5 Beautiful Hidden Spots in Acadia National Park
Here are five lesser-known hidden spots in Acadia National Park for beautiful views with fewer crowds.
By Yankee Magazine|Apr 28 2022|
Sunrise at Deep Cove on Isle au Haut, part of Acadia National Park’s nearly 50,000-acre swath of prime Maine coast.
Photo Credit: Jerry Monkman/EcophotographyLooking for hidden spots in Acadia National Park that you’ll never forget? Jerry Monkman has spent more days photographing Acadia than nearly anywhere else on earth. Here are five of his favorite lesser-known spots for beautiful views with fewer crowds.
Photo Credit : Google Maps
5 Beautiful Hidden Spots in Acadia National Park
1. Dorr Point, Bar Harbor
Avoid the sunrise crowds at Cadillac Mountain and hit up Dorr Point instead for beautiful views of Frenchman Bay and the Porcupine Islands accompanied by a soundtrack of the tide washing against cobblestones, the cries of gulls, and the clamor of outgoing fishing boats.
2. Deep Cove, Isle au Haut
Getting to Isle au Haut requires a six-mile boat ride from Stonington, and hopping aboard means you’ll already have a head start in avoiding the crowds. About a 30-minute walk from the NPS campground in Duck Harbor, the low tide view at Deep Cove includes stunning granite ledges against the blue Atlantic. The cove also has spectacular sunrises and, at night, great views of the Milky Way.
3. Jordan Stream Trail, Seal Harbor
The Jordan Stream Trail on Mount Desert Island is a woodland path that starts just steps away from the throngs at Jordan Pond but quickly ducks into dark, quiet forests. The evergreens juxtaposed with old hardwoods makes the trail especially lovely in autumn when fall color provides a beautiful backdrop to Jordan Stream and its small cascades.
4. East Side of the Schoodic Peninsula
Its location nearly an hour from Mount Desert Island keeps many away, but the Schoodic Peninsula, with its small villages and picturesque working harbors, offers a true taste of the “real” Down East Maine. The shoreline along the Park Loop Road, east of the Alder Trail, offers several cobblestone coves that are just right for picnics and listening to the waves against the stones. Bring binoculars to spot seals and seabirds.
5. Little Hunters Beach, Park Loop Road
Despite sitting just off the busy Park Loop Road, Little Hunters Beach feels secluded thanks to its small, nondescript parking area. Wooden steps lead through evergreens next to a cascading stream, and down to the small cobblestone beach, where rocky headlands reach out to the ocean while tall spruces create a theaterlike ambience.
What favorite hidden spots in Acadia would you add to the list? Let us know!
A longer version of this list originally appeared in the May/June 2021 Yankee feature “Acadia Confidential.”
Love the Confidential Tips for quiet beautiful spots to visit in Acadia. We are taking out second trip to the area in June. Staying at a house in Duck Cove. We did the big busier attractions the first trip. Want to do other adventures this time. Do you have any suggestions for the Duck Cove area? Hike, bike or kayak. Thank you
Possibly 15 years ago at a Bennett Family Reunion, our party of 14 boarded the Mail Boat and visited “Little Cranberry Island” called Islesford and the Historical Society had a small but very nice collection of informative information that we could purchase. A gentleman from the Historical Society was notified of our group and shortly came to join us. The group purchased some of the information of interest and the gentleman answered many inquiries asked about the Island. The Group spent most of the day with the Gentleman at the interesting Historical Society and sat outside enjoying the grounds and ate our lunches we brought with us to that site. The Group took in as much as we could observing where the
Bunker Family (our ancestor) had lived. We really needed more time on Islesford. That was a very beautiful day and purchasing great information from the Historical Society was greatly appreciated from that kind Gentleman. Time for the Mail Boat to return to the main land. The Group returned to Freedom, ME after a marvelous day learning about our ancestor.