Mount Desert Island Things to Do

I highly recommend driving over to the quiet, western part of the Island to visit Somesville. Located at the inner-most tip of Somes Sound (the only fjord on the eastern coast of the US), this is a tiny but charming town. The houses and buildings are almost all white with black shutters and trim. There is an incredibly picturesque footbridge and flowers are everywhere- it's like out of a Monet painting! Guaranteed that you will want to get out of your car and take photos! An excellent bookstore, A Port in a Storm, is located in Somesville- truly a wonderful bookstore for any place on earth.

1 more image

Canoeing on Long Pond is something we do every time we visit Mount Desert Island. Once you get past the part of Long Pond where people live, it becomes a most idyllic spot. At one point all of the land bordering the pond is National Park land and so it is nice and quiet.

You can just paddle around this (very large) pond or you can paddle over to a large rock that you can swim off of. You might even see a loon during your travels around the pond!

If you don't have your own canoe it is super easy to rent one. You can do this from National Park Canoe & Kayak Rental, who are located right at one end of Long Pond. You walk your canoe (they also rent kayaks) across the street, and presto, you are ready to go!

Long Pond is near the lovely town of Somesville, well worth a stop to take in the pretty buildings and nice views of the sound.

There are several sea kayaking outfits in Bar Harbor. I like Acadia Kayak, they take you to the Western Bay, off of Mount Desert Island. It's much quieter over there- fewer boats and lots of wildlife. Every time I've gone we've seen at least one bald eagle, loons, cormorants, seals...it's great! Just being out there paddling is such a treat. Anyone can do it, even if you've never paddled before. I've always felt completely safe and happy in the tandem kayaks they use.

2 more images

My husband and I love to hike. We love mountain views and ocean views. And so Acadia is a perfectly perfect place in my opinion, and surely my favorite place in the U.S. There is something for everyone - from the gentlest hikes your grandma could do to trails where you have to scramble amongst boulders and pull yourself up iron ladder rungs on the side of a cliff. Some of our favorite hikes-

1. Penobscot and Sargeant. Amazing views from these summits; in between them there is a sweet little swimming hole.

2. The Bubbles. Pretty easy-going hikes. On South Bubble there's a giant boulder that looks like it's ready to fall down the side of the mountain...you can take goofy pictures of trying to push it over the edge.

3. The Precipice. This is one of the hikes with iron ladder rungs and such. It's a bit more challenging as a hike but really a kick.

4. The Beehive. This is another one that has some ladder rungs and such. Great views of the Sand Beach. And behind the Beehive you can take a short hike down to the Bowl- lovely, secluded mountain pond.

5. Great Head. This hike goes out past Sand Beach- ocean views and not much difference in elevation. Lovely late afternoon light.

6. Acadia Mtn. On the western part of the Island. Views of Somes Sound.

7. Cadillac Mtn. It doesn't count if you drive up! We generally go up the North Ridge- great veiws of Bar Harbor, Frenchman's Bay etc. It's crowded up top of the summit (cos of all the people that drive up plus those that hike). But the views are incredible! Then we go down the South Ridge- long, sloping trail. You will pass the Featherbed, a mountain pond.

8. Beech Cliff Trail. On western part of the Island. It has ladder rungs and is steep - lots of fun. Vews of Echo Lake.

9. Flying Mtn. A low summit but still fun. Can take kids on it and they won't complain. And you still get views of Somes Sound and the Cranberry Islands! On the western part of the Island.

10. Gorham Mtn. A fairly easy hike with spectacular ocean views. Do not miss this one!

(or sunrise if its open at that time)
This is a September sunset.
The water is over on the west side of the island.
One of the nice things one can do in the park.
even if you don't have a long time to spend
there.
1530 feet above sea level

2 more images

There are motor boat rentals in Bar Harbor
at the docks. We went way around by
Ocean Drive and the Beehive.
This is the view from there.
Be careful of certain marked shoals
and breakwater areas. They are dangerous
with motor boats.
Views are nicer on a sunny day,
of the island(s)

Gives a good view of the whole island.
This photo is not from the top, but along
the way. This is Frenchman's Bay with
the Porcupine Islands and wall along the road
and rocks on the mountainside, below

The mountain is near Sand Beach along Ocean Drive and is pink granite, 500 feet above
the sea. Not as difficult as Sargent Mtn or Cadillac, or Dorr, shorter.
Here is a photo of the view across Frenchman's Bay from the summit
Sand Beach can be seen on the left. Need to wear a good set of tough
walking shoes or light mountain boots that are tough for scrambling over rocks.