The Breathtaking Beauty of Acadia National Park
Updated: Nov 17, 2019
A Little Bit About Acadia National Park
Along the northern coast of Maine lies one of the United States' most beautiful sights, Acadia National Park. As the only national park in New England, Acadia encompasses over 47,000 pristine acres of breathtaking natural beauty. With its rugged, rocky stretch of coastline and its tree-covered mountains, Acadia National Park is one of our preeminent national treasures.
A Philanthropist's Vision
Acadia is the first national park to be established entirely through private land donations. In the early 1900's, John D. Rockefeller, a scion of one of America's greatest finance and philanthropic families, purchased and then donated 11,000 acres of land to help establish Acadia. Rockefeller was determined to keep automobiles from spoiling its natural beauty and commissioned the building of over 50 miles of woodland carriage roads to be used exclusively for hikers, horse riders, and horse-drawn carriages. Those carriage trails, along with 17 granite bridges and two gatehouses, exist to this day and lend to the serene and untouched feel of this national park.
Picturesque Sunrises and Scenic Spots
Spread out over 19 islands, Acadia is a nature lover's paradise, offering endless opportunities to hike, kayak, camp and sightsee. Over 30,000 acres of Acadia resides on Mount Desert Island, while the remaining park encompasses the Schoodic Peninsula, Isle Au Haut, Little Cranberry Island as well as many other smaller islands. The highlight of Mount Desert Island for many is Cadillac Mountain. With a precipice of 1,530 feet, Cadillac is unique in that it gives early risers the opportunity to experience the first sunrise in the United States from October through March.
The best way to see much of Acadia starts at the Hulls Cove Visitors Center. From there, visitors can access Park Loop Road, a 27-mile road that winds through Acadia, offering stunning vistas through the park's many lakes, ponds, forests and of course, Maine's incomparable rocky coastline.
Along Park Loop Road, there are many places to stop and take in the incomparable views. One of the iconic highlights of Acadia is Thunder Hole, a naturally carved rock inlet that sits above a cavern. This one-of-a-kind rock formation shoots water up to 50 feet high and creates a thunderous clap of the water when the water meets the rocks. Sand Beach is another slice of Acadia heaven. Just 290 feet long, Sand Beach has formed over thousands of years, yielding a gorgeous little beach comprised of shell and sand fragments. Another picture-perfect spot in Acadia is Jordan Pond, a glacial lake with crystal clear water. Nestled within North Bubble and South Bubble Mountains, Jordan Pond gives visitors a panoramic view of the majestic mountains and lush landscape of Acadia.
Acadia National Park is truly a national landmark, giving visitors the chance to experience quintessential Maine. With its pink granite hues, rocky coastline and beautiful mountain vistas, Acadia National Park is a national treasure.
