Acadia National Park in Maine is an outstanding destination for landscape photographers. While many of the popular and dramatic national parks in the U.S. are out west, Acadia is an accessible option for east coast dwellers in need of a photographic odyssey closer to home. Despite being one of the smaller parks in the National Parks system, Acadia is one of the top 10 most-visited parks, and for good reason - there's something about it that's irresistible. Here's our take on the top photo spots in Acadia.
Acadia is largely an island preserve, with the majority of the park on Mount Desert Island (pronounced dessert) on the Maine coast. Despite it's small size it packs a diverse list of "must shoot" locations - principally the dramatic and rugged coastline of New England, but also mountains, lakes, and forests. It’s easy to see and visit much of Acadia by car, with the Park Loop Road providing access to the main sites but there are also over 150 miles of hiking trails to enjoy - from gentle shoreline meanders to more challenging, near vertical climbs. Busy though the park may be, it is still possible to find some quiet solitude in the forests, shoreline inlets and lakeside trails that are the hallmarks of the Acadia experience.
For the photographer there are great opportunities almost year round. With four distinct seasons in New England there is always something new to capture as the months pass and the weather changes. As might be predicted, the park can be very crowded during summer vacation season (July and August) and during peak foliage times (early October), but for good reason as the weather and scenery are stunning at these times of year. Shoulder season could be considered early June and September when the weather is often favorable but crowds are a little thinner. In winter, you’ll have most of the park to yourself, but you'll need to be prepared for very cold and sometimes wet, snowy and icy conditions. You'll also need to plan ahead as most of Park Loop Road is closed in winter and much of the town of Bar Harbor shuts down, so your choices for lodging and restaurants near the park will be limited.
OK - that's set the scene, now to the highlights!
1. Cadillac Mountain
Cadillac Mountain is one of the park's premier attractions and certainly a must-see. The highest peak on the east coast, it is the first location in the U.S. to see the sunrise at certain times of the year. At an elevation of only 1,530 feet, Cadillac Mountain is not particularly high, but it is so close to the shore that it commands an impressive position and offers views in all directions which makes it an extremely popular spot.
While great shots can be had at sunset, it is the spectacular sunrises that draw the most attention and it’s not uncommon for the parking lot to fill up and for there to be a few hundred people at the summit before dawn. There's something magical about a group of people from around the world collectively holding their breath, waiting to experiencing one of life's daily miracles as the sun comes up, but the popularity of sunrise on top of Cadillac Mountain can make it a challenge to get the shot you want. The often foggy weather can also make things tricky, so to avoid disappointment and to give yourself the best chance of capturing that sought after image, try to plan on a few mornings on Cadillac Mountain. You'll be glad you did because when the weather cooperates your photographs will not only capture the beauty of the location, but also the magic of the moment as the light and color come up over Frenchman Bay and Bar Harbor.
If rising early is not your thing, try shooting sunset from the summit or from the Blue Hill Overlook, which is just a short distance away. Don't be tempted to leave as soon as the sun is down as the best light often happens some time after, plus you may be able to move around more freely with smaller crowds.
For both sunrise and sunset, be sure to make use of apps like PhotoPills or The Photographer’s Ephemeris to plan and visualize your shots ahead of time. Knowing the location and direction of the sun at any given time is invaluable and when combined with a good weather forecast can really help save time and effort and improve the quality of your composition.
2. Sand Beach
The aptly named Sand Beach (it is, after all, a sandy beach) is a popular area, especially in the summer when visitors take advantage of the gentle waves and warm temperatures for some family fun in the sand. It is located right along Park Loop Road and offers opportunities to visit the beach or to hike any of the several trails, including the Beehive and Great Head, that start in this area. The trails provide an opportunity to view the beach from the surrounding cliffs which gives a great wider perspective. If you stay on the beach, use the rocky outcrop at the south end of the beach to capture the waves - either with a short shutter speed to freeze the action or a longer shutter speed to show the flow of the water.
3. Boulder Beach
Further south on the Park Loop Road and relatively easy to get to is Boulder Beach - the unofficial name of a section of coast that features thousands of round boulders, roughly the size of bowling balls. The boulders are beautiful and smooth but absolutely treacherous so be careful, especially if they are wet. This is another popular sunrise location with a great shot looking south towards Otter Cliff where the dawn light will warm the rocks and create a splash of color. Even if the weather doesn't cooperate, you can still get an extremely atmospheric shot that works just as well so it's always worth stopping at Boulder Beach
Rain or shine, experiment with different shutter speeds. Use fast shutter speeds to freeze waves; shutter speeds from 1/10th to 1 second to show a little bit of motion in the waves; 30 seconds or more to smooth out the ocean completely.
4. Jordan Pond
One of the most picturesque spots in the park is Jordan Pond, particularly at dusk when the colors over the mountains deepen as the sun goes down and reflect beautifully on the lake. Like many of Acadia's attractions, you can access Jordan Pond from the Park Loop Road, not far to the southwest of Cadillac Mountain. There is a trail that goes from the ample parking lot all the way around the pond but you won't need to go far for one of the classic shots of the pond. Conveniently near the trail from the parking lot you can walk along the shoreline and photograph Jordan Pond with the Bubbles (North and South Bubble are two small mountains with rounded tops) in the distance and some mid-sized rocks providing an interesting foreground. Shoot with a wide angle lens and a longer exposure to smooth the water and get the full scene in frame.
5. Eagle Lake
Eagle Lake is north of Jordan Pond and west of Cadillac Mountain. To get there you can take Route 233 west of Park Loop Road for a short distance to a parking lot. There is a 6 mile loop trail that wraps around the lake but you can get some great shots close to the parking lot for those not up for a longer walk. Again it's worth experimenting with a variety of shutter speeds and a polarizer for shots of the lake, but don't forget the plentiful wildlife that can be found in the surrounding woodland. Peregrine falcons (and other raptors), songbirds, sea birds, herons, sandpipers and harlequin ducks as well as squirrels, raccoons, skunks, otters, foxes, deer and the occasional moose can all be found in Acadia.
6. Wonderland Trail
Located near the town of Bass Harbor on the southern tip of the "quiet side" of Mount Desert Island, Wonderland Trail is a family-friendly 1.4mile out and back stroll along an old road which leads to the ocean. Upon reaching the water, the trail loops through a stand of spruce and fir, occasionally providing access to the rocky shoreline. The scenery is mostly level compared to the dramatic terrain of the more popular sections of Acadia, but this area provides a calmer spot to explore Acadia's rugged coastline, where children and adults alike enjoy searching for life in the various tide pools. Look for whelks, sea stars, crabs, urchins, mussels, periwinkles and barnacles in the park's intertidal zones.
7. Bass Harbor Light
It's hard to talk about Acadia National Park without mentioning the Bass Harbor Head Lighthouse. While the west side of Mount Desert Island is less-frequently visited than the east, the one very popular location on the west side is the lighthouse - particularly at sunset. If you’ve seen any pictures at all of Acadia you have almost certainly seen photos of the lighthouse which of course makes it a magnet for photographers from around the world. Unfortunately there is limited room on the rocky coast and lots of demand from photographers and their tripods, so be sure to show up early. The popularity of the location leads to an array of tripods crammed on the often slippy rocks and while folks are generally good natured, it is definitely important to mind your photographer's etiquette. The reward is worth the effort though and you will leave with some great pictures. Consider also heading to the lighthouse when the weather isn't perfect - the crowds are likely to be lighter and some of the most dramatic images of Acadia’s coast come when a storm is rolling through and churning up big surf - just be careful - safety first!
These are just a few of the beautiful sights of Acadia National Park. Please let us know your favorite in the comments below or ideas for how to make the most of a visit to this national treasure in Maine.