Acadia National Park

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, but could have used more time. I brought Ty along with me, our first dog trip. 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

Little Long Pond

Other than a few roadside pull-offs, the first place Ty and I visited in Acadia National Park was Little Long Pond. It is located just west of the village of Seal Harbor. It was a great place to take Ty for a walk. He got to go in the water a few places. The place was very peaceful. I would like to have spent more time there, but I had a 11 am reservation for Cadillac Mountain (I didn't want to miss that!).

Little Long Pond

Framed by the tree

Blue water

Alongside fence

Ty along the trail

So much color

Picturesque tree

So alive with vegetation

Big rocks

Seal Harbor Beach was nearby. It is a sand and pebble beach. Dogs weren't allowed for a few more days, but I asked someone and they said it was okay to take Ty on the beach. No one seemed to mind. There were only a few people on the beach. We didn't stay long. We didn't have time.

Seal Harbor Beach

Cadillac Mountain

Cadillac Mountain is one of the most popular destinations in Acadia National Park. It is located on Mount Desert Island. You needed an advanced reservation to drive the 3.5-mile road to reach the summit. I bought a reservation online (for $6). 

Welcome to Cadillac Mountain

Cadillac Summit Road

Road to the summit

Mountains

Cadillac Mountain is the highest point on the Eastern Seaboard of the US. The summit offered spectacular views of coastal and island scenery. Despite the need for reservations, it was pretty crowded at the summit. I had to wait to park (though not long). Ty and I walked all around the rocks at the summit. We stopped at waysides on the way up.

Me and Ty

Coastal and island scenery

Rocks to walk on

The top

At the summit

Special ground

Dorr Summit

Ty at the summit

Hiking at the summit

Sand Beach

September 12, 2024 -- Sand Beach is the largest sandy beach in Acadia National Park. It is surrounded by cliffs. It wasn't too crowded in mid-September, especially when we returned later in the day. It was considered "off-season," so I was able to take Ty onto the beach. Sand Beach is where the Ocean Path began, the 4.5 mile up and back hike to Otter Point, with Thunder Hole on the way.

Not too crowded in mid-September

HERE'S A VIDEO OF THE BEACH

At first, Ty was afraid of the rushing water, then he started to play in the surf. The tide was out. When we returned in a few hours and the tide was in, the waves got scary to him again. No playing in the water the second time. Either that or he was worn out from the hiking.

Ty at the beach

Other side of the beach

Big boulders

Interesting rock

Near the beach

Can still see beach

The Ocean Path

The Ocean Path Trail is one of the most popular trails at Acadia National Park. It is a 4.5 mile out and back hike. It starts at Sand Beach and ends at Otter Point. You pass Thunder Hole and Otter Cliff on the way. Ty and I did the hike. It took us several hours. It was a good hike. I'm glad we did it. 

The Ocean Path (Sand Beach to Otter Point)

Ty and I on the trail

Sand Beach in the distance

Ty waiting patiently while I took pictures.

Much of the path was flat and easy and followed the road. Some of the path was more narrow, rocky, and steep, especially as you got closer to Otter Cliffs. Along the path, there were spectacular views of the ocean, the kind Maine is famous for. There were often paths or steps down to the cliffs, so you could get a closer look or take unobstructed pictures. Sometimes I'd tie Ty to a tree so I could venture farther down for a picture. He didn't seem to mind. Other times I brought him with me. Walking on the rocks didn't seem to scare him (unless it was too steep; me, too).

Along the path

Breathtaking

Ty enjoying the view

Relaxing by the sea

The trail

More of the trail

Otter Cliff was about 0.7 miles past Thunder Hole. At the time, I didn't realize we needed to continue hiking to reach Otter Point. Otter Cliffs and Otter Point are two different spots on the Ocean Path. Oh, well, at least we got to the first one. The path had gotten much harder to navigate at this point. 

VIEW VIDEO OF THE CRASHING WAVES