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Off the Beaten Path in Acadia National Park
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Acadia National Park Off the Beaten Path

Somes Sound, Acadia National Park - Acadia National Park
Somes Sound, Acadia National Park
by Stephen-KarenConn
Tips and photos of unusual, out-of-the-way Acadia National Park attractions, posted by real travelers and locals.
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Acadia National Park Off the Beaten PathTips 1 - 10 of 21  
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Wonderland Trail
  • Tip Rating:
    • kazander
  • Updated By kazander on August 3, 2004
  • Acadia National Park Page by kazander
    • Wonderland - Acadia National Park
    Wonderland
    by kazander
    Wonderland Trail is located near the Bass Harbor Lighthouse on the western side of Mount Desert Island. Not a terribly long or hard trail, you walk throught the woods through pine trees and rosebushes and end up on a gorgeous craggy beach. I say it's off the beaten path because there were a lot less people here when we visited which was right in the middle of the day. You wont see nearly as many people over on the western side of the Island as you will over on the Loop road.

    Along Route 102A, you will see signs and a little pulloff parking "lot" . The trail is next to it

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  • Website: www.acadiamagic.com
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    Mt. Desert St. Cemetery
  • Tip Rating:
    • richiecdisc
  • Updated By richiecdisc on December 4, 2003
  • Acadia National Park Page by richiecdisc
    • a bit of quite right in Bar Harbor - Acadia National Park
    a bit of quite right in Bar
    Harbor
    by richiecdisc
    Bar Harbor can get a wee bit crowded so best to ditch your car as soon as you get into town and stroll some of the backstreets. One nice quiet place is the cemetery on Mt. Desert Street. Though right in the middle of town, it seems not a soul bothers to check it out. All the more reason you should. ;)

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    Get adventurous and go up the challenging way
  • Tip Rating:
    • worldtrekker
  • Updated By worldtrekker on February 8, 2003
  • Acadia National Park Page by worldtrekker
    • Whoa, that's a long way down... - Acadia National Park
    Whoa, that's a long way
    down...
    by worldtrekker
    It was kind of my decision to take this way up but my brother and Diana from Hungary were troopers. They had never done this type of climb before. They were a bit unsure at times because there were some steep dropoffs and a slip could mean a nasty fall, but they perservered. A good way to go is to take it slow and really pay attention to where you're putting your hands and feet as you climb. This is not a route you want to take if it is raining or there is an electrical storm. The ledge surfaces get very slippery and you could slide right off the edge. Being exposed on a ledge could also attract lightening to you. Check out weather conditions before you go.

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    Bass Harbor Head Lighthouse
  • Tip Rating:
    • Stephen-KarenConn
  • Updated By Stephen-KarenConn on December 20, 2006
  • Acadia National Park Page by Stephen-KarenConn
    • Bass Harbor Head Lighthouse, Maine - Acadia National Park
    Bass Harbor Head Lighthouse,
    Maine
    by Stephen-KarenConn, 4 more photos
    Bass Harbor Head Lighthouse is a part of Acadia National Park, but is away from the main part of the park. It stands on a high rocky cliff at the entrance to Bass Harbor on the southwestern side of Mount Desert Island, Maine. This picturesque lighthouse was built in 1858 and stands 56 feet above mean high water. It is accessible by car via Highway 102 and 102-A. Bass Harbor is a part of the municipality of Tremont.

    There is a small parking area near the lighthouse with a path on the left side. This will take you to a stairway that follows down the front face of the cliff. This is a good spot for photos, but the best pictures are made my taking a scramble down the cliff at low tide, over slippery rocks. I did this, but don't necessarily recommend it as it was a bit risky.

    The grounds are open to the public year round, 9 a.m. to sunset. The lighthouse itself is closed except for occasional tours offered by the Tremont Historical Society. They can be contacted at the number below for more information.

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  • Phone: (207) 244-9753.
  • Website: http://lighthouse.cc/bassharbor/
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    Bar Harbor
  • Tip Rating:
    • Stephen-KarenConn
  • Updated By Stephen-KarenConn on December 20, 2006
  • Acadia National Park Page by Stephen-KarenConn
    • Bar Harbor from Cadillac Mountain - Acadia National Park
    Bar Harbor from Cadillac
    Mountain
    by Stephen-KarenConn
    Approximately half of Mount Desert Island is the site of Acadia National Park. The other half of the island is privately owned land, including half a dozen small towns. The largest of these is the town of Bar Harbor.

    Bar Harbor, on the northeastern end of the island, is a quaint seaside town and also a major hub of activity and commerce for the island. I list it here as off-the-beaten-path because it is outside the boundaries of the National Park.

    Some people come to Bar Harbor and never even go into Acadia National Park. That's a real shame and they are cheating only themselves. On the other hand, if you visit Acadia National Park you also should take time to see Bar Harbor.

    In this scenic town you will find hotels, restaurants, shopping, museums, parks and access to boat and bus tours. It's the perfect staging point for your visit to Acadia. For more information about Bar Harbor, please check out my Bar Harbor page here on VT.

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  • Website: http://www.barharborinfo.com/
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    Somes Sound
  • Tip Rating:
    • Stephen-KarenConn
  • Updated By Stephen-KarenConn on December 20, 2006
  • Acadia National Park Page by Stephen-KarenConn
    • Somes Sound, Acadia National Park - Acadia National Park
    Somes Sound, Acadia National
    Park
    by Stephen-KarenConn, 2 more photos
    Somes Sound cuts for 7 miles right through the center of both Mount Desert Island and Acadia National Park, yet it is definitely off the beaten path. The Sound, which is the only Fjord on the eastern coast of the United States, can be most easily accessed by a narrow (autos only) road, Sargent Drive, which borders much of it's eastern shoreline. The Acadia Mountain hiking trail leads along a portion of the western shore. Also Fernald Point Road leads to The Narrows at the mouth of the sound.

    Somes Sound is the largest of several north and south aligned gouges scooped out by glaciers during prehistoric ice ages. The ice would have been more than a mile high and up to two miles across.

    Karen and I saw few other tourists along Somes Sound, yet we thought it one of the most unique and beautiful parts of the National Park. We especially enjoyed the peace and quite, with only a few songbirds chirping, as we watched sailboats silently gliding along the surface of the turquoise blue waters.

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  • Website: http://www.maine.gov/doc/nrimc/mgs/explore/marine/sites/nov98.htm
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    Petit Manan National Wildlife Refuge
  • Tip Rating:
    • Shihar
  • By Shihar on February 20, 2006
  • Acadia National Park Page by Shihar
    • Acadia National Park Off the Beaten Path
    by Shihar
    Migrating waterfowl and shorebirds all occupy this national refuge. There is over 25 offshore islands. The refuge has 2 trails that run thru firs, blueberry barrens and rocky coasts.

    The refuge has one of the largest seabird nesting colonies in ME ans a 123ft lighthouse.(closed to public April-Aug.)

    Located by US 1 in Steuben, ME around 35 miles from Schoodic area on Acadia NP.

  • Phone: 207.546.2124
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    Bar Island
  • Tip Rating:
    • Stephen-KarenConn
  • Updated By Stephen-KarenConn on December 20, 2006
  • Acadia National Park Page by Stephen-KarenConn
    • Karen Crossing the Bar at Low Tide - Acadia National Park
    Karen Crossing the Bar at Low
    Tide
    by Stephen-KarenConn, 3 more photos
    Acadia National Park includes several small uninhabited offshore islands. One of these, Bar Island, can be reached by foot from Bar Harbor at low tide. In fact, this famous gravel bar is what gave the harbor and town of Bar Harbor their name.

    We were fortunate to be present at low tide and joined several dozen other people who made the trek across the exposed bar. On the island is a short hiking trail through the forest and not much else.

    A couple of people actually drove their vehicles across to the island on the day of our visit. a few others were going across to camp for the night, awaiting tomorrow's low tide to make their return trip. Those who spend any time on the island should be aware of the tide schedule, or else risk being stranded for several hours if caught by a rising tide. The tides in this area have an unusually large fluctuation between high and low.

    The Bar may be reached by going immediately north of the West Street town pier in Bar Harbor, Maine.

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  • Website: http://www.acadiamagic.com/BarIsland.html
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    Moosehorn National Wildlife Refuge
  • Tip Rating:
    • Shihar
  • By Shihar on February 20, 2006
  • Acadia National Park Page by Shihar
    • Acadia National Park Off the Beaten Path
    by Shihar
    Located in Calais, ME this is mainly a a refuge habitat for the American woodcock as well as other waterfowl.

    There are 2 wilderness areas ranging 24,409 acres. It is open all year round from sun up to sun down. Hiking,boating, biking and winter sports are popular activities

    The Baring Unit center is located 75 miles from Acadia NP off US1.

  • Phone: 207.454.7161
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    Rachel Carson National Wildlife Refuge
  • Tip Rating:
    • Shihar
  • By Shihar on February 20, 2006
  • Acadia National Park Page by Shihar
    • Acadia National Park Off the Beaten Path
    by Shihar
    Located in Wells, ME on ME.9 off US 1 this refuge strecthes from Kittery to Cape Elizabeth. There is hiking, canoeing, scenic drives and cross-country sking.

    It is located about 160 miles from Acadia NP.

  • Phone: 207.646.9226
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