Access: Thunder Hole

View of Thunder Hole from upper deck.

NPS Photo by Aislinn Gara Grady

Quick Facts

Location:

Park Loop Road, Bar Harbor ME 04609

Significance:

Unique geological location

Amenities

8 listed

Bus/Shuttle Stop, Food/Drink - Snacks, Gifts/Souvenirs/Books, Parking - Auto, Pets Allowed, Public Transit, Restroom - Accessible, Scenic View/Photo Spot

Thunder Hole is a particularly popular destination for visitors, often attracting large crowds an hour or two before high tide when there can be loud splashes of ocean waves into a small cave along the shoreline.

Note: There are elaborate stone stairways with metal handrails down to a lower deck along the water's edge. These stairs and decks are not accessible, however. There is a wheelchair accessible upper level viewing deck with interpretive waysides and expansive views of the coastline located just off a path from the Park Loop Road.

Visitors should stay aware of their surroundings if they venture out to explore the rocky shoreline beyond the estabished walkways. Wave sprays here can reach over 40 feet (12m) in height, and the stairway and lower viewing deck are often wet and slippery, particularly in winter. Even in calm weather, rogue waves can suddenly wash over the surrounding granite ledges and outcrops. During storms, sections of the walkway are closed to keep visitors safe. For more information, visit the Acadia Storm Safety webpage.

Getting to Thunder Hole: 

The entrance to the parking lot for Thunder Hole and the gift shop is located on the right side of Park Loop Road, just under two miles from Sand Beach. Drivers will find four angled accessible parking spaces in the parking lot. Two are located in front of the gift shop, and two are located at the bottom of the lot near the bathroom. There are two additional accessible spots located on the road parallel to the parking lot, just ahead of the Island Explorer stop.

Visitors are encouraged to use the fare-free Island Explorer to visit this destination. The bus drops off and picks up at regular intervals throughout the day at the bus stop sign located near the entrance to the parking lot. Riders should wait on the path on the left side of the road for the bus to arrive. Visitors can also walk to Thunder Hole along the Ocean Path. 

What to Expect 

Visitors can find souvenirs and snacks at the Thunder Hole Gift Shop located on the right side of the parking lot. There is a separate wheelchair accessible entrance on the right side of the gift shop marked by a wheelchair accessible sign.

There is a two-stall unisex bathroom facility at the furthermost edge of the parking lot. Both stalls are wheelchair accessible.

On the left side of the lot is an entrance to a ramp down to a crosswalk for the Park Loop Road that leads eventually to an upper viewing deck for Thunder Hole. There are also two additional stairways to the left of the ramp that lead from the parking lot, across the Park Loop Road to the viewing deck.

Once at the entrance to the viewing deck, there is an additional ramp located to the left that leads to a circular area with two wayside exhibits. On this deck, visitors can get expansive views of the rocky coastline, with views of the large, upright rock formation of Thunder Hole with the inlet to Sand Beach to the east and Otter Point to the west. For a closer view of the "hole," visitors can walk down a long, 55-step stairway to a lower viewing area.