Explore Acadia National Park

Undersized, Well Appreciated

Acadia NP has more than 47,000 acres to explore, 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.

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Acadia National Park Multimedia

See what the NPS has put together to highlight Acadia's natural wonders take the Acadia eCruise.

See the Sights that Glaciers Carved into 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.

Bass Harbor Head Lighthouse, Cadillac Mountain, Jordan Pond, Carriage roads build by the Rockefellers all await your exploreation. Read more about the sights of Acadia National Park >>

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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. More Acadia NP wildlife here>>

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Video Introduction to Acadia

Fun video preview of Acadia National Park. Video Embed Courtesy YouTube.com

Accommodations

During the busy season, there are many Lodging and Camping options. In the colder months there is less traffic and fewer options. Our accommodations section has more about the hotels, motels, Inns, Lodges and Campgrounds in the Acadia NP area.

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What to do in Acadia

For those who interested in Acadia's history and nature, the park rangers offer a variety of programs to suit every interest. For the self-guided eXplorers Acadia has a variety of activities including hiking, climbing, cycling, bird watching, fishing, paddling, swimming and whale watching. Come winter the most popular activity is cross-country skiing. More Acadia's activites here>>

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Visit the Towns Near Acadia

The seaside communities of Bass Harbor, Frenchboro, Hull Cove, Northwest Harbor, Southwest Harbor each have there own flavor of traditional New England charm. Get a taste of what they have to offer in the way of dining attractions, and lodging.