Acadia National Park

Introduction

Acadia National Park is a National Park located in the U.S. state of Maine. It reserves much of Mount Desert Island, and associated smaller islands, off the Atlantic coast. Created as Lafayette National Park in 1919, it was renamed Acadia in 1929 and is the oldest National Park east of the Mississippi River.

Geography

The park includes mountains, an ocean shoreline, woodlands, and lakes. In addition to Mount Desert Island, the park comprises much of the Isle au Haut, parts of Baker Island, and a portion of the Schoodic Peninsula on the mainland.

In total, Acadia National Park consists of more than 19,000 ha, including 12,300 ha on Mount Desert Island, 1,104 ha on Isle au Haut and 957 ha on the Schoodic Peninsula. The permanent park boundary, as established by act of Congress in 1986, includes a number of private in-holdings that the park is attempting to acquire.

Cadillac Mountain, named after the French explorer Antoine Laumet de La Mothe, sieur de Cadillac, is on the eastern side of the island. Its green, lichen-covered, pink granite summit is, because of a combination of its eastern location and height, one of the first places in the United States to see the sunrise. Miles of carriage roads were originally built by John D. Rockefeller, Jr. The mountains of Acadia National Park offer hikers and bicycle riders views of the ocean, island lakes, and pine forests.

The inlet Somes Sound, often described as the "only fjord on the East Coast", is now called a fjard by officials.

The park is home to some 40 different species of mammalian wildlife. Among these are red and gray squirrels, chipmunks, white-tailed deer, moose, beaver (Castor canadensis), porcupine, muskrats, foxes, coyote, bobcats, and black bears. Many other marine species have been observed in the surrounding area and waters.

Each summer several trails in the park are closed to protect nesting peregrine falcons.

Sights and Activities

• Egg Rock Light (Acadia Loop Road, south of Bar Harbor) - This 1875 lighthouse is located on a barren ledge in the middle of Frenchman Bay, east of Mount Desert Island. It can be viewed from the Acadia NP Loop Road
• Bird watching - Acadia is a great place to birdwatch, with many species calling the park home. Bald eagles, peregrine falcons, great blue herons, cranes, ducks, geese, chickadees, woodpeckers, owls, orioles and blue jays can be seen in the park, just to name a few of the most common.
• Hiking and biking

Opening Hours

The park's headquarters are open most of the year. Visitor's Centers are open during the summer season roughly from April untill October.

The Park Loop Road is closed annually December 1 - April 14. Road opening may be delayed on years of heavy snow and ice. Two short sections remain open year-round.

Unpaved Roads are closed November 15 - May 15.

Cost

All park visitors are required to pay an entrance fee upon entry May–October.

Entrance fees are US$ 12 per person or US$ 25 per car, valid for 7 days.

Getting There and Around

By Car

From Boston take I-95 north to Augusta, Maine, then Route 3 east to Ellsworth, and on to Mount Desert Island. For an alternate route, continue on I-95 north to Bangor, Maine, then take Route 1A east to Ellsworth. In Ellsworth, take Route 3 to Mount Desert Island.

During the summer months the Park Loop Road and parking lots at carriage road entrances can be quite crowded. Parking is permitted only in designated (posted) areas, parking lots, and established roadside pullouts. To avoid the crowds and parking issues, you can ride fare-free Island Explorer buses to many park destinations.

By Bus

Bus service from Boston to Bangor is available year-round via Concord Coach Lines and Greyhound.

Eat

• Jordan Pond House - Operated by the company which holds the franchise for food and shops within Acadia National Park, the Jordan Pond House, offers acceptable but overpriced food for lunch and dinner.

Sleep

There are no hotels located within the park borders, but the nearby town of Bar Harbor has numerous options.

The park has three campgrounds: Blackwoods, Seawall and Duck Harbor.

External Links

• Official Website