EXPLORING ACADIA NATIONAL PARK

EXPLORING ACADIA NATIONAL PARK

There is only one national park in Maine and it’s a beauty. Acadia National Park is home to 47,000 protected acres of woodland, granite peaks and rocky shores. Acadia is one of the most popular parks as it draws about 3.5 million visitors a year. There’s so much unique natural beauty at Acadia and there are a plethora of ways to enjoy it. Come explore the Acadia National Park scenery when you stay at The Homeport Inn and Tavern.

Where is Acadia National Park?

Acadia National Park sits on Mount Desert Island in the central section of the Maine coast. Bar Harbor, Maine is the closest town to the park as it sits just north of the boundaries. Guests of The Homeport Inn and Tavern are about an hour from the park.

Acadia National Park Hours

Acadia National Park is open year-round and for 24 hours. Park facilities may have specific hours depending on the season.

Acadia National Park Map

Before exploring Acadia National Park, be sure to reference the map to better understand the layout of the park.

Acadia National Park Visitor Center

There are plenty of places to go for information about Acadia National Park. In summer, stop by the Hulls Cove Visitor Center, which serves as the main visitor contact hub. This visitor center is just off Route 3 in Bar Harbor and is open from mid-April until the end of October. The Sieur de Monts Nature Center is another place to speak with a ranger about the park during the summer. If you visit Acadia during the winter, stop off at the Bar Harbor Chamber of Commerce at 2 Cottage St. for information.

Acadia National Park Hiking and Trails

Acadia National Park is home to a wide array of fun things to do but hiking is one of the most popular. Acadia is home to 150 miles of trails that showcase the splendor of forests, rocky coastlines and mountain tops. The trails are broken into three types: summit, coastal and forest/lake hikes. The park’s trails also come in a variety of methods with a healthy amount of both loops and out-and-back options. Some of the more popular trails include the Beehive Loop Trail, Jordan Pond Path, Gorham Mountain Loop and Precipice Loop. 


Cadillac Mountain is a prominent fixture in Acadia National Park and there are two trails that you can take to reach the top. The Cadillac North Ridge Trail (4.4 miles roundtrip) and Cadillac South Ridge Trail (7.1 miles roundtrip) allow hikers to reach the mountaintop from the parking lot. For more information on Cadillac Mountain or any other hiking trails, please refer to the park’s trail guide.

Acadia National Park Winter Activities

While winter does limit access to Acadia National Park, there’s still plenty to do when you visit. Snowfall does force closures so be sure to reference the park’s conditions and weather prior to visiting in the winter. Some of the popular winter activities in the park include scenic drives, hiking, cross-country skiing, snowshoeing, snowmobiling, ice fishing, dog sledding and skijoring. If conditions allow, take some time to experience Acadia during the winter for a whole new perspective on the area.

Acadia National Park Fishing

Fishing is a great leisure activity that allows you to sit calmly amid the gorgeous scenery of Acadia National Park. Visitors can drop a line into one of the many lakes and ponds around the park. Anglers can find various species of trout, bass, perch, salmon, pickerel, sunfish, sucker and alewives. There are also opportunities for ocean fishing in Sargent Drive, Somes Sound and Frazer Point, Schoodic Peninsula. The best time to go ocean fishing is July through September. Mackerel are found in both spots and Somes Sound is also home to bluefish and striped bass. BE sure to follow all fishing regulations in the park, including the possession of a Maine fishing license.

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