Acadia National Park

Itinerary At-A-Glance

Location: Maine

5-Day Itinerary for ACADIA NP

Timeline: Friday, September 13 to Tuesday, September 17, 2019

Acadia NP is beautifully maintained and easily accessible. A quick 80-minute flight from Boston’s Logan Airport and short 15-minute drive will get you to the town of Bar Harbor. Acadia NP is the only NP in the Northeast and contains the only fjard and highest mountain along the US Atlantic coast! The park is located on Mount Desert Island, along the coast of Maine and offers some of the best hiking, cycling, kayaking, sailing and wildlife viewings ever! Due to its popularity I suggest the best time to visit is during the Fall “shoulder season” (after the summer and before the leaf season).

#7 Visitation Rank with 3,537,575 visitors in 2018

What’s Special at Acadia

Hiking – short hikes with readily accessible summits and beautiful views; vertical & vertiginous “ladder routes” for the more adventurous
Cycling – a 45-mile network of broken-stone carriage roads running throughout the easternmost section of the Park
Kayaking/Sailing – opportunities abound with numerous lakes, coves, bays and ocean
Driving – the 27-mile Park Loop Road is a National Scenic Byway of great beauty with convenient stopping points and sites along the way
Sunrise atop Cadillac Mountain – this is the spot where the morning sun first graces America, and you can take a short drive to the summit to witness its glory
Towns of Mount Desert Island – nestled around the perimeter of Acadia are wonderfully quaint villages as well as the town of Bar Harbor which sports an active scene and excellent cadre of B&Bs

Lodging in Bar Harbor

Holbrook House (74 Mount Desert St, 207-288-4970). If you are looking for excellent value, comfort, style and access to all of what Bar Harbor offers, I highly recommend it. Bar Harbor lodging can be quite pricey, and this was cozy, convenient and reasonably priced.

Culinary Imperatives

Shellfish/Lobster – and lobster rolls!
Wild Maine Blueberries (pie, muffins, pancakes) – West St Café for pie; Jordan’s for pancakes and muffins
Popovers – reportedly best at Jordan Pond House and Asticou Inn
Jordan Pond House for tea and popovers (207-276-3316). The only in-park dining, considered a “must do” activity. Reservations required!
Asticou Inn (15 Peabody Lane, 207-276-3344). Gorgeous outdoor patio for lunch overlooking NE Harbor at the oldest hotel on Mount Desert Island (1883).
Local Beer – Atlantic Brewing Company’s “Real Ale” is a standout
Salt & Steel (321 Main St, 207-288-0447). Reservations recommended.
Havana (318 Main St, 207-288-2822)
Two Cats Restaurant (130 Cottage, 207-288-2808)
Side Street Café (49 Roddick St, 207-801-2591) – live music 8-10pm; nice bar area to see/listen

Cultural Imperatives

Abbe Museum – open 10am-5pm daily; Wabanaki Native American history and artifacts
Sherman’s Bookstore – open 9am-10pm daily; independent bookstore

Visitor Centres and Tours

Hulls Cove Visitor Center (207-288-3338) – this is Acadia’s primary info center. It can get very busy in peak season, so I chose to arrive at the 8:30am opening.
Bar Harbor Bicycle Shop (141 Cottage St, 207-288-3886) – close to my B&B highly rated by the locals. Reserve your bike in advanced and pick up at opening time 9am. They provide directions for the quickest way into the Park.
National Park Sea Kayak Tours, 38 Cottage St., 207-288-0342.

Daily Itinerary

collage of acadia maine national park photos by Peter Hinman

First Evening in Bar Harbor (Friday, September 13)

Fly from Toronto via Boston and into Bar Harbor Hancock County Airport (only 10 miles from Acadia and Bar Harbor); picked up rental car at airport (highly convenient)
Check in: Holbrook House B&B
7:30 PM: West Street Cafe – great blueberry pie and well-priced shellfish (scallops, fried clams). No reservations accepted but I got on “the priority list” (just call and ask; they added my name).
8:30-10:00 PM: Bar-hopping in Bar Harbor. I highly recommend,, .Side Street Café (49 Roddick St. 207-801-2591) – live music 8-10 PM

Day 1: Cycling and Hiking (Saturday, September 14)

8:00 AM: Quick breakfast at B&B
8:30 AM: Arrive early to Hulls Cove Visitor Center (207-288-3338) to beat crowds to pick up park pass, park stamp and check for trail closures and ranger activities.
9:00-10:00 AM: Bar Harbor Bicycle Shop (141 Cottage St, 207-288-3886) pick up the “gravel bike” recommended for cycling on the carriage roads.
10:00-11:30 AM: Cycle the carriage roads; beautiful scenery and don’t miss the photo moments of stone bridges and lakes; ended at Jordon Pond.
11:30-2:30 PM: Hike up Penobscot Mtn: took Spring Trail to Jordan Cliff Trail (ladder trail) and returned via Penobscot Mtn Trail back to Spring Trail (3 hrs,3 mi r/t).
2:30-3:30 PM: Jordan Pond House for tea and popovers. a great way to warm up after a chilly hike.
3:30-5:30 PM: Island Explorer bus (takes bikes) to Hulls Cove VC. Cycle back to Bar Harbor and return bike. Walk back to B&B for evening prep.
5:30-7:30 PM: Explore Bar Harbor town. Highlights: Sherman’s Bookstore, art galleries, shops.
7:30-9:00 PM: Dinner at Salt & Steel.
9:00-11:00 PM: Bar-hopping in Bar Harbor. Live band at Side Street Cafe.

Day 2: Sea Kayaking and Acadia Hiking (Sunday, September 15)

7:00-8:00 AM: Breakfast at Two Cats
8:30-1:00 PM: Sea Kayaking with National Park Sea Kayak Tours
- Tours (38 Cottage St. 207-288-0342).
- Kayak off the western shore of Mt Desert Island and Bartlett Island. Reservations recommended.
1:00-2:00 PM: Grab hiking gear and a quick lunch; drive Park Loop Road (10 minutes) to the trailhead of the Precipice Trail.
2:00-5:00 PM: Hike Precipice (ladder) Trail to summit of Champlain Mtn and return via Champlain North Ridge Trail (but don’t miss the right turn onto Orange and Black Trail back as I did!), 3hrs, r/t 2.5mi.
5:00-6:00 PM: Drive the entire Park Loop Road and stop for photo opportunities.
6:00-7:15 PM: Relax at B&B before dinner.
7:15-9:00 PM: Dinner at Havana (318 Main St, 207-288-2822). Reservation recommended.
9:00-11:00 PM: Bar-hopping in Bar Harbor.

Day 3: More Acadia Hiking, Driving the Park Loop Road and a Cruise (Monday, September 16)

5:00 AM: Pick up coffee and blueberry muffin “to go” at Jordan’s (this is the in-town diner, not to be confused with Jordan’s Pond House within the Park). A local’s favorite with, importantly, a very early opening!
5:15 AM: Drive up to the summit of Cadillac Mtn.(15-20 minutes) even on a Monday morning in September, it is popular so allow yourself some extra time to find your spot! Dress warm, it’s nippy out there.
5:45-7:00 AM: Photograph sunrise from Cadillac Mountain (sunrise at 6:10 AM), A tremendous “don’t miss” experience!
7:00-8:00 AM: Breakfast (Part 2) at Jordans (the blueberry pancakes!).
8:00-11:30 AM: Morning Hikes –
- Sand Beach, Ocean Path and Thunder Hole, (1.5 hrs.) and
- Beehive (ladder)Trail, Bowl Trail, (2 hrs, r/t 1.6mi)
11:30-12:30 PM: Visit more sites along Park Loop Road and then drive to Acadia Mtn trailhead
12:30-2:30 PM: Hike Western Acadia via Acadia Mountain Trail to summit and return via Man ‘O War trail , (2 hrs, 2.5mi. r/t.) Photograph Somes Sound fjard
2:30-3:30 PM: Late lunch in SW Harbor and explored the village.
3:30-6:30 PM: Sunset Cruise with Sail Acadia. Offering excellent options to enjoy sailing at various times of day and evening from a number of different harbors. I opted for a sunset cruise from SW Harbor as I was looking for a change of scenery as well as hoping to capture that evening light during the “magic hour” for photos!
6:30-7:30 PM: Drive back to Bar Harbor, refresh for evening and walk to dinner.
7:30-9:00 PM: Dinner at McKays Public House.
Bar-hopping in Bar Harbor.

A Bar Harbor Morning and Return Home (Tuesday, September 17)

7:00-8:00 AM: Walk the Bar Island Trail — low tide @7:22am/sunrise 6:14am (1.5hrs, r/t 2mi); be off by 1.5 hrs after low tide has occurred (ie. 8:52am) – coffee/muffin to go at my B&B (open 7am)
8:00-9:00 AM: Walk Shore Path on the waterfront in town. Got a pic of Balance Rock.
9:00-10:00 AM: Breakfast at Café This Way. Checked out of B&B.
10:00-11:00 AM: Abbe Museum (26 Mt Desert St., 207-288-3519). Featuring Wabanaki Native American culture.
11:00-1:00 PM: Drive to NE Harbor and tour Thuya Gardens; lunch at Asticou Inn. Reservations recommended and beautiful views.
1:00-1:30 PM: Drive to airport (20 minutes) and return rental car at terminal. Easy!
Flew back to Toronto via Boston.

RESOURCES

Books

James Kaiser, Acadia: The Complete Guide, 2018. Website: jameskaiser.com
Tom St. Germain, A Walk in the Park: Acadia Hiking Guide, 2015.

Websites

acadiamagic.com. Tips on photography and locations including Bar Island, Shore Path