainland unit, the Schoodic Peninsula. It sees fewer visitors than Mount Desert Island, making it a quieter option with beautiful scenery, trails, and camping.
The least visited unit is Isle au Haut, which is in the west. Accessible by private boat or ferry, it mainly attracts day visitors for hiking. A minor campground permits multi-day stays.
Other islands in the park lack amenities but can be explored by private boat. Baker Island has a summer tour boat service. Acadia National Park isn't self-contained, so a central entrance must be constructed.
A pay station exists on the Park Loop Road on Mount Desert Island. Fees are charged for using federal parking areas and the loop road, requiring an entrance pass available within the park or online.
The name "Mount Desert Island" has a curious story. Frenchman Samuel de Champlain named it "Isle des Monts Desert," meaning "island of barren mountains." But the French word "desert" is pronounced like "dessert," leading to confusion. Over time, it was mispronounced as "Dessert Island." This shift might have been a playful way for locals to identify outsiders.
Acadia National Park in Maine began as a donated conservation effort. Its central unit is Mount Desert Island, surrounded by other areas like the Schoodic Peninsula and Isle au Haut. The park's expansion was controlled, and its history carries amusing language quirks.
Driving along the 27-mile Park Loop Road by the Maine coast and past Cadillac Mountain offers many choices. You can make your adventure as you like. Try a high "ladder trail" climb or walk to an island on a sand bar to see the ocean. Or explore tide pools in a rocky cove.
The park's founders, who were well-off, have left their mark. They made 45 miles of nice gravel roads. Now, these roads are for bicycles, not horse-drawn buggies. To end your day classy, visit the Jordan Pond teahouse near Mt. Penobscot. There, you can have tea and a popover.
Camping Costs at Acadia
Different amounts come in place depending on where you stay and what kind of site you choose. There are three camps: Blackwoods, Seawall, and Schoodic Woods Campgrounds. Prices are usually from $22 to $60 for a night. You can get more details regarding the costs as:
1. Blackwoods Campground: This camp charges $30 every night for one site. If you're not alone, it's $60 per night.
2. Schoodic Woods Campground: It's between $22 and $40 each night for one person, and If you're in a group, it's $60 every night.
3. Seawall Campground: It costs between $22 and $30 every night for an individual. For groups, it's $40 every night.
It's a good idea to visit the National Park Service website to find the newest information about camping costs and how to make reservations, as prices might change over time.
Acadia’s Operating Hours
Some roads might be closed in winter, but you can visit nature’s beauty all year. Hikers and tourists are the most seen at the park; their time depends and differs most times, but most stay around for three to four days.
You can also find suggestions regarding the duration of different activities at the National Park Planner on the review pages.
READ ALOS: Albion River Campground - Ideal for Camping in California
Acadia’s Camping Rules
Camping in Acadia has some restrictions, as you can only set up the National Park. This restriction is only okay in some particular campgrounds. They are Blackwoods Campground and Seawall Campground.
You can check the National Park Service website for more information about where you can camp in Acadia, as there are other places to camp and stay nearby that are off the camp premises.
Camping Activities
The famous Park allows for:
Hiking
Acadia National Park has 26 mountains with trails to their tops. I climbed 14 of them. The funny part is, these mountains are just a little tall, less than 1000 feet. But the trails to the top are the hardest among all the tracks in the eastern US National Parks. The most brutal hike in the Great Smoky Mountains wouldn't be as challenging as the easiest mountain hike in Acadia.
There's only one other park on the East Coast that comes close, the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal National Historical Park. It has a Billy Goat A Trail trail along the cliffs above the Potomac River. But even that would be outside the top five compared to Acadia trails.
In Acadia, you'll see granite balls sticking out of the ground like a pregnant woman's belly. Some trails are just rocks, so you must climb over big boulders, like cars. Sometimes, you have to climb cliffs using ladders and metal steps.
It's like mountain climbing but without special gear. You must use your fingers and toes to rise in places with no ladders. You feel proud when you finally reach the top because it's tough. In the Smokies, hiking is just walking up steep hills for a long time.
Boating/Paddling
You can use boats like motorboats, rowboats, canoes, and kayaks in many lakes and ponds at Acadia National Park's Mount Desert Island. But activities like paddleboarding, windsurfing, and kiteboarding are not allowed because falling off and going into the water is easy. And, at most lakes and ponds, people and pets can't go in the water because it's used for drinking. But strangely, you can use gasoline-powered motorboats, even though they use oil and gas.
The law says anyone on a canoe, kayak, or boat under 16 feet must have a life vest. If the ship is longer than 16 feet, there should be at least one throwable floatation device. Kids ten or younger must always wear a life vest, regardless of type (Type 1, 2, or 3). It's suggested that everyone wears a life vest, especially in the ocean, but it's not required by law.
You can put your boats and the biggest motor size in famous lakes and ponds like:
Bubble Pond: No official place to put boats is available, but you can park on Park Loop Road, 200 feet away. No engines allowed.
Eagle Lake: Motors can't be bigger than 10 HP.
Echo Lake: Motors can't be more giant than 10 HP.
Half Moon Pond: No official place to put boats, and no motors are allowed.
Hodgdon Pond: No official place to put boats. You can only use the west side, so boating is hard if you know someone with a dock on the west side. Motors can't be bigger than 10 HP.
So, you have many options for boating at Acadia, but there are rules to keep everyone safe and protect the environment.
Horseback Riding
Acadia National Park has a place where you can keep horses called Wildwood Stables. It's on the south part of the Park Loop Road near Seal Harbor. A company named Carriages of Acadia runs it. If you have your horses, you can keep them there, and they also have space for horse trailers (but you have to pay).
They don't offer rides to the public, but Carriages of Acadia has three carriage rides with horses from May to October. I went on the Mr. Rockefeller’s Bridges Tour. It's a two-hour ride by three stone bridges made by John D. Rockefeller Jr. long ago.
You can also get details about when the carriage rides happen and how much they cost on the Carriages of Acadia website.
Swimming
The Acadia Park is mainly surrounded by water and has many lakes, but there are few places to swim. The ocean shore is rocky, and the waves can be dangerous. Most lakes and ponds are used for drinking water, so swimming isn't allowed.
There are only a couple of places where you can swim. One is Echo Lake, fresh water; the other is Sand Beach, by the ocean. These are the only two beaches in the park with lifeguards, and they are there from Memorial Day to Labor Day weekends.
Fishing
You can fish in Acadia National Park at many lakes, ponds, and ocean spots. Even ice fishing is allowed during winter, usually from January to March. You only need permission from the National Park Service but a Maine fishing license if you're under 16 years old.
1. Echo Lake (engines under 10 HP): For Landlocked Salmon and Brook Trout.
2. Half Moon Pond (no motors allowed): For Brook Trout.
3. Hodgdon Pond (engines under 10 HP): For Brown Trout, Chain Pickerel, Smallmouth Bass, Sunfish, White Perch, and Yellow Perch.
4. Jordan Pond (engines under 10 HP): For Landlocked Salmon and Lake Trout.
5. Long Pond (no engine limits): For Landlocked Salmon, Brook Trout, Smallmouth Bass, and Chain Pickerel.
These are just a few of the places where you can enjoy fishing in Acadia National Park. Remember to follow the rules and regulations to keep the fishing areas healthy and enjoyable for everyone.
Ancient Sites
The Nature Filled Park is mostly about enjoying nature, but some important historical places and museums also exist. You can learn more about them on the National Park Planner website:
1. Abbe Museum at Sieur de Monts
2. Bass Harbor Head Lighthouse
3. Carroll Homestead
4. Fabbri Monument at the Fabbri Picnic Area
If you go on a boat cruise to Baker Island, you'll see the Baker Island Lighthouse and some other old buildings with history.
The Park’s Campgrounds
There are numbers of campgrounds in Acadia that you can love. Likes of Schoodic Woods Campground, Seawall Campground, Duck Harbor Campground, and Blackwoods Campground.
1. Schoodic Woods Campground
A new place was made 2015 on the Schoodic Peninsula to welcome people who want to stay overnight. Mount Desert Island is more relaxed, giving a quieter and more private camping experience.
The spots to camp have trees around them and are personal. You can bring a tent or an RV, but some roads are not suitable for RVs, so check first. There are big waves, friendly people, and rough cliffs at Schoodic Woods Campground. It's an excellent place to start your adventure in Acadia.
2. Seawall Campground
Go for a peaceful adventure at Seawell Campground, hidden far south of the park. It's a long 18-mile ride from the busy spots on the Park Loop Road. Even though not many people come here, it's lovely in its wild way.
You can walk on calm trails, see the Bass Harbor Lighthouse, and enjoy swimming and boating in a beautiful lake. The campground is only a short 10-minute walk from the ocean. Remember to bring your camera and discover this special place that's part of our country's treasures.
3. Duck Harbor Campground
Leave your car and modern stuff behind and go to Isle au Haut. There, you can experience basic camping at Duck Harbor Campground, the best simple camping. A ferry from the mainland will take you and your things to Duck Harbor. After that, you're on your own.
You can explore the wild rocky shores, walk the 18-mile trails, or simply relax and enjoy being in this clean and untouched paradise. There are few spots here, so lots of people want them. You need to plan well ahead if you're going to get one.
4. Blackwoods Campground
Acadia is the place for exciting adventures and calm times by the ocean. It's one of the busiest National Parks in the USA, where you can enjoy your vacation in one spot.
Walk on tall cliffs and lovely beaches, hike long trails, bike on roads with trees, or paddle in peaceful ponds and lakes. Blackwoods Campground is just a short ten-minute walk from the coast. A free shuttle can take you from the campground to all the fantastic things in Acadia.
READ ALOS: Backpacking Cot vs Pad: Which is Best for Camping?
Campsite Reservations in Acadia
Getting a campsite at Acadia National Park can be tricky because many people want to go there. You usually have to plan your camping trip for months; even then, spots fill up fast.
But here's some good news! There's another way to get a campsite at Acadia National Park, even if it's last-minute. You can use a thing called "Hipcamp." It's a way to get alerts for free about campsites at the park.
Hipcamp will watch to see if any spots are open for your desired dates. If they do, you'll get a quick message about it. Then, you can grab that spot before someone else does. Just set up an alert to get started.