The 45 best bridges in Bar Harbor

A friend and I took the Gorge Trail / Cadillac North trail and it took us 4.26 hours for a 5.4 mile hike. The gorge trail takes you to the Cadillac mountain summit. It is a serious hike that includes rock climbing. We then took the Cadillac trail north back down. We are 51/47 year old women. Be ready. It’s a work out. Have your knees ready. It is Beautful. All of it. Worth the hike. The reward is amazing.

Definitely a nice entry-level park to visit. Came here in October when the weather was cooler, definitely gave some beautiful fall vibes with the changing foliage and crisp air. The park isn't as big as other National Parks but it still offers a lot of great trails and sights. Cadillac Mountain tickets are required to check out the sunrise and for any other time for access. Neighboring Bar Harbour has a great town with plenty of food, bars, and lobster!

So the thing about Acadia is, it’s one of the best parks, but unfortunately, ever since the Covid lockdowns let up it’s been getting busier and busier. When we started going around 15 years ago, I would say there was maybe half the amount of people who go now. And now on a bad day, you can have a hard time finding a park for the better trailhead. But the park is beautiful, the Rangers are great, And it really does have everything you could want. Spend some time in the surrounding area and you’ll avoid some of the crowds now, Southwest Harbor is one of our favorites.

It's a beautiful place, we did the scenic loop and made a few stops. The beach is huge boulders in most places. There are lots of hiking trails and we did several in our first visit in 1971. That was our honeymoon and we were camping, this time we stayed in a nice hotel. Beautiful fall colors.

Beautiful national park. Clean!!! Beaches are beautiful. Hiking is fun with enough variety for most to find something they can enjoy. Campgrounds well maintained. Only negative is the lack of showers at the campground. We stayed at Seawall on the quiet side of the island. Strongly encourage buying a map of the park to help find the trails but things are well marked. Plenty of places to enjoy the sunsets and sunrises.

5/5 ★★★★★ A Must-Visit in the Fall! Acadia is an absolutely stunning park that left us with incredible memories. We specifically planned our trip for the autumn, and we did not regret it for a second. The landscapes were unreal—the foliage was ablaze with every shade of yellow, orange, and red. Hiking through the woodlands and along the rocky shores felt like walking through a fairytale, with a multitude of bright colors everywhere. One crucial piece of advice: be sure to bring a warm windbreaker and a HAT! It is incredibly windy on the peaks and by the ocean; it would have been much less comfortable without one. An interesting note: due to the government shutdown, there was no one at the entrance station, so no one asked for our tickets or our "America the Beautiful" annual pass, which we had ready. Of course, we fully support the parks and are always happy to pay the entrance fee to help maintain these beautiful places. We highly, highly recommend Acadia to everyone, especially in the autumn months! It's a place of power and incredible natural beauty.

This is a gorgeous park and still one of our favorites (2nd time visiting, 1st national park for us 14 years ago). We spent 4 days visiting the week after the 4th of July. And we still didn't have time for everything we wanted to do! The park loop road had some beautiful views. Jordan Pond had a moody feel when we walked those trails. The rock at South Bubble was fun to see and we got some great pictures of us with it, too. Popovers at Jordan Pond were delicious. We stopped by on a Tuesday night after the dinner rush and there were plenty of tables available and parking was easy. The hubby did Beehive himself. Great experience for him and the views were gorgeous. Definitely more challenging and not for everyone. We visited the Carroll Homestead and spent 1 day driving out to the Schoodic Peninsula. The visitor center there is beautiful and has some interesting history of its own. We walked a few trails on that side and drove that loop road - note that it's 1 way for much of it. I also recommend checking out their activities. We spent a few hrs one night on the beach with a ranger for a program watching the sun set. (Unfortunately no stars were out, but it was still cool.) So much to do in the park and mote outside too as well as lots of delicious food.

Such a beautiful park and the Rockefellers Bridges are all gorgeous. We saw a lot of hikers and riders and families with youngsters while we were there. This was one of the prettiest.

Stunning bridge and setting. Nice 4.5 mile walk or bike on carriage road without horses.

Neat bridge. Was nice in the morning and then not fun to walk the carriage roads with all the bikes.

A cool bridge if you are already in the park. Be mindful of how the GPS sends you in as we came off of 233. Parking is limited.

It's a solid bridge. It'll get you from one side of Duck Brook to the other. And back again if you like. Duck Brook Bridge bridges well. Connecting point for the carriage roads south and Witch Hole. Which hole? Witch hole.

Definitely worth the stop along our drive! It was towards the end of the day so we didn't walk over to the bridge itself, just saw it from the beach, but it was gorgeous. [I picked up trash along the road... so unfortunate. C'mon people, this is a National Park... 🤦‍♀️ Work harder at being better humans.]

Quite the bridge. Beautiful work. Rode bikes along the carriage roads here.

A nice place for short hikes and picnic. Notice that it's pretty crowded and in high season you won't have parking 10am to 4pm . IMO nice but not wroth the hype

Beautiful lake with a nice hiking trail around the edge! The trail is pretty rocky on one side and these plank boardwalks on the other, so definitely wear hiking boots. The trail is pretty crowded and parking is a disaster, but the pond itself is lovely.

Beautiful 3 mile hike in the morning. Parking fills up so get there early. Clockwise goes along elevated log trails and a few rock scrambles but the 2nd half is an easy walk. One of the most majestic trails in all of Acadia. Saved this one for the very last hike after a week long of moderate and challenging hikes. Great way to end our time in Acadia.

Easy hike for the whole family! Highly recommend getting there early in the morning during the fall season due to the popularity and the flat hike. Beautiful all around.

We went really early and it was quiet nice walk. Got busy after an hr but still ok. By the time we left, it was terribly busy. So suggest going early like 7-7:30 am for the trail, finish that and then go to the restaurant - upstairs they have the grab and go section for food with nice upper deck outdoor seating. Also has a gift shop - slightly overpriced because same stuff can be purchased in bar harbour town for a lot cheaper.

Beautiful and peaceful trail around the pond with stunning views of the lake. Easy walk with a mix of boardwalks and dirt paths, but there’s a fork where you can veer off for some fun rock scrambling and climb to the top for amazing views. Totally worth it if you’re up for a bit more adventure!

Parking was a bit tough during the busy season. Definitely suggest taking the free bus in. The trail around the pond was nice, not stroller friendly but very walkable.

We came upon this beach at lowtide. How very interesting to see seaweeds in this form!

Bar Harbor and Acadia are both on this stunning island, but you don't need to venture into either to view breathtaking scenery. I was there late October. Zero crowds, no problem parking anywhere.

The BEST vacation I've ever had and I've been to the Caribbean and Europe! You get everything from mountains to beaches to cute little towns to wildlife right in front of you. Acadia is just breathtaking too. It takes about 30-40 mins to get from 1 side of the island to the other as well, it's the perfect family vacation.

Spent 2 days on the island. Acadia National park was beautiful. Loved walking downtown Bar Harbor.

Island in Maine. Lots of lobsters, granite, fog and water. There's a national park here. It's pretty cool.

We come up here almost every year. Boring? Maybe. Or maybe we just found the perfect laid back, outdoorsy, dog friendly place in the USA to unwind and recharge.

I worked there Flagging for the most part it was really exciting to be there fresh air and the views were awesome people were friendly and understanding to the delays really nice place

Pretty nice, didn’t go on the hike just walked across when the tide was low. Beautiful walk and you can find some really cool things!

Great to experience once. It is amazing to see the trail covered during high tide and completely clear during low tide. Island offers a great deal of hiking trails to the outdoorsman.

A great hike. Check the tide charts since you can only walk to it during low tide.

Had a blast wading in the water on the land bridge as the tide came back in. The hike was short and relatively easy, although some slopes.

Very neat place to visit. I had never been to a tidal island before. You do need to be careful that you time this correctly. Dry passage is only available around low tide. Not the best for low mobility- the soft pebble ground is not the easiest to walk on. Once on the island, there is a short hike to an overlook to see back towards the mainland.

So fun… except we tried to drive our car down on the beach at the urging of a New Yorker and got stuck in the sand! 10/10 would not recommend, unless you’ve got 4 wheel drive. Good thing she was outspoken enough to get a bunch of guys to push our car out or else we, along with our rental car, might still be there. Or washed out into the bay, which might not have been too bad lol! Go at low tide, look under rocks for starfish and under seaweed for crabs, you won’t be disappointed! We even found a hermit crab(we let him go of course). Spent hours here, which just flew by. I did find some beach glass, not much though.. cool mollusk shells abound though, along with tons and I mean tons of snails.

loved this adventure but the tide comes in surprisingly fast!!

Lookout area to look at the waves near ocean level. A small section has stairs, other area is simply rock easily walkable. There's small parking lot across the street and a very small visitor center. Nice but similar to other viewpoints.

The star rating isn’t related to the natural beauty of the location it’s just the time we went there was NO action. Beautiful scene, parking was fine, a little over crowded but otherwise a good stop. My only recommendation is to do your research and plan your trip according to the tides/ weather to actually see the majestic natural beauty of Thunder Hole or you may leave a bit disappointed like we did.

Cool pop off spot. You have to go about an hour or two before high tide so it’s busy then. The thunder sound made doesn’t sound the same on video, must hear in person! Prepare for some splashes and crowds along the holes rail. There are also a lot of great rocks to take in the views from.

Thunder Hole along with the entire Acadia National Park coastline is breathtaking. The color of the rocks against the light green color of the ocean is beautiful. Easy to access the viewing points.

Come at high tide and walk down to the lowest part of the viewing area for the best experience! Thunder Hole is a beautiful and fascinating work of nature that highlights the power of the ocean. Parking is limited, but the coastal walk is lovely, so if you have to park further away, just enjoy the walk there. Dogs are allowed, but make sure you hang onto them near the edge.

We call this The Quiet Hole. This is the second time we've been here and it was fairly sedate both times. Supposedly the best time to see it is two hours before high tide but that didn't work for our schedule.

Absolutely loved the trip down here. Gorgeous pictures and loved that it was a nice day! Accidently took a 20 minute detour towards Cadillac mountain, but figured it out afterward. Was definitely worth the 3 hour drive!!

Great trail. Nice and peaceful even though there was a lot of bike riders but plenty of room to walk . Only set back was some walkers did not have their dogs on leash.

Excellent place for a mild bike ride, connecting to more intense trails

Rode bikes and its a good ride. Up hill down hill. Goes over to Jordan pond which we liked. Artive early morning for parking. Very limited

It was a super cool bike ride and I highly recommend the e bikes

There's an existing parking lot that you cannot use. Do not plan on parking here. Carriage roads are beautiful though.

Parking lot is closed to cars as long as the Island Explorer makes stops during the summer/early fall. Lot reopens to cars after Columbus Day.

Couldn't find parking

A nice visitor center with lot of information available, the rangers are very helpful and guides you very well. You need to climb 52 steps to reach the center. Ample of parking space and great point to start your Acadia journey. You can buy your entry pass and it also has a souvenir store.

7-24-2025 so many cars. All-day parking was an issue. After driving around the parking lot at Jordan Pond, I just dropped off my family and I kept driving around till they finished. At one point there was a traffic Jam, no cars could move...a park employee should have been directing traffic. Our time for Mt. Cadillac was noon. We got to the top and once again had to drop off my family. I found a spot 18 minutes later. Sand beach same thing. Once parked the park was awesome!!!

Everyone is so kind! We took #4 bus and got off at otter point. We walked back up to sand beach and that worked well as the buses weren't as filled there. It's a beautiful hike!

Normal visitors center. Information booth and gift shop, not great stamping station. Only had one stamp, usually the visitor centers have two, one with name and date and the other more of nature and an animal. There is a handicap parking, if you go the normal entrance be prepared to walk 52 steps, not an issue at all.

We mainly stopped at the Hulls Cove visitor center to park our car and use the free island explorer shuttle. This was so useful to avoid searching for parking at different points of Acadia as it can get very crowded during peak season. Honestly during peak times in a day (mid morning), finding a parking spot at the visitor centre was also very difficult. You can use restrooms, refill bottles, buy any souvenirs, buy the weekly passes for entrance and get any information you want at the centre. The people working there are so kind and are happy to help especially with shuttle timings and routes.

We visited on a Monday afternoon in late June 2025. There were parking spots when we arrived. I don't think it's super crowded here because there really isn't much of a visitor center. You could go inside and they had a tiny exhibit area with mostly large maps of the park. They have 2 lines, one for park passes and one for information. The information line was always long and this is where we had to go for our junior ranger booklets. There are also the National Park Service Passport Cancellation Stamp here. Don't forget all the other ones in Acadia NP like at the Sieur de Monts Nature Center, Cadillac Mountain Retail Store, Thunder Hole Retail Store, Jordan Pond Retail Store, Little Cranberry Island. They were all different stamps. There was a small merch store here as well which took up about 1/3 of the visitor center. Also there are bathrooms here. Other than these things there is no real other reason to be in this visitor center. It's more of a way station. However I know the brand new Visitor Center just opened up on the road just outside the park with a huge exhibit space and 300 parking spots. The only other thing about this visitor center is that at the entrance there is the typical National Park sign "Acadia National Park". If you wanted to walk over and take a official photo with it. Unfortunately it's not a very pretty background. It's just trees and parking lot.

We visited Acadia national park in Maine USA to see sunrise on Cadillac Mountain at 4.52am it was really beautiful. It's the first place where sunrise rise is seen in USA. We went by car from jersey city. We then drove to Hulls Cove Visitor Center and parked our car. We then visited the centre to be guided regarding hikes in Acadia national park. We collected maps. They gave us bus route timings to different treks. We then caught bus number 5 to go to Jordan Pond. We reached in 20 minutes. We then went first for a small trek to a nearby trail called Carriage Road and finished it. So beautiful with a small stream flowing, lovely bridges and awesome trees. Then went as walk-in to the Jordan Pond Restaurant and booked a table for the 4 of us, we got it in 25 minutes. Then had an amazing yummy lunch and went for a lovely walk around the most beautiful and big lake though they call it a Pond. Then we returned in the evening to catch bus number 5 back to the visitor center. Please do visit when in Acadia national park. Memorable. Dr. Narayan Pratap bangalore

Interesting architectural bridge over the road. Makes the drive that more pleasant.

Stone Bridge in Acadia National Park

We visited on a Monday morning in late June 2025. There was plenty of spots in the parking lot when we visited around 6:30AM. We came straight after we did Cadillac Mountain for Sunrise. A few of us went to hike Beehive and the other smaller ones went to the beach. The parking lot is shared for those who want to get to beehive trail head which is just across the street. There was large restroom facility and changing rooms as well. There were tables and benches and trash cans. The site has plenty of infrastructure. Because we came earlier in the season it wasn't super crowded yet. I think the park had just started running their shuttle buses that weekend. There was a long hike down to the beach with lots of stairs. I'm not sure if there was ramp access somewhere. You would have to carry all your beach stuff down with you. It was also quite chilly when we visited and no one was really in the water except for maybe their feet. From the beach you can also see all the way up to Beehive which was fun to see all the people going up the mountain side. There is no alcoholic beverages allowed, no glass containers, no fires, no camping, no feeding wildlife and no flotation devices. During the summer from June 15-Sept 8 there are no dogs allowed, no boat launching, no fishing and no surfing. There is also no lifeguard on duty. Overall this was a very nice beach given all the limitations I already stated.

Beach area is beautiful during day time! We also went there for stargazing at night - dark sky filled with millions of little stars, along with the moon reflection on the water and the sound of the waves made it one of the most tranquil experiences ever!

This beach is beautiful, but it is *so* crowded, even in October (which isn’t exactly beach weather). When did Acadia get so insanely popular?

It's a very picturesque beach with mountains and cliffs all around. Perfect for romantic stroll. The place is very child and animal friendly, many families come there to take pictures together. *Despite parking lot being huge it may be difficult to find a place to park. We had to wait for 10min for a spot. Many people park there to hike nearby mountains.

Cool spot to explore the sandy area or just sit and enjoy the weather. We came a week before peak season and it was still relatively crowded and parking was rough. During peak season they say arrive by 9am or hike in by trail.

Visited the 3rd week of October, very busy but beautiful stop! Stars at night are also amazing here, make sure to bring a headlight though.

Small yet beautiful beach with a great view. Has some steps to go down to access the beach. The water was cold even in July.

Impressive view from below on the Deer Brook Trail. A mere 10-minute climb (steep) from the busy Jordan Pond Trail.

It's cute. It's out of the way. What more can be said?

☆☆☆☆☆

We kayaked on an almost empty lake to an island and we saw an eagle in Eagle lake. The only downside is parking and an unmarked boat launch for the kayak. The boat launch was marked carriage road I believe. Go early for an amazing experience.

Perfect entry point to the carriage roads. The lot fills up super quick but many people park on the road. We actually parked around here to kayak Eagle Lake. Although not marked, there is a small boat launch and parking area separate from where the public restroom is. Eagle Lake was a gorgeous 3 hour kayak around the perimeter. The water was crystal clear and the day was perfect. We were the only people on the lake for the majority of the time besides seeing others on the shore or occasional part of a carriage road. The carriage road also goes all the way around the lake. Honorable mention is the old abandoned house we found. Facing the lake from this bridge, it’s on the left shore. Not spooky, but interesting. We read a story that people were building there and then were deterred by others so the lane would stay exactly as is today. Anyway, gorgeous area, serene, but can get very busy.

Great trail head for some of the carriage Road trails. Very close to here there are a number of beaver dams in a large pond. The biking trails are magnificent and the views are breathtaking and spectacular! The pads are smooth enough for handicapped individuals and the P gravel is very very smooth. This is about as good as a non-paved trail gets – very wide you could fit two cars side-by-side on some of the paths. Check it out!!

One of the many impressive features of Acadia national park is the bridges. This bridge is just one of many among the park but it is one of the easiest to stop by and view. I was extremely disappointed that the Eagle Lake Carriage Rd was entirely closed. It took away from the enjoyment of riding the carriage roads, as to circumvent this closed section, one would have to take their lives in their hands by riding alongside all vehicle traffic on the park loop road and Eagle Lake Rd to access other sections of the Carriage roads.

This place was teeming with wildlife. Beavers, frogs, turtles, chipmunks and all types of birds

We walked the carriage road. not many views of the lake.Somewhat boring. Probably better on a bike.

Bwautiful bridge, but I was thoroughly disapointed with the acoustics. Acapella group had to pack up and move somewhere else.

The lake surrounded by hills and fall foliage is absolutely stunning. This is a flat, easy hike—perfect if you prefer to skip Acadia’s cliffside trails. It’s more popular than some other hikes, but still not overly crowded. Summer must be beautiful too, though likely much busier.

It was June but alteady was not easy to park car. I suggest to go there are the first stop of the arcadia visit as It Is possible to reach It directly from the entrance (counterclockwise)

Gorgeous pond! Me and my family love this place, It is truly iconic and well known at Acadia National Park.

Very beautiful walk around the pond and cool bridge

Amazing spot for hikers

Amazing hike so pretty

We visited on a Monday afternoon in late June 2025. We parked in the Jordan Pond parking lot and had lunch at the restaurant and decided to walk down to the pond to have a look. This is where you end up when walking straight down from Jordan Pond Restaurant. There is info sign here near the bridge and a great view all the way across to the two mountains which I think are the Bubbles. We wish we had more time to actually hike the pond but we wanted to get to the Hulls Cove Visitor Center and Sieur de Monts nature Center before they closed. Lunch also took a bit longer than we expected.

This is a pretty large lake inside the Acadia National Park. Overall this is a beautiful lake with the best view being from the east end of the lake just after you leave the parking lot. In our case we were bike riding the 5.8 mile carriage road loop trail around the lake. Overall the bike ride was relatively easy with exception of a really long uphill grade on the west side of the lake. Still it was a great and relatively short ride. Even better there are two parking lots you can use that are off the State road so you can do this ride without getting a national park pass for Acadia.

Such a great place to unwind and enjoy nature. The water is refreshingly clean and a beautiful color. We had a wonderful time riding our e-bikes around the lake on the carriage roads.

The Eagle Lake is beautifully embedded in the mountainous landscape of Mount Desert Island, to the east is the Cadillac Mountain with The Whitecap on the north ridge, to the south is the Pemetic Mountain and to the west is The Bubbles and the lower Conners Nubble.

No matter what time of year, it's always beautiful here. During the winter months, you can walk with cleats+, cross-country ski, etc., on the carriage roads, as well as skate and ice fish, and you may see deer prancing by while on the carriage road. During the spring, when flowers start to bloom on certain portions of the trail, the smell is overwhelming. During the summer, if you're not a sunbathing person, walking under the trees on the paths might be your thing. Then of course autumn, when the trees turn to vibrant fall colors, you will not notice how far you have walked, because the view all along the way is so spectacular. Then of course the sunsets at various viewing points are grand. I am sure the sunrises are also beautiful, but some people are not morning people.

Nice walk across the frozen lake

Beautiful lake within Acadia. There is a very good trail around the lake which is perfect for biking. Natural forest, feeder creeks and boulders create a perfect atmosphere for walkers, photographers and outdoor enthusiasts. If you are in Bar Harbor you should not miss a visit to this lake.

Calm lake in Acadia national park. You can try biking on the carriage paths around this lake. It is a nice experience.

Absolutely love this gem for a place to go rock hunting and the sound of the rocks rolling on the ride is amazing. Great place to just connect with nature with not a whole lot of tourist there.

I visited here in the early 1970s and again in the 1980s. This is the most magical, soothing, happy little cove and beach. It is one of my happiest places on Gaia. Human frailties disappear and tranquility reigns. Listening to the beach pebbles sing to each other is one of nature's gifts... 🎁

Such a beautiful stop very short walk! Its a beach filled with both large and small pebbles. One of my favorite stops!

Very slippery, but otherwise this is a gorgeous large rock beach. The rocks are like river rocks, rounded smooth and beautiful. Geologically fascinating how many different stones are there. Some small tide pools at low tide too.

Little Hunters Beach in Acadia National Park is pure magic! Tucked away with just a few parking spots right by the trail, this hidden gem feels like your own private escape. The short staircase leads to a stunning cobblestone beach where the waves create the most soothing rhythm — a lullaby you can only dream of. At low tide, you can carefully climb the rocks for even more breathtaking views. Peaceful, beautiful, and absolutely worth the stop!

Gorgeous little beach! Sound of the waves crashing against the rocks is amazing💖✨️

Nice little secluded outlook. Great for some pictures of the wooden steps. Better for Milky Way shots but didn’t get a chance

This is a good place by itself. But if you consider the access to the walking trails nearby, it makes it one of my favorite places to go walk. The Jesup trail to the Great Meadow is one our families favorite places on MDI.

A lot of very easy trails within here, although nothing terribly exciting or 'must see.' This is not some place you *have* to see while in Acadia.

Nice visitors center the spring is a bit odd. You have to see it. We had a little taste even though it said not to. The Native Museum up the hill is great. Love love loved the native plant gardens. Fantastic.

Take in everything when in Acadia National Park.

Not much to do but there are trails you can get from there, like Jesup Trail for one.

A lot of trail and learning opportunities to be had here

(Translated by Google) Nothing to see (Original) Нечего смотреть

Easy bike from Eagle Lake parking. Then double back and finish the Eagle Lake loop.

What can I say!? It's picturesque like all of Mount Desert Island. However, it's less busy than some spots.

Beautiful ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

This wasn’t on our itinerary but I’m so very glad we stopped by - the ingenuity of homesteaders in addressing day to day situations (soapwort!) and the story of generations of this family in particular were fascinating as well as playing games and seeing the tools of their times. Ranger Claire P and volunteer ranger Ellen were particularly lovely and gave us lots additional facts (and Ellen swore in my kiddos as junior rangers which saved us a trip to the crowded main visitor center!). It was Wednesday and a 5th generation descent (Joan) was giving a talk at like 11am-ish about her family’s history. It was a short walk through the woods from the parking lot to the homestead on relatively flat but root-ful woods path. Really glad we did this one!

We visited around noon on a Sunday in late June 2025. There were 2 other cars in the parking lot with us at the time. There were enough spots for maybe a dozen cars. The parking lot is crushed aggregate rock so not the best for wheelchairs or strollers unless you have thicker wheels. There is a short trail through the woods from the parking lot to get to the homestead. There are plenty of signs all over the homestead that explain everything. There was no staff or ranger on site. The house was also not open when we visited. We just walked around and look at different exhibits. It looked like there are a lot of fun activities when there is staff here. I think we were too early in the season or maybe with budget cuts they weren't able to hire seasonal staff. We spent maybe 15-20 mins here total. Without staff and the activities there really isn't much to do here but look around and read the signs. With the activities I think kids would have much more fun.

I was really excited to visit this historic site when we were in the area the week after the 4th of July. We parked in the gravel parking lot and walked the trail through the woods to get to the house. There was one worker when we arrived, seemingly a volunteer, working on the vegetable garden. The house was not open for tours so we spent about 15 minutes walked around the outside reading the signs. It's a well-kept property and I am sure it is even more interesting when there are park rangers to talk about the history. I hope to see the inside of the home on another trip.

We were the only people in sight when we visited a few weeks ago. The Government shutdown had just started and guess the rangers and volunteers were all off somewhere else. The place looks like a teaching exhibit for school trips. There were signs detailing how things were done and what went where, the barn, the garden, etc. The place was clean and looked like people had just gotten up and left earlier. There was no litter or mess to be seen. Probably would have been a better experience with a ranger or volunteer on hand to discuss things but it was still a nice visit seeing how people survived in Maine in bygone days.

If you love history and homesteads, you gotta stop by. ESPECIALLY during the open houses. The Rangers LOVE this stuff and have so much additional knowledge to share about, not just this homestead, but the way people lived at the time as a whole. Getting to stop by here and learn so much was really special, and the area is just so peaceful. The walk through the woods between the homestead and parking lot is really, really tranquil. It makes you wanna move right in 😂

(8/28/25) it was pretty cool visiting this historic homestead dating back 200 years; before Bar Harbor area became a massive tourist destination. I was hiking several Acadia National Park trails when I noticed ANP’s roadside signage posted a “open house” invitation for the Carroll Homestead; so it peaked my curiosity. It was a great tour of the interior and exterior of this place; accompanied by tons of history shared by the park rangers at this site. Cool stuff.

This is a quick stop to visit a multi generation homestead now under the supervision of the park. I would recommend visiting when open, but would still stop if the building is closed to view the grounds. Park at the base for a 5 minute walk to the homestead. There is also handicap parking further up and a portipotty.

A very popular place during the peak season. We visited mid-week in late August and could NOT find parking in either of the lots at 11:30am and 2pm…we opted to return later in the day around 5pm and there were lots of spaces available. Most of the crowd had emptied out by that time. The restaurant is there with those highly sought-after popovers but reservations are required. There is also a gift shop there. It is a short walk down some shallow steps to Jordan Pond itself. The loop there offers some great views of the pond and mountains in the background. The classic photo location is available immediately at the bottom of those steps. With all-day southern light, you should get some great photos during most of the day. You definitely want to work this into your Acadia visit…but plan ahead. For reference, during our visit to this location…we did NOT have to show our Acadia Park Pass.

Great hike around the lake that takes about an hour. With photos it takes much longer and that‘s guaranteed because the lake is a real beauty. As with every hike in the national park, you should start from one of the two car parks by 10 a.m. at the latest. The hike is very easy. I advise families to hike around the lake counterclockwise so that you have the cooler wooden paths and rocks on the second half of the hike, which keeps the kids entertained. At the end of the hike you can fortify yourself with the apparently famous pastry and lemon lemonade at the Jordan Pond Restaurant. In summer there were a lot of wasps there, so we made ourselves comfortable under an apple tree below the restaurant.

Jordan Pond is one of Acadia National Park’s most serene and picture-perfect destinations — a place that feels untouched by time. The trail circling the pond is peaceful, well-maintained, and offers stunning views from every angle. Walking beneath tall evergreens, you’ll catch glimpses of the pond’s impossibly clear water, where smooth stones shimmer beneath the surface and sunlight dances across gentle ripples. The air is crisp and cool, filled with the scent of pine and the quiet rhythm of nature. Every turn along the path reveals new perspectives — from forested stretches that open to reflections of the Bubbles Mountains to quiet coves perfect for sitting and taking in the view. The clarity of the water is remarkable, allowing you to see deep into the rocky bottom, and the surrounding hills create a natural amphitheater of color in autumn. This is an ideal trail for all skill levels: flat, scenic, and accessible, with plenty of spots to rest or photograph the landscape. Whether you come early in the morning for solitude or later in the day to watch the sun illuminate the hills, Jordan Pond embodies Acadia’s tranquil beauty. It’s the kind of place that lingers in your memory long after you’ve left.

Five stars because the scenery was absolutely magical. This is probably one of the most trafficked trails in Acadia, on account of it being iconic, as well as an easier trail (more of a path). I went counterclockwise as I read online beforehand that this direction had better aesthetics. This, however, meant a good section of the last part of the trail was walking over a lot of rocks (much like a section of the Eagle Lake trail). It also meant the boardwalk section was towards the end, too. For those who walk the boardwalk section and actually stop to read the sign, it talks about the sensitive ecosystem along the lake, and how staying on the boardwalk is important so as to not disturb or destroy the ecosystem. Because of this, they conveniently built the boardwalk with spaced out sections to step to the side to allow others to pass. Unfortunately, I saw several examples of people with poor or no hiking etiquette, who either stepped off the boardwalk completely to let people pass, or who passed right along me when they had the opportunity to step to the side to wait for me to pass. Disappointing. In spite of that (and the busy parking lot/trying to find parking), this trail really was beautiful. If you have enough patience, it's definitely worth it.

Really beautiful hiking spot - we went in the late afternoon to see the sunset there and it was a beautiful view. It was a little crowded, especially at the beginning of the trail where people were stopping to take photos. There’s a big section that has a narrow path of wood planks to protect the ground that was crowded due to the narrow path and then there’s a section that’s more difficult to navigate as you have to climb over rocks but overall it’s an easy hike, about 3.5 miles.

Gorgeous views! The trail is about 90% easy (well defined, mostly level path, boardwalk walkways) and about 10% climbing over large rocks in one section of the trail. I added pics of the rocks you need to climb over to continue on the trail. I'm 55 and in decent shape and was able to do it with minimal difficulty. If you're moderately fit, you'll have no problems. There were many families with small children and older folks doing the hike. There are plenty of places to "pull over" and take a breather with beautiful views. I would not recommend it for anyone with mobility issues unless you turned back when you reach the rocks, which may also be worth it for the views. The loop is a little over 3 miles and connects to the Bubble Rock trail if you're up to that mile long uphill detour (I wasn't). Also, you need to get there EARLY to get a parking spot. I would definitely recommend this hike.

Good: beautiful scenery, some spots to stop and sit, long enough for people to enjoy with some peace. Bad: the path is mostly on wooden planks where two people barely fit. You have to make way for others, and you must look down most of the time so you don’t fall off the planks. Parking is limited at least on the restaurant side where you’ll be competing with people wanting to eat at the restaurant. Also I wouldn’t recommend it for dog walking because there’s mud off the planks.

Felt more like walking through Central Park in NYC than a calm nature walk with the amount of people. Worry more about parking meter and when the time is running out than the tide. There really isn’t much of a tide as it’s dramatically made to be.

Overall, this was a very fun and cool attraction in the bar harbor area. It is accessible during sunset and sunrise when the tide lowers and offers a great view of the mountains and islands along with some beautiful pictures of bar harbor. It also includes a nice hike through bar island trail.

I started at first light, an hour before low tide. My pics from the hike across the bar and then from the east tip of Bar Island where I enjoyed a beautiful sunrise.

Great hike, just make sure you time the tide. You can go out the 1 1/2hrs before low tide and 1 1/2hrs after low tide. Once the tide starts coming back in you can get stuck out there.

Great experience, many people. Hard to find parking.

Nice little hike while in downtown bar harbor. The sandbar starts and bridge Street in cross is over to bar island. you'll have about an hour and a half before and after low tide to make the crossing. If you get stranded on the island there is a water taxi that you can call to come pick you up. Path on the island is very wide but we definitely took precautions for ticks. There are a couple nice overlooks. Well worth it.

This is a fun place to visit at low tide. Walk the trail out, enjoy the trail down the island and the views of town but don't expect to take long as tides will strand you (unless you have a boat). We liked the walk but I wouldn't consider this an Acadia must see.

This scenic cause way a great stop to stretch legs and explore during low tide. Parking is limited so the crowds are much smaller. Most people admire the view as the drive the cause way. The triple arched bridge is the only solid masonry bridge on the park motor road system. We were on a bus tour and asked the drive to stop. The whole party disembarked and explored the inlet and admired the architectural tripe arched bridge. The view south of the ocean is impressive between the two ridges. The view north up the tide basin of the surrounding mountains finishes off a very special vista.

We had a quick visit on a Tuesday morning in late June 2025. We drove by and pulled over for a minute to check it out and take a couple pictures. The lighting wasn't the best when we visited so we decided to move on and continue down the road. I can see the potential here for some amazing photos earlier or later in the day. There are just so many amazing sights in Acadia NP.

Easy to get to on the looped or a .4 mile hike from the Blackwoods camp ground. Though highly traveled the natural beauty is not lost.

9/2022 5* Fun place to hike too. Quick stop for pictures and a break while hiking.

Nice spot to stop and stretch your legs. We even saw a seal in the water while we were here. You can walk over to the bridge and fish if that’s your thing.

You can park right before the bridge and enjoy calm water view on one side and the beach on the other 🤩

Nice stop. You park in the right lane which was a bit strange

Turned out to be a great spot to make a wonderful "loop ride" that involved "the quieter side" of the trail system, Day Mtn being totally worth the effort.

This hike. Oh. My. Goodness! While the waterfall isn’t quite the cascading fall we expected (it’s more gradual and like walking along a creek with a lot of vertical - sorry this isn’t a great description, check the photos 🤣❤️) Both of our kids were amazed and our 8yr old exclaimed “Thank you for taking me on this hike! It changed my life forever!!” It’s really that beautiful!

Started off on the carriage trail, but once I saw the sign on the side of the trail, I decided to check it out, and I was very happy that I did. At the summit, you can wait for a beautiful sunset and then take a shorter, easier trail down. Next time, however, I will backtrack to some of the other trails for some more scenery, as well as a good workout.

It is a well maintained gravel road. The went to canny scenic points, but lean a good trail

Carriage paths are wide, gentle sloping gravel paths (really roads). Emphasis on sloping- on a hot day, we worked up a sweat 😅

Parked here to go to Hadlock Falls.

Fun bicycle/ hiking trails. The ride uphill was fun, but going down was even better. I enjoyed the carriage bridges, and waterfalls along the route.

Did about a 2 mile loop hike to see the falls. Not much water but still nice.

Great little spot, easy to get to with beautiful picturesque scenes. Several hikes lead here from the super easy carriage roads to some more technical narrow paths along the brook. The bugs are pretty bad in the early summer, but you could say that for anywhere on the island.

Parked at Parkman Mountain trailhead. It's an easy walk with slight elevation. Trail is wide and well maintained. The waterfall was worth the trip.

Beautiful area. The carriage road has many scenic areas on the way to the falls.

Beautiful! With the falls more frozen than not, it was still stunning. I cannot wait to go again during each season, as well as to hike all around the area, as there were many trails all around.

Beautiful falls and easy to hike to. I highly recommend while visiting Bar Harbor.

the hike was very beautiful but we went and the falls didn’t exist!!! i guess there hasn’t been enough water flow recently. was really excited because it looks so beautiful but that’s okay i’ll catch it another time!

Driving toy boats down this freshwater stream as it cuts through the rocky beach and into the sea with my brother is a very cherished childhood memory of mine from a family vacation with our parents, so I returned about 30 years later with my wife for a taste of nostalgia—and Hunter’s Beach did NOT disappoint, though it would have been a fair amount sweeter had I, as a 36-year-old man, remembered to bring a toy boat to drive down the stream and into the sea… God, damn it! — How precious the simplest moments can be with a loving family, and how bittersweet that those moments grow all the more precious as time inevitably pulls us further away from them.

Fantastic. It was really foggy when we were there, which made the hike through the forest very moody. Plus there were slugs

Best place on Mt. Desert Island. Quiet beach except for the waves tumbling stones and red squirrels chewing pine cones.

This beautiful rocky beach is easy to miss after driving the rugged coast. Its just off Park Loop Rd as you turn back to the North towards Jordon pond. Not much parking but easy walk down to the beach or stay up high and walk the cliff with great elevated view back toward the beach.

One of our favorite places on the island. Short hike to a quiet stone beach.

Great stop - one of our favorite ones of the whole trip. Was recommended to us when our whale tour was canceled due to weather. It was an easy, family-friendly walk and then a rocky beach with plenty of rocks to climb. Would recommend rain boots for kiddos. Also, bug spray.

Pretty much every place on the coast rates at least four stars, especially on a crisp spring day. You wouldn't want to swim here - it's rocky and very cold - but the view is spectacular. The stream following down to it through the forest is dark and primeval.

I like the fact that I can take a little bit more strenuous trail going up (for my age, etc.) then an easy trail going down if I decide not to challenge myself. Once you get to the summit, there's a large area to sit and relax for the sunset, and you may find yourself (or group) to have the pleasure of the whole summit.

Perfect spot to jump on the carriage roads! We rode a loop with pedal assist e-bikes from duck brook bridge down to Jordan pond and back with rentals from coastal kayaking. We are novice bikers with a 15 and 11 year old and found it to be very doable with pedal assist e-bikes and a stop at Jordan pond for bathrooms, food from grab and go on second story of the restaurant and water bottle refills. Total time biking was about 3 hours with stops along the way.