10 Acadia National Park Photo Spots You Can’t Miss!

Acadia National Park covers 47,000 acres on the coast of Maine and is the only major national park in New England. One of the top-visited national parks in the United States, Acadia National Park Photo spots are simply something you should not miss on your trip to New England!

Located on Maine’s Mount Desert Island, the park has many unique features to make it worth a visit. This coastal gem offers craggy granite cliffs, miles of forested trails that glow in the fall, biking on the historic carriage roads, adrenaline-spiking hikes, kayaking on Jordan Pond, and enough photographic beauty to please every kind of traveler.

We visited Acadia National Park during our week-long Holland America Line cruise through New England and Maritime Canada. The scenery and port cities were incredible!

Acadia at a Glance

Established on February 26, 1919, by President Woodrow Wilson, it is the oldest designated national park east of the Mississippi River.
Encompasses 26 mountains, including the tallest peak along the North Atlantic Seaboard – Cadillac Mountain (1530 feet)
Open year-round.
Houses more than 40 different species of mammals, including black bears, moose, and coyotes.
Hosting almost 3,500,000 visitors a year, Acadia is one of the highest-visited parks in the US National Park Service.
Mount Desert Island was a summer retreat for families such as the Rockefellers, Morgans, Fords, Vanderbilts, Carnegies, and Astors.
From 1915 to 1940, the wealthy philanthropist John D. Rockefeller Jr. financed, designed, and directed the construction of a network of carriage roads throughout the park so that visitors would not disturb the lives of the residents.

Best Time to Visit Acadia

Summer is popular for outdoor activities such as biking, kayaking, camping, hiking, and swimming.
Winter attracts outdoor enthusiasts who enjoy cross-country skiing and snowshoeing.
Fall is an incredible time to visit Acadia when New England’s world-famous fall foliage puts on its stunning display, year after year.

10 Bass Harbor Lighthouse

Located about 35 minutes from Bar Harbor, Bass Harbor Head Lighthouse is a popular attraction. Built in 1858, far before Acadia received the National Park designation, the lighthouse can be viewed by walking on a short trail and then scrambling down a small set of stairs to get up close to the lighthouse and panoramic views of the ocean.

The iconic, picturesque Maine lighthouse officially became part of Acadia National Park in July 2020. This landmark was transferred from the Coast Guard to the National Park Service. It’s one of the most scenic places to photograph on the island and is considered by many to be the best place to watch the sunset.

9 Cranberry Islands

View of Cranberry Islands from the top of Cadillac Mt.

The Cranberry Isles are an archipelago of five striking islands lying just south of Mount Desert Island. Great Cranberry, Little Cranberry, Sutton, Bear, and Baker Islands make up the atolls. The island group got its name from the wild low-bush cranberries that grow throughout the islands during the autumn season. Although physically close to Acadia National Park, the Cranberry Isles are quite different; the pace is slow and you’ll be hard-pressed to find crowds or traffic jams.

8 Thunder Hole

Thunder Hole is a natural inlet where you can marvel at waves as they come crashing into the cove through a rock tunnel, sounding just like thunder.

If you want to hear the thunder, it’s important to time your visit accordingly (even then, there is no guarantee as there are many factors at play). You have to catch it at high tide. Alternatively, if the waves are too rough they can block off the viewing platform.

7 Frenchman Bay

Technically not in Acadia National Park, Frenchman Bay is close and worthy of checking out. It was named in honor of the famous French Explorer Samuel de Champlain who first sailed in and charted this area for France in early September of 1604. Kayaking is a great way to explore the bay.

6 Sand Beach

Most of the coast of Acadia National Park is made up of rugged, granite cliffs. But if you want to find a more traditional beach, there is one, and only one. Sand Beach is a narrow stretch of beach with smooth sand tucked between two bluffs. Be forewarned, the water here is freezing cold, even in summer!

5 Otter Cliffs

Rock climbing at Otter Cliff provides not only a magnificent view, but is one of the most unique experiences because you can climb the rocks here. Even if you prefer not to climb, just taking in the views over the sea, framed by the towering cliffs, makes it worth going.

At the foot of Otter Cliffs is Otter Cove, a pretty beach with clear water, course sand, and a bridge which makes a great photo op.

4 Jordan Pond

For a relaxing afternoon, head over to the Jordan Pond where you can take in the views of the lake, mountains, and the North and South Bubbles in the distance.

You can also stop in at Jordan Pond House (overlooking the pond) for Afternoon Tea, or as they call it “Popovers and Tea” which they have been doing since the 1890s. They are famous for these popovers – described by some as similar to scones and by others as flaky baked rolls, smothered in butter and jam. If this is something that interests you, make sure to make a reservation or else you might face a 2-hour wait for a table (which would literally take you beyond “tea time.”)

3 Beehive Trail

If you do just one hike, make it the exciting Beehive Trail. The 1.5 mi moderate/hard loop, approx. 500 foot elevation hike is a steep climb to the top of a mountain but you’ll be rewarded with gorgeous views of Sand Beach, the Atlantic, and surrounding hills.

Take note that this trail is not for the faint of heart. There were some scary parts, rock scrambling, exposed cliffs, narrow paths, and climbing on the wrought iron rungs and ladders.

Again, if you are terrified of heights, this hike is not for you.

Other hikes in Acadia National Park:

North Bubble Trail: (Moderate, 1.1 miles out and back, 374 feet elevation, and some large, steep steps. Bubble Rock is the most well-known rock in Maine and one of the most visited spots in Acadia National Park. The summit is a great place to rest and take in the peaceful views of Jordan Pond.
Ocean Path Trail: (Easy, 4.5 miles out and back, 374 feet elevation) The trail starts at Sand Beach and runs parallel to the Park Loop Road, past Thunder Hole to Otter Cliff. You’ll see pink granite, ocean views of Sand Beach, and awe-inspiring cliffs.
Jordan Pond Nature Trail Loop: (Easy, 1.0-mile loop, 32 feet elevation) Easy hike through the forest with views of the pond.
Jordan Cliffs Loop. (Strenuous, 5-miles) The climb runs along steep cliffs and slick rocks with the assistance of iron rung ladders, with great views.
Cadillac Mountain: (North Ridge 4-mile round trip trail or more challenging South Ridge 7-mile round trip, 1500 feet elevation)Panoramic views of the Atlantic Ocean and bragging rights of climbing the tallest peak in the park.
Beech Mountain Loop: (Moderate, 1.2-mile loop, 347 feet elevation) Great hike for wildflowers and a great view of Echo Lake.
Precipice Trail. (Very difficult, 2.1 miles round trip) Closed during most of the peak season due to Peregrine Falcon nesting, the Precipice Trail is the most thrilling (and dangerous) hike at Acadia National Park. There is a caution sign when you start the trail that warns of death or serious injury.

2 Cadillac Mountain

Another amazing Acadia National Park photo spot is Cadillac Mountain. Standing at 1530 feet tall, Cadillac is the tallest mountain along the East Coast.

It is also the first place to view sunrise in the United States between October and March. Coming up here to enjoy sunrise, sunset, twilight, star-gazing, or really just any time of day is an outstanding experience

On a clear day, at the summit, visitors are treated to some great views of the park, West Bay, the Cranberry Islands, Eagle Lake, Frenchman Bay, the Porcupine Islands, and Bar Harbor.

1 Park Loop Road

I’ve listed this as #1 even though it’s not technically a photo spot. In fact, the scenic Park Loop Road is several photo spots. This 27-mile road loops around the eastern part of Mount Desert Island and passes many popular spots in the park – many of which are listed above. The one-way loop connects lakes, mountains, and seashore.

Jaw-dropping stops along the Park Loop Road include Sand Beach, Thunder Hole, Otter Point, Eagle Lake, Jordan Pond, and Cadillac Mountain.

This is the main area of Acadia with the most sought-after attractions so accordingly has the most people. It is the busiest part of the park.

Beyond Acadia…

A trip to Acadia National Park isn’t complete without a stop in the quintessential Maine coastal town of Bar Harbor. The charming town is packed with charming shops, bakeries, and museums.

Bar Harbor is also a popular spot for whale watching and kayaking and a popular port for cruise ships like Holland America.

And perhaps most importantly, Bar Harbor is where you can indulge in some legendary Maine lobstah (lobster)!

Conclusion

Acadia National Park in Maine is simply stunning. You’ll find rocky coastlines, wild ocean shores, peaceful lakes, and expansive forests. And with its close proximity to charming Bar Harbor and the opportunity to feast on arguably the best lobsters in the world, well, you just can’t go wrong!

Here are articles about all the ports I visited during my Holland America cruise that you may be interested in:

Most photos by Kary Kern.

Click below to PIN so you can find Acadia National Park Photo spots again:

Disclosure: The author was honored to be the guest of Holland America Line during her stay, but as always, the opinions, reviews, and experiences are her own.

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About the Author

Patti Morrow is a freelance travel writer and founder of the award-winning international blog Luggage and Lipstick and the southern travel blog Gone to Carolinas. TripAdvisor called her one of “20 Baby Boomer Travel Bloggers Having More Fun Than Millennials” and she was named one of the “Top 35 Travel Blogs” in the world.

She is also the star of the upcoming TV series “Destination Takeover” which is scheduled to premiere in the next few months.

Patti is the author of the book “Girls Go Solo: Tips for Women Traveling Alone,” and has over 150 bylines in 40 print and online publications, including The Huffington Post, International Living Magazine, Washington Post Sunday Travel, Travel Girl, Travel Play Live Magazine, and Ladies Home Journal. She has traveled extensively through six continents looking for fabulous destinations, exotic beaches, and adventure activities for her Baby Boomer tribe.