Acadia National Park is the only United States national park in New England. It is on the Mid-coast of Maine, a state of the United States of America. The park is administered by the National Park Service. Acadia NP encompasses more than 47,000 acres, 30,300 of which are on Mount Desert Island. 2,728 acres of the park lie on Isle au Haut and 2,266 more on Schoodic Peninsula. Acadia is one of the smaller national parks in the country, yet it attracts nearly 3 million visitors per year. It is important that those who do visit and explore this wonderful park follow some basic guidelines in order to keep the park as clean, natural, and undisturbed as possible. Please review the Leave No Trace principles if you're planning a trip, and remember them while you are having a great vacation. Help keep Acadia the way it should be. Friends of Acadia is a group that offers additional details about respecting this natural wonder.

History

Originally designated as Sieur de Monts National Monument in 1916 by presidential proclamation, Congress renamed the park Lafayette National Park in 1919. Congress again enacted a name change in 1929 to the name we now use, Acadia National Park. It was the first NP established east of the Mississippi River.

In October 1947 Acadia, along with some adjacent lands, was ravaged by fire.

Landscape

A quick look at any topographical map of Mount Desert Island will indicate the powerful and lasting effects of the last ice age on the island and the current landscape of Acadia. As the last glacier receded over 18,000 years ago it left behind the elongated mountains and lakes we see today. The moving ice was also the culprit behind the "bald" summits of most of the park's hilltops, scraping off vegetation and leaving the beautiful pink granite underneath.

Flora and fauna

More than 273 bird species have been identified in the park, including bald eagles, peregrine falcons, blue jays, finches, and chickadees (the Maine state bird). Mammal species include deer, squirrels, foxes, rabbits, porcupines and bats. Other species include garden snakes, the American bullfrog, and the North American red-bellied salamander. Check out the National Park's checklist of common plants.

Get in

Acadia is accessible through a number of routes, the most clearly-defined are the Hulls Cove Visitor's Center and the park entrance on Schooner Head Road.

Fees/Permits

There are:
 • 7-day (vehicle) entrance permit, $20 in-season, $10 off-season
 • 7-day individual park pass, $5
 • Annual Acadia pass, $40
 • Commercial mini bus (capacity 16-25), $60 for 1 entrance
 • Commercial sedan (capacity 1-6), $25 + $5/visitor for 1 entrance
 • Commercial tour bus (capacity 26+), $150 for 1 entrance
 • Commercial van (capacity 7-15), $50 for 1 entrance

Get around

The free Island Explorer Buses can take you through the park, stopping at points of interest. There are bicycle racks on the front of each bus if you'd like to combine transport methods as you explore.

Bicycling
 • Bar Harbor Bicycle Shop, 141 Cottage St., (207) 288-3886. Offering recreational rentals for $19 full-day, $14 half-day. High-performance rentals are $24 full-day, $19 half-day. Full-suspension rentals are $32 full-day. Road bike rentals are $24 full-day.
 • Acadia Bike, 48 Cottage St., (800) 526-8615. Bike rentals, group tours, new and used bikes for sale.

Activities

Bird watching
Acadia is a great place to bird watch, with many species calling the park home. Bald eagles, peregrine falcons, great blue herons, cranes, ducks, geese, chickadees, woodpeckers, owls, orioles and blue jays can be seen in the park, just to name a few of the most common. For an extensive checklist and more info on bird watching opportunities in Acadia, see the NPS's bird watching page.

Fishing
 • Acadia National Park's site on regulations, species, etc. 
 • While ocean fishing is open to all, fishing in freshwater lakes and ponds requires a Maine state fishing license. Licenses are required for residents 16 and up and non-residents 12 and up, and can be purchased at town offices and a few local shops.

Hiking
Walking and hiking along Acadia's miles of trails is one of the best ways to experience the park. Immerse yourself in the flora and fauna of the island on a number of different hikes of various environment, length, and difficulty.

Paddling
The last glacier of 18,000 years ago carved out the incredible and beautiful terrain of the park, leaving behind some of the cleanest lakes and ponds in the country.

 • Coastal Kayaking Tours 48 Cottage St., 207-288-9605, 800-526-8615.

Nature Tours
 • Ranger-led Walks

Swimming
 • Sand Beach
 • Echo Lake beach

Whale watching
 • Bar Harbor Whale Watch Co.

Camping
 • Blackwoods Campground - available year-round, call 1-800-365-2267
 • Seawall Campground - open mid May through September
 Reservations are required from mid-June through mid-September.