Fall in Acadia National Park
My New England fall foliage road trip that began in Vermont and New Hampshire finished up in Maine at Bar Harbor and Acadia National Park.
My first stop in Acadia, the Crown Jewel of the North Atlantic Coast, was hiking at Jesup Path. I walked a mile and half with little elevation gain along the pathway through the white birch forest.
After that, I walked along the ocean at Schooner Head Overlook before heading to Cadillac Mountain. Make sure you have a reservation to drive to the summit.
The Cadillac Mountain summit is 1,530 feet with incredible views in every direction. It’s the first place in the United States you can see the sun rise from October 7 through March 6.
On my second day in Acadia, I took a tour with Good Trip Adventures. I ended up having my own private tour! We started our day hiking down to Sand Beach and exploring that area.
Then, we headed along the Ocean Path Trail past Thunder Hole and began our climb up Gorham Mountain.
There were some rocky places along the climb and it’s considered moderately challenging, but we were rewarded with these beautiful views. My guide said you get the same views as the Beehive Trail without the exposed spots.
Our total hiking distance, including the Gorham Mountain Loop, was 4.5 miles with almost 700 feet of elevation gain.
We enjoyed a picnic lunch at Suminsby Park and checked out the Bass Harbor Head Lighthouse. The light station was built in 1858 and is one of three managed by Acadia National Park.
We also hiked along the Ship Harbor Trail for about two miles with 100 feet of elevation gain. We checked out the tide pools and enjoyed the ocean views.
I treated myself to these delicious lobster nachos and a blueberry lemonade at Bar Harbor Lobster Pound after a long day of hiking.
After dinner, I headed over to Hadley Point Beach and caught an amazing sunset over the water.
My last morning in Maine and Acadia, I hiked at Jordan Pond. It’s an easy hike around the pristine lake of three miles with just around 50 feet of elevation gain. After your hike, check out the famous popovers at the Jordan Pond House.
On my way out of the park, I stopped to photograph Duck Brook Bridge, a triple-arch bridge completed in 1929.
Be sure to also explore the town of Bar Harbor. It’s filled with cute shops, restaurants and views of the water.
Check out more from my fall foliage road trip in Vermont and New Hampshire.
