Acadia National Park
From World travel guide
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 [1].
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Understand
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 [2] 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 garder snakes, the American bullfrog, and the North American red-bellied salamander.
Climate
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.
See
Do
Bicycling
- Bar Harbor Bicycle Shop, 141 Cottage St., (207) 288-3886, [3]. 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, [4]. Bike rentals, group tours, new and used bikes for sale.
Bird watching
- See http://www.npwrc.usgs.gov/resource/othrdata/chekbird/r5/acadia.htm/ for details.
Cross-country skiing
Fishing
- Acadia National Park's site on regulations, species, etc. [5]
- 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 [6] 48 Cottage St., 207-288-9605, 800-526-8615.
Nature Tours
- Ranger-led Walks [7]
Swimming
- Sand Beach
- Echo Lake beach
Whale watching
- Bar Harbor Whale Watch Co. [8]
Buy
Eat
Drink
Sleep
Lodging
Camping
Reservations are required from mid-June through mid-September.
- Blackwoods Campground - available year-round, call 1-800-365-2267
- Seawall Campground - open mid May through September
Backcountry
Stay safe
Get out
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