5 Things to Know About Acadia National Park
Acadia is made up of 3 different sections.
Mount Desert Island (MDI), Schoodic Peninsula, and Isle au Haut. None of which is SUPER close together; it takes an entire DAY to travel to Isle Au Haut by ferry…so make sure to plan accordingly when deciding which part of the park to visit.
You need a reservation to visit Cadillac Mountain by car.
Yes, you read that correctly. With a sky-rocketing number of tourists visiting each year, it’s become necessary to reserve space on the mountain if you want to see the summit. UNLESS you hike, then you don’t need a reservation. Tickets can be purchased online at recreation.gov for $6 per car.
Use your common sense when hiking and climbing on the coastal rocks.
It goes without saying that you need to utilize your sharpest safety skills when tromping through rough terrain, but even with familiar terrain, it’s always best to air on the side of caution. Each year, dozens of people are injured in the park, from running on slippery rocks, to falling while hiking. Stay safe!
The tide comes back in.
I REPEAT: THE TIDE COMES BACK IN. Why am I mentioning this, you may ask? If you have ever been to Bar Harbor, ask a local about what happens on the sand bar each year. At low tide, people often drive their cars out onto the sand bar to observe the surrounding nature, or to visit Bar Island across the way. Sounds picturesque, right? It is until you forget that the tide comes back in, and your car is now under water. 14-foot tides are not rare in Maine.
Acadia is a very dog-friendly place.
Locals have a big heart for pooches. From dog-friendly hotels, restaurants, stores, and trails, you and your pooch are going to be greeted with plenty of treats and scratches!
