Last updated: August 14, 2026
Place
Thunder Hole
Will Newton/Friends of Acadia
Quick Facts
Location:
Park Loop Road
Amenities
7 listed
Bus/Shuttle Stop, Food/Drink - Snacks, Gifts/Souvenirs/Books, Historical/Interpretive Information/Exhibits, Parking - Auto, Restroom, Scenic View/Photo Spot
Witness the power of ocean tides. Thunder Hole, a popular destination year-round, is a carved out inlet along the rocky eastern shoreline of Mount Desert Island. When a storm or the turning tide forces waves into this narrow channel, the air escapes with a thunderous reverberation that is both deafening and thrilling. We recommend coming one to two hours before high tide for the best chance of hearing this roar. Wave sprays here have been seen to reach more than 40 feet (12 m) in height. At low tide, follow the stairs down for a close look at the cliff walls carved by the crashing water.
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.
A Little History of A Thunderous Hole
Ancient geological forces and the passage of time long ago formed Thunder Hole and the surrounding rocky coastline that characterizes Mount Desert Island today. Clara Barns Martin's 1867 'Guide Book for Mount Desert Island,' mentions 'Thunder Hole or Thunder Cave, a deep chasm into which with every returning wave the water rolls and swirls, and when wind and tide conspire, the wave is thrown against the overhanging rock with a blow that makes the whole cliff shake and the air tremble as with the crash of thunder. The wind should be south of east and the side just at the point to throw the wave under the rock. Failing this, there will be disappointment." In the early 1900s, the local Village Improvement Associations constructed hiking paths to the site. Later, roads followed, including the Park Loop Road in the 1930s..In 1934, the park's first ranger station was constructed on the west side of the Thunder Hold parking lot by the New Deal-era Works Progress Administration (WPA). The 26x16 foot, one-story building is set on a stone foundation and features a hipped roof and vertical board and batten siding. The interior included a ranger's room with a stone fireplace and another room that served as a store. Tow large stones flank the steps into the building that were a part of the original design. A copper strip is visible above the door frame and the chimney with terra cotta pots can be seen from the front the building. The building was one of the first at Acadia designed in the NPS Rustic Design style and was inspired by regional architectural forms. In the late 1960s the building was converted into a concessioner's gift shop. In the 1970s, the roof was reconstructed and new restrooms were constructed in 1982.
The park's 195 Master Plan identified the Thunder Hole as a major developed area in the park and every subsequent master plan followed. Additional facilities were added to the site including restrooms (later removed) in 1941. In the 1960s, walkway systems were constructed including wider paths, higher retaining walls, and the addition of more handrails.
The current lower walkway system was completely reconstructed again in 1992-1993 and an accessible ramp with switchback was constructed.
The Thunder Hole area is on the National Register of Historic Places for its rustic design and New Deal-era history.
Transcript
Two designated accessible parking spaces are located outside a gift shop at one end of the Thunder Hole parking lot. Two more spaces are located at the opposite end of the lot near restrooms which do not appear to be wheelchair accessible. The remainder of the video follows switchbacks to a road crossing and passage along the Park Loop Road to a ramp that leads to a granite platform with views of Thunder Hole and the Atlantic Ocean beyond.
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- Duration:
- 1 minute, 19 seconds
A description and transcript of the Thunder Hole parking area and access routes in Acadia National Park. (February 2025)