Audio
Brochure 12: Text > Explore Acadia's Natural Beauty
Transcript
TEXT: Explore Acadia’s Natural Beauty
TEXT:
Getting Here by Car.
Take Maine Route 3 to Mount Desert Island. Reach Schoodic Peninsula by Maine Route 186.
By Air.
Hancock County-Bar Harbor Airport is 10 miles from the park. Bangor International Airport is 50 miles away.
By Ferry.
Bar Harbor connects with Yarmouth, Nova Scotia.
Island Explorer Bus Shuttles.
Late June through mid-October, fare-free buses link the park with surrounding communities. Visit www.exploreacadia.com.
Park Entrance Passes.
Buy your pass online and print a copy to display on your dashboard before you arrive. Passes are also sold year-round at the fee station along the Park Loop Road, Hulls Cove Visitor Center, and other locations listed on the park website.
Visitor Center.
Open seasonally, Hulls Cove Visitor Center offers information, activity schedules, and a park store.
Ferries.
There are three seasonal passenger ferries.
- One between Bar Harbor, on Mount Desert Island, and Winter Harbor, on Schoodic Peninsula.
- A second ferry serves Northeast Harbor, on Mount Desert Island, and Islesford, on Little Cranberry Island.
- The third ferry connects Stonington, on Deer Isle, and Isle au Haut.
Scenic Drives.
The Park Loop Road, which is 27 miles long connects Acadia’s lakes, mountains, and seashore.
Hiking.
From lowland paths to mountain routes, Acadia’s many historic trails provide a variety of experiences. Trips and falls are the number one safety hazard in the park. Granite surfaces are extremely slick when wet. Plan ahead and bring a map. Know the trail difficulty level and your physical abilities. Dress for variable weather. Wear sturdy hiking shoes. Carry water. Trails are for day hiking only. There is no backcountry camping.
Carriage Roads.
Forty-five miles of historic gravel roads offer opportunities for recreation like walking, biking, and equestrian use in designated locations. The speed limit for all is 20 mph. Bicyclists must stop for horses and yield to all other users. Motorized vehicles and Class 2 and 3 e-bikes are prohibited.
Bicycling.
In addition to park roads and carriage roads on Mount Desert Island, eight miles of gravel paths are available to bicyclists on the Schoodic Peninsula. Bicycles are prohibited off- road and on hiking trails. Stay to the right and watch your speed.
Swimming.
Echo Lake Beach, which is fresh water, and Sand Beach, which is salt water, are popular swimming areas. Most lakes and ponds on Mount Desert Island supply public drinking water and are closed to swimming and wading.
Winter Visits.
Most park facilities and services are closed in winter, including all but about two miles of Park Loop Road. Visitors enjoy hiking, snowshoeing, and cross-country skiing as conditions allow. Snowmobiles are allowed on designated routes only.
Campgrounds.
Advance online reservations are required at www.recreation.gov. Blackwoods, Duck Harbor, Seawall, and Schoodic Woods campgrounds are open seasonally. Store and dispose of food appropriately at all campgrounds. Do not bring firewood into the park from outside the area. Private campgrounds and lodging are available in nearby towns. Backcountry camping in the park is prohibited.
Accessibility.
We strive to make facilities, services, and programs accessible to all. See the park website for a list of accessible services and facilities.
Weather.
Be prepared for changeable weather and chilly summer nights. Typical seasonal temperatures are 80 degrees in summer, 60 degrees in spring and fall, and 0 degrees to 40 degrees in winter. Annual snowfall averages 60 inches.
Safety.
Use caution near cliff edges; dangerous footing can cause serious trips and falls. Wet trails and the shoreline are slippery. Waves can knock you down and sweep you out to sea.
Tick-borne diseases are a public health concern. Prevention and timely detection of a tick bite is essential for humans and pets. To limit exposure, walk in the middle of trails away from vegetation, wear light-colored clothing so ticks are easier to spot, tuck pants into socks, spray shoes and clothing with repellent, and check yourself after walks.
Protect the Park.
Federal law requires that all pets must be kept on a leash no longer than 6 feet, or 2 meters, at all times. Collect and dispose of animal waste in trash receptacles. • Parking, camping, and fires are permitted only in designated areas. • Federal law prohibits removing or disturbing plants, animals, rocks, and other natural or historic features. • Do not build or remove rock cairns. • Observe wildlife at a distance. Do not feed wildlife, including birds and squirrels. • Stay on designated hiking trails. Walk and rest on durable surfaces, like rock, when possible. • Using remotely piloted aircraft like drones is prohibited.
For a complete list of regulations, including firearms information, visit the park website.
Description
Computer-generated voice recording from an audio described version of the souvenir park brochure for Acadia National Park in Bar Harbor, Maine. (2024 edition)
Date Created
03/02/2024
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