The majority of the Acadia National Park is located on Mount Desert Island (MDI) and the remainder is on the Schoodic Peninsula. MDI is where most people go and is known as the popular side.

Across Frenchman Bay, just south of Winter Harbor, is the Schoodic Peninsula and it contains 5% of Acadia National Park. It is the quiet part of the Park.

Quiet Schoodic Peninsula Side

We loved the quieter side of Acadia. On this side of the park you almost forget about the other tourists and feel like you have an ocean view all to yourself.

We went back time and again to enjoy the views. We went at sunset in hopes of a great picture instead we got fog, but Buddy enjoyed jumping over the rocks and observing the seagulls.

There is an unmarked hike called Raven’s Nest that highlights the craggy New England coastline. It is difficult to tell from the pictures but some of the outcroppings here are very narrow and the water below is about 50 feet down. There are no guardrails or ropes to prevent a fall. We think this is why this is no longer a trail that the park recommends on its website.

Popular Mount Dessert Island Side

The MDI side is where the city of Bar Harbor is located as well as all the tourist sites in the park. The first day we took a scenic drive along the park loop road to get the lay of the land. The next day we did the famous Bee Hive hike as part of the longer Gorham Trail.

This trail has ladders and rungs to climb and some very narrow ledges to traverse. Can you see below my left hand holding the rung for stability?

Very small ledge with a steep edge on the other side.

This trail leads to a fresh water pond known as “The Bowl.” Scott decided to take a swim to cool off before we continued our hike.

A walk along the Ocean Path is where many of the “must-see” sites of the park are located, including: Thunder Hole, Otter Cliff, Sand Beach, and Jordan Lake.

Thunder Hole, where at high tide you hear and see the pure force of nature as the ocean waves crash over the exposed fragmented rocks. The small inlet makes a thunderous noise as the tide comes in, hence the name.

Otter Point is a beautiful place to catch some rays and watch the schooners. Unfortunately, it gets crowded here. We preferred the relaxing Schoodic side for our ocean gazing bliss.

Sand Beach is also along this path. There is a small sandy beach and a cove to swim.

Jordan Pond is one of the park’s most pristine lakes, with outstanding mountain scenery. Glaciers carved the landscape, leaving behind numerous geological features.

During some parts of the year Cadillac Mountain is the first part of the United Stats to experience sunrise it is also the highest point on the Eastern seaboard. We drove up here, not hiked, to see the view of Bar Harbor and Frenchman Bay. Many people come early for sunrise pictures, but we just couldn’t find the motivation to get up that early.

Precipice Trail is one of the most intimidating hikes I have ever done. I thought I was going to luck out and miss this one, as the trail was closed for peregrine nesting, but it reopened three days before we left. So off we went.

I found this description of the trail, “The Precipice Trail is the most challenging and well known hiking trail in Acadia National Park with an exposed and almost vertical 1,000 foot climb. It is designated as “strenuous” and is only recommended for physically fit and experienced hikers who have no fear of heights.” Sounds like us, right? I think the pictures speak for themselves.

A long way down.

Coastal Maine is famous for its lighthouses.

We loved Maine and hope to come back again. Our next two stops will be in Pennsylvania then on to Ohio.