Acadia National Park in Maine
Coastal National Park in New England
According to Acronymmonster, Acadia National Park is located on the coast of the US state of Maine and on offshore islands in the Atlantic Ocean. Maine, a New England state, is located in the far Northeast of the United States.
Eagle Lake in Acadia National Park
Acadia National Park in Maine is primarily characterized by the mild maritime climate that prevails there and the beautiful landscape on the seashore. The main island of Acadia National Park in Maine is Mount Desert Island; the most famous town on the island is the former fishing village of Bar Harbor.
Acadia – National Park in Maine since 1929
Today’s Acadia National Park received the status of a national monument with the name “Sieur de Monts” in 1916. In 1919, Lafayette National Park was established until finally the name of the protected area was changed to Acadia National Park on January 19, 1929. The well-visited Acadia National Park has to cope with up to 2.5 million visitors every year.
Bass Harbor Lighthouse – Acadia NP
The unspoilt, wild coastal landscape in Acadia National Park in Maine is a particular magnet for visitors. The size of the entire national park area is 192 km². Acadia National Park includes coastal areas of Maine, the islands of Mont Desert Island, Isle au Haut, Schoodic Peninsula and a few smaller islands.
Great biodiversity and beautiful landscapes
In Acadia National Park in Maine there are some highlights that should not be missed as a visitor. Along the Park Loop Road (approx. 43 km long) you can experience a lot of the beauty of Acadia National Park. The rugged rocky landscape of Maine’s Atlantic Coast is a highlight. About fifty species of mammals and over three hundred species of birds have been recorded in the Acadia National Park area. A little further inland you can explore a landscape formed by the last Ice Age called Jordan Pond.
Mount Desert Island – for elite Americans
Not the entire area, just under half of Mount Desert Island belongs to the protected area of Acadia National Park. Land prices on Mount Desert Island are so high that almost only the super-rich share the rest of the island.
The old fishing port of Bar Harbor is located northeast of Mount Desert Island. There are restaurants, shops and hotels there. An entrance to Acadia National Park is in Bar Harbor. The American elite worked hard to protect the island. For example, John D. Rockefeller was instrumental in the designation of Acadia National Park in Maine, as he wanted to protect the island from sprawling development.
On the Beech Mountain Trail – Echo Lake – Acadia, Maine
Cadillac Mountain
Cadillac Mountain (470 meters high), the highest peak on the US east coast, is particularly popular with hikers. Maine’s Acadia National Park has approximately 125 miles of hiking trails. Hikers really get their money’s worth along the coast of Mount Desert Island. The coastal scenery and forests of Acadia National Park are truly uniquely enchanting.
Guided tours through the national park
The national park administration offers park tours led by rangers. The national park tours take visitors to the most beautiful places in Acadia National Park in Maine. In addition, you will learn a lot about the history, flora and fauna of Acadia National Park. The Acadia National Park in Maine should not be traveled to in short summer clothing, as there is often a foggy and humid sea climate on Mount Desert Island.
Camping in the national park
Wild camping is prohibited in the national park. In the southwest of the island is the town of Bass Harbor with a lighthouse worth visiting, the Bass Harbor Head Lighthouse. A visit to Acadia National Park in Maine is a special experience for every visitor.
Campgrounds in Acadia National Park
- Blackwood’s Campground
- Seawall Campground
- Duck Harbor Campground
Diversity through fire on Mount Desert Island
The old American residences and much of the forest were almost completely destroyed in a devastating fire in 1947. This was a stroke of luck for the biodiversity of Mount Desert Island, as previously only a few tree species formed a monotonous landscape. After the fire, species-rich, diverse mixed forests grew on the island and changed the landscape of Mount Desert Island for the better. Today, Mount Desert Island’s Indian Summer is a special experience for every visitor.
Mount Desert Island
Before the arrival of Europeans, Mount Desert Island in Maine was inhabited by Native Americans and the Abenaki tribe felt at home there. The Frenchman Samuel de Champlain was probably the first European to set foot on the island in 1604. He named the island Isle des Monts Desert. The English adopted this name and gave the island the name Mount Desert Island. The first English settlers came to the island in 1761.
Before the opening of Acadia National Park, Mount Desert Island was primarily a popular travel destination for wealthy Americans. The main island of Mount Desert Island (122 km²) can be reached via a causeway from the mainland. The nearest mainland towns are Ellsworth and Bangor.