10 Must Do Activities at Acadia National Park and Bar Harbor

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Acadia National Park better known as the “Crown Jewel of the North Atlantic Coast” is one of the most popular National Parks in the country with amazing coastline, steep Rocky cliffs, hiking, biking, and water activities. Better yet Acadia is one of the most dog friendly National Parks in the country. There are endless activities and things to do when visiting Acadia and you could probably stay month and not even cover half of what it has to offer. Acadia National Park is located on Mount Desert Island with the historic town of Bar Harbor, one of New Englands coolest towns, just outside of the park limits.

To go along with all that Acadia is home to many wildlife. birds, and whales. Not to mention Cadillac Mountain, the east coasts highest peak. I did not include Cadillac Mountain on the list not because it is not absolutely amazing, but because most people journey to the summit to catch a glimpse at the first sunrise in the United States, but due to Maine being Maine and the fact that it’s almost always cloudy.

We have had the pleasure of visiting Acadia and Bar Harbor twice and have been able to do a lot in those visits. While you can’t really go wrong with anything you plan to do we do have some favorites from our time spent in the park. I put together this list in hopes that maybe someone will find this insightful for their trip to Acadia.

Visit Jordan Pond

Jordan Pond is one of Acadia’s most beautiful ales and offers visitors sweeping views of the mountains and the crystal clear water below. Jordan Pond is one of the clearest lakes in the country and is a haven for visitors to the park. The lake has a path that runs around the entirety of the lake and offers those willing to make the 3 mile journey some greta views and a good workout at the same time. To access Jordan Pond follow Park loop Road to the Jordan Pond House and park in one of the 3 parking areas to start your journey.

Jordan Pond is 150 feet deep and 187 acres long making it the deepest and second largest lake in Acadia National Park. The lake is a great spot to start your Acadia trip as it is near the intersection of many of the parks carriage roads, you can access the majority of the south eastern part of the park from here. Jordan Pond is also Seal Harbors water source, so swimming and motor boating above 10 horsepower are strictly prohibited and come with a hefty fine if caught in the water.

Access to other hiking in particular the Bubbles Nubble Loop, a 2.6 mile round trip to the North and South Bubbles Summit with views of Eagle Lake, Jordan Pond, and more. If you are looking for a bite to eat before or after your hike, check out the Jordan Pond House and their outdoor seating and especially their popovers. A few things to note for your trip rio Jordan Pond is that during the summer months the trail and lake can be pretty busy and parking may be hard to come by so prepare accordingly to avoid an hassle.

Bike the Carriage Roads

One of the best features of Acadia National Park are the 45 miles of carriage roads that the park offers visitors to explore. Originally but of horse and buggies to access difficult parts off the parks, the carriage roads are a popular activity to bring your bikes out and enjoy the beauty of the park. The carriage roads range from easy to difficult and are primarily paved gravel and weave and bend through the mountains and forests of the park.

Some of the best biking on the carriage roads happens around sunset for majestic colors that illuminate the beauty of the lakes and trees. The carriage roads are primarily used for biking for most visitors of the park, but hiking and horseback riding are very common activities and are sure to be encountered on your trip. During winter the carriage roads turn into some of the best ross country skiing in New England. I definitely recommend a mountain bike for the rods and a helmet as the there are steep inclines, declines and narrow and windy turns that one up on you quick in some spots.

Check out our post on our top 5 carriage roads when visiting Acadia National Park here.

Hike the Ocean Path

Acadia’s most popular activity for visitors if the Ocean Path. This 4.4 mile round trip hike graces hikers with amazing coastal views, granite rock faces, rocky cliffs, and the vast expanse of the Atlantic Ocean. The trail runs along the coastal cliffs of the park and gives visitors access to Sand Beach, Thunder Hole, and Otter Point. I highly recommend (time permitting) you make the detours to these detours as they truly are amazing and only a few of the majestic wonders Acadia offers.

As you walk the Ocean Path you’ll notice that about every 50 yards is an outlook with stunning views even better than the last, so no worries if you miss one. Good footwear is highly recommended for the hike as the path features paved and gravel areas but the further you trek the rockier and more uneven the ground becomes. Steep cliffs run the distance of the hike so please be aware of your surroundings especially with children and pets. There are some staircases and paths that leads to the rocky beaches below for you to enjoy some solitude during the hike.

One thing to note is that typically the path is pretty busy especially in the summer and mid day. Parking for the path is located at the upper parking fro Sand Beach and road parking is allowed along the entire route.

Grab some cookies at Hulls Cove General Store in Bar Harbor

One of my favorite stops at Acadia is located nearby Bar Harbor; The Hulls Cove General Store. This traditional general store is cozy, quaint, and has some of the best cookies in the region. No, that’s not an exaggeration, they typically sell hundreds of cookies per day! The store is covered with local signs, Florida State flags and is located directly next to the post office.

Hulls Cove General Store has a wide variety of sandwiches, pizza and their specialty cookies and desserts. The most popular cookie is their Lemon Blueberry cookie and trust me it is absolutely delicious. This place is worth the stop and also has the cheapest gas in town so that is a huge plus these days!

P.s. the owner is a great guy to talk college football with, so the place had me won over pretty early on!

Address: 3 Breakneck Rd, Bar Harbor, Mount Desert Island, ME 04609

Hours: 6am-7pm Sun-Sat

Phone Number: (207) 288-4600

Grab Breakfast at Jordan’s Restaurant

Bar Harbor is filled with great food, local watering holes and plenty of breakfast joints, but Jordan’s Restaurant is our personal favorite. Now I was not aware before journeying to Acadia, but Maine is known for it’s local blueberries and Jordan’s Restaurant does it justice. As for the menu you can’t really go wrong. From the blueberry pancakes to the American breakfast and omelettes it’s all great. My personal favorite is the Pancake Club Special.

The most impressive part about Jordan’s Restaurant is that even when it is very busy (like every time I have been there) they pump the food out and have an incredible system of getting you’re food to you fast. As for the blueberries, they have great blueberry options, blueberry hot sauce among others. With plenty of seating options a wait is not common here even though they are one of the most popular joints in town.

So if you’re looking for a good breakfast to start your day, Jordan’s is your spot.

Trek to Echo Lake

Another amazing hie and area to explore in Acadia National Park is Echo Lake. This 237 acre lake is nestled at the base of Beech Mountain and tucked away in the forests of the park, Echo Lake is a prime spot for hiking, swimming, fishing, and kayaking. Similar to Jordan Pond, motors boats with over 10 horsepower are prohibited from entering the water. The lake features a great beach area for visitors to enjoy some sunshine, sand and fresh water.

Echo Lake according to locals is located on the quiet side of Mount Desert Island and Acadia National Park so solitude and less crowds are common here. Some of the hies near the lake with access to it are:

Acadia Mountain Loop: 4 mile loop with great views of the lake and the coast to the other side of the island.

Beech Mountain South Loop: 2.4 miles and treks to the southern tip of Beech Mountain.

Echo Lake is a prime destination for those looking for some peace and to clear their mind while enjoying the many activities this part of the park has to offer.

Bar Harbor has some of the best restaurants in not only Maine but all of New England, and of all these places Project Social Kitchen & Bar takes the cake for us. Project Social specializes in delicious cocktails and tapas plates designed for sharing family style. For me these types of places hit home and are hands down our type of vibe, plus ever since I visited Spain I’ve been mildly obsessed with tapas.

Project Social has indoor seating in a quiet rustic house that take you back in time and outdoor seating with trees, plants, and greenery. We started outside and even though the restaurant is located right off the main drag of Bar Harbor we felt as if we were in the middle of nowhere eating farm to table deliciousness. This is the first place that I ever tried oysters as they are caught locally and they were absolutely delicious.

Check out there menu here:

Address: 278 Main Street, Bar Harbor, ME 04609

Hours: 4pm-10pm Mon-Sat

Contact: info@socialbarharbor.com

Grab some lobster and cook a homemade meal

Let’s be honest, this should be an absolute must when visiting any part of Maine, especially you have a place to stay and cook. Maine is largest producer of lobster in the United States and they do it right. I admit on my last visit to Acadia I ate about 15 lobster rolls during the trip (not ashamed of that). If you’re looking to spend a nice family night in or with some friends than I definitely recommend swinging by one of the dozens of fresh caught seafood marts and picking up some lobsters and sides and enjoy home cooked lobster dinner.

We picked up our lobster from Parson’s Lobsters right outside of Bar Harbor and the woman behind the counter guided us through the boiling and cooking procedures which was not only helpful but absolutely spot on. Besides the lobster we picked up some fresh clams, oysters and sides that went perfect with the lobster dinner. Every time I visit Maine again I will most definitely be adding this into the trip.

Grab a drink at the Ivy Manor Inn Bar Harbor

Arguably the coolest little Inn Bar Harbor has to offer is the Ivy Manor Inn. The Inn features antique cottages and rooms for rent during your stay but that is not why it made our list. Located right outside of the entrance to the inn is the garden fixed with a full bar, tables, chairs and a fire pit for you to enjoy some drinks on the lawn.

The Ivy Many Inn garden is a prime spot to enjoy some drinks, conversations and is located right on Bar Harbor’s historic Main Street. The garden features live music daily for a few hours so it is definitely a popular sport especially on the weekends so plan your stop accordingly but it’s definitely a great spot to stop and take in bar Harbor.

We were lucky enough o beast the rush on our visit and snagged a prime table to enjoy ourselves for a few drinks.

Hike the Beehive Trail at Acadia National Park

One of the coolest and most difficult hikes in Acadia National Park is the Beehive Loop Trail. This 1.4 mile loop is an incredibly difficult hike and features steep inclines and bouldering to reach the top. The trail starts off the main road that runs parallel to the Ocean Path and the Sand Beach parking area. The hike features steep granite stairs, iron rungs, and a few areas where rock scrambling is necessary. This trail is designed for a challenging route and should not be done by those who are not able sustain steep and difficult terrain.

Most of Acadia National Park and Mount Desert Island is granite and Beehive is no different. If you know granite, then you know that good hiking boots or shoes are required for best traction and granite is not to messed with during tines of rain and high precipitation. So be aware as to not do this hike if it is raining.

Other Activities at Acadia

Catch a sunrise at Cadillac Mountain: The first place to catch the sunrise the United States and also the East Coasts highest peak is Cadillac Mountain and arguably what Acadia National Par is most known for.

Travel out to Schoodic Point: Schoodic Point’s remoteness and limited accessibility was the only reason that this absolute gem didn’t make the list above. Most visitors who make the journey out here are blown away by the beauty, hiking, and solitude they get away form hustle and bustle of the park.

Bass Harbor Head Lighthouse: The Bass Harbor Head Lighthouse is one of three lighthouses managed by Acadia National Park and a popular destination for tourists. Located in Tremont, Maine the Lighthouse marks the entrance to Bass Harbor and is a very cool spot to take in some views and check out an iconic lighthouse at the same time.

Sand Beach: Sand Beach is a tiny little beach nestled at the foot of the rocky cliffs and entrance to the Ocean Path. It is a great spot to cool off in the ocean and take your young ones to enjoy some sand time.

Thunder Hole: Thunder Hole is the best spot in Acadia to hear the waves crash against the cliffs. The sound the waves make is the reason why this amazing was given the name thunder.

Otter Cliff: Just long Park Loop Road is otter Cliff. This 110 foot spectacle is one of the highest coastal headlands in both North and South America.

Where to Stay in Bar Harbor and Acadia

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Ivy Manor Inn Village Center: Rustic, old and antique perfectly describes this gem. Also as mentioned above they have a killer beer garden.

Anchorage Motel: Located right in the heart of Bar Harbor, this is a popular stay for visitors to the park and town.

The Acadia Hotel Downtown: Located right in downtown in the shopping district of Bar Harbor this is a very popular choice for visitors to the park.