Seawall Picnic Area

Seawall Picnic Area

NPS Photo by Robyn Smyth

Quick Facts

Location:

Seawall Rd, Southwest Harbor, ME 04679

Amenities

5 listed

Parking - Auto, Picnic Table, Restroom, Scenic View/Photo Spot, Trash/Litter Receptacles

Many of Maine's beaches are covered with cobblestones, but this coastline is unique. Powerful ocean storms created a massive seawall. As waves break, they carry rocks from the base of the beach and carry them up to shore. As the tides come in and out, heavier stones get piled at the top and smaller, lighter stones remain down the slope.

Just a short drive from the communities of Southwest Harbor and Bass Harbor, visitors can walk along the seawall, explore tidepools, enjoy a picnic, attend a ranger program, and stay at the campground.

Getting to Seawall Picnic Area

Seawall is approximately 30-40 minutes from Hulls Cove Visitor Center.

By car: Take Maine Route 102 south to Southwest Harbor. Continue through town and turn left onto Route 102A (Seawall Rd). Parking is available at Seawall Picnic Area and the trailheads for Wonderland Trail and Ship Harbor Trail.

By bus: The fare-free Island Explorer stops at Seawall Campground. Check bus schedule for routes and timetable. Seawall Picnic Area is off Seawall Road opposite the Seawall Campground Entrance.

• Buses are equipped with wheelchair lifts. Please see bus driver for assistance.
• People with disabilities may call 207-667-5797 to request a pickup at a location up to three-quarters of a mile off a regular bus route.

What to Expect

Most picnic sites are located on a rocky shoreline, with uneven footing and ground. On the left of the parking lot, there is a small trail that takes visitors to some picnic tables with firepits. These are not on rocky ground, but there may be uneven ground and roots protruding onto the trail.

The restrooms are up a gravel path off the left parking lot, right next to the accessible parking space. These include one larger flushing toilet compartment in each side of the restroom, intended for wheelchair users.

Tags: acadia national park, accessibility, seawall picnic area

Open Transcript  Open Descriptive Transcript

Transcript

Seawall Picnic Area is off Seawall Road opposite the Seawall Campground Entrance. The video begins at the beginning of an asphalt parking loop, with a vehicle sign to Keep Right as proceeding around the loop. On the far end of the loop on the left side are two designated accessible parking spaces indicated with paint on the ground. On the left side of the last accessible parking space, a gravel path leads to the vault toilets. At the beginning of the gravel path on the left side is a sign on a post indicating the direction to restroom facilities. The video scene changes, showing a picnic table and the rocky beach area. And to the right there are other picnic tables on the beach. The video moves across the road with two parallel lines painted in bright yellow indicating lanes of traffic in both directions to another picnic area. On the left side are loop trash receptacles and several picnic tables on uneven grassy areas, rocky dirt patches, and surrounding trees. The video pans back to the left again, showing the picnic tables and the rocky beach.

Descriptive Transcript

Seawall Picnic Area is off Seawall Road opposite the Seawall Campground Entrance. The video begins at the beginning of an asphalt parking loop, with a vehicle sign to Keep Right as proceeding around the loop. On the far end of the loop on the left side are two designated accessible parking spaces indicated with paint on the ground. On the left side of the last accessible parking space, a gravel path leads to the vault toilets. At the beginning of the gravel path on the left side is a sign on a post indicating the direction to restroom facilities. The video scene changes, showing a picnic table and the rocky beach area. And to the right there are other picnic tables on the beach. The video moves across the road with two parallel lines painted in bright yellow indicating lanes of traffic in both directions to another picnic area. On the left side are loop trash receptacles and several picnic tables on uneven grassy areas, rocky dirt patches, and surrounding trees. The video pans back to the left again, showing the picnic tables and the rocky beach.

Duration:

1 minute

A video, accessible description and transcript of the Seawall Picnic Area in Acadia National Park. (February 2025)