Acadia National Park

September 2024 -- Acadia National Park has been on my bucket list for many years. I finally got a chance to see it. I spent two days there. I could have used more time. I brought Ty along with me. Acadia National Park is one of the most visited national parks in the US, with more than 4 million visitors annually. It was crowded when we went, but not like it would have been in the summer (or even on the weekend).

Welcome to Acadia National Park

Mount Desert Island

27 mile park loop road

My car

Acadia is a national park on the central coast of Maine. While the majority of the park's 47,000 acres is located on Mount Desert Island, we also visited Schoodic Peninsula on the mainland. Besides the ocean coastline, Acadia National Park includes lakes, ponds, woodlands, and mountains -- including the tallest mountain on the Atlantic Coast. There are over 150 miles of hiking trails, from easy to very challenging. Ty and I did the Ocean Path, the most popular hike in the park (4.5 miles). That was enough for us.

40 miles of rocky shoreline

24 lakes and ponds

26 mountains

Two beaches: one fresh water and one salt water

Over 150 miles of hiking trails

Acadia is one of the most dog-friendly national parks. I was able to bring Ty with me almost everywhere. The only places with restrictions were the beaches and some of the more difficult hikes (which I had no plans of doing). Our visit was during the transition to the off season when dogs are allowed on the beaches. Ty was allowed at Sand Beach, but not Echo Lake or Seal Harbor. He was never off-leash. Some of my pictures show him without a leash, but that's because I photoshopped it out. He only pooped in the park once, but he peed everywhere. He definitely left his mark in Acadia. Overall, Ty's behavior in the park was exemplary.  I wouldn't hesitate to take him on another similar trip.

Ty at Little Long Pond

Ty at Schoodic Point