• Granite mountains on islands along coast

    Acadia

    National Park Maine

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  • Park Loop Road opening

    May 17, 2013: The entire Park Loop Road and all other paved roads in the park open today. All dirt roads in the park, including the Seal Cove Road, will open on June 3.

  • Trail closures

    April 22, 2013: The Precipice, Orange and Black, Valley Cove, and Jordan Cliffs Trails are closed until further notice because of nesting peregrine falcons. All other trails in the park are open, whether accessible from the park or from state roads.

  • Hulls Cove Visitor Center

    May 17, 2013: The visitor center will open on May 19 and will be open 9-5 every day. All park passes are available there. There is an accessible entrance at the back of the building for those who have trouble climbing stairs.

EarthCache Program

Four people stand on a trail on a mountain using a global positioning system unit.
Acadia's EarthCache Program offers you an exciting opportunity to explore the park while learning more about its geological story.
NPS/Stuart West
 

This National Park Service-sponsored recreational activity leads you to some of the park's significant geological resources. Using your GPS unit and a set of clues obtained from this website and hidden along the journey, you can guide yourself to a series of sites in the park.

Please note that geocaching with traditional physical caches is not permitted in the park.

 

Materials

 
  1. GPS unit
  2. Detailed map of Mount Desert Island or an Acadia National Park Map
  3. Piece of paper and pen
  4. Compass (optional)
  5. Logbook, if you are a letterbox enthusiast
 

General Information

 
  1. This program requires the use of park roads. The roads required to access the featured geological sites are generally open (weather permitting) from April 15 through November.
  2. All of the sites are located on trails or hardened surfaces. There is no need to go off trail.
  3. As will all EarthCache sites, there are no physical caches to be found. You will be required to search for hidden clues.
  4. Parking is available at or near each coordinate.
  5. As will all park visitors, you a required to pay the park entrance fee or have a valid park pass. There is no fee to participate in the EarthCache Program.
 

How it Works

 
  1. Use your GPS and provided clues to search for and find multiple EarthCaches. The Story of Glaciers will provide coordinates for your first stop.
  2. Keep a record of all coordinates. You will need them to solve the final clue.
  3. After a successful completion you can obtain the hand-carved Acadia National Park EarthCache Program stamp imprint and enter your name in the program logbook.
  4. The estimated time to complete the program is 4-6 hours. The tour will take you over much of the park.
  5. Print this certificate of completion when you have finished the program. Acadia EarthCache Certificate
 

More Information

 

If you want to know what those who have completed the course think, check out their comments.

Are you interested in learning more about EarthCache activities nationwide? Then visit the Geologic Society of America's EarthCache website.

  • Ranger Minute Ranger Minute

    Gain insights into Acadia through audio and video. Read More

  • Trying to find your way? Trying to find your way?

    Download the park map and other maps of interest. Read More

Did You Know?

A girl stands along the stone steps of the Kurt Diederich Path in this historic image taken around 1920.

Acadia National Park contains more than 120 miles of historic hiking trails. Many of these trails were established by local village improvement societies in the late 1800s and early 1900s. Today many of the historic features, such as stonework, are still visible.