There is so much to see in Acadia National Park during a visit. You cannot possibly experience it all in one day, but you can try if need be.

Visitors to Acadia National Park will first arrive at Thompson Island, one of many islands along the coast of Mount Desert Island. Here you'll find the Thompson Island Information Center and just across the road, an oceanside picnic area.

One of the best ways to enjoy the many sights Acadia is by taking a drive along the Park Loop Road. This 27-mile paved roadway winds through the heart of Acadia National Park, visiting many of the most spectacular points en route.

Start your journey on the Park Loop Road from the Hulls Cove Visitor Center, purchase a Park Pass, get information, watch a film about the park, and browse the bookstore and gift shop.

A favorite destination is the lofty, windswept summit of Cadillac Mountain, especially at sunrise and sunset. At 1,537 feet, Cadillac is not only the highest point in the park, but the highest anywhere on the East Coast of the United States. Reach the top by way of a 3 1/2 mile spur road, the Cadillac Mountain Road, which makes the winding, exciting climb.

Towering over Sand Beach is the distinctive pink granite escarpment known as The Beehive, which rises more than 500 in height. The half-mile Beehive Trail to the top is one of the most popular hikes in Acadia National Park. The Ocean Path starts at Sand Beach and winds along the ocean parallel to the Park Loop Road for two magnificent miles.

Do not miss a stop at Thunder Hole, the famous narrow cleft in the pink granite cliffs along Ocean Drive. When the weather and tides are just right, the pounding surf ferociously rushes into the chasm and forces the air from the hollow space beneath the cliffs creating a thundering boom like no other sound in nature. Just ahead, the rugged coastal headlands known as Otter Cliffs are one of the most recognized geological features in Acadia National Park, the 110-foot cliffs rising precipitously from the ocean to meet the fragrant spruce forest above.

Jordan Pond is a hub of activity with hiking trails and carriage roads for bicycling and horseback riding emanating from this scenic area. The view over the pond to The Bubbles is one of the finest in Acadia. Jordan Pond House, the only full-service restaurant in the park, is famous for its popovers and tea on the lawn. Closing the loop on the Park Loop Road, pass lovely Eagle Lake. Framed by steep mountain walls, it is one of the largest lakes on the island. A system of historic carriage roads circumnavigates Eagle Lake.

Bass Harbor Head Light, the only lighthouse on Mount Desert Island, keeps watch over the entrance to Bass Harbor and Blue Hill Bay, one of the most photographed spots in all of Acadia. Echo Lake is famous for its sandy beach and warm lake waters beneath Beech Mountain's towering cliffs.

Visitor Resources: Acadia National Park Visitor Info