Wonderfully clean and quiet state park, with honor system parking. There is a sandy and pebbled…read more beach on one side facing Englisman Bay and Simpson pond on the other. Flat walking trails and picnic areas. It was not at all crowded when we visited just after Labor Day 2026. A lovely way to spend a few hours or the entire day alone or with friends and family.

This is a great spot. Parking , bathrooms and a long empty beach. Lapping waves. Very cold water…read more Lots of sea birds This is a pay to park beach, honor system.

This a beautiful rocky beach in Machiasport, ME, and is definitely off the beaten path down a road…read morethat boasts some beautiful views, but almost seems never ending. I visited in Jan 2026 and no one but myself was there. Solitude, quiet, and beauty. Ahhhh. Some say the water crashing against the rocks sounds like singing. It is a very soothing and welcoming sound which I do not think I would ever tire of. It was difficult in some spots to walk as the rocks can be a foot or more deep, but with my snow boots on it was manageable. I am not sure how it would be barefoot or with sandals, but I would certainly give it a go. No restrooms or other amenities. A wonderful Maine spot with amazing scenery and beauty.

If you're looking for a secluded, expansive rocky beach off the beaten path, Jasper Beach is your…read morenew best friend! You can expect two tiers of smooth, beach rock adorned with seaweed/kelp. Outside of the traditional basalt, granite, etc. that New England beaches tend to provide, Jasper also offers sea snail and crab shells, drift wood, and the occasional beach glass/pottery. After the overcrowded Sandy Beach (south of Bar Harbor in Acadia N.P.), Jasper was a welcome calm and solitude. I would have stayed for more than two hours, however, the only drawback--for anyone, frankly--is the lack of facilities. No fresh water or bathroom within :15 to :20. If you or your family can handle that, Jasper Beach is definitely worth a visit!

Despite having done some research in advance, I had not been aware of this particular opportunity…read more There are many small islands in the region, but this one is notable for having a gravel walkway that sits above the tide for only a few hours a day. An appropriately timed hike yields an array of fantastic views that beggar belief. And this is despite the fact that walking to the end of the trail on the island from downtown, Bar Harbor takes maybe half an hour. Signage warns people not to get trapped on the island when the tide rises as getting a boat is expensive. I could imagine that if the weather is rough one could get into a bit of trouble here, but as long as you're smart about it, this is a fantastic place to visit.

Bar Island is a tidal island connected to Bar Harbor by a gravel and sand bar that is exposed at…read morelow tide and submerged at high tide. So interesting to be able to cross from Bar Harbor by foot and then hike to the top of the island for a view of historic Bar Harbor. The city of Gouldsboro still maintains jurisdiction over the island based on its 1798 articles of incorporation. Many families have tried to build a bridge to the island from Bar Harbor, however John D. Rockefeller, Jr. purchased the half of the island that has the sandbar which stopped the bridge from being constructed. Today, the island is part of Acadia National Park. If you visit, mind the times for the tides. People have been stranded and apparently cars have been washed away back in the days when they parked on the sandbar. Once high tide comes in, you will need to wait approximately nine hours for low tide or pay a hefty fine for being stranded on Bar Island. A unique experience in Acadia National Park.

My wife somehow found out about this place when we were planning our anniversary trip up to Bar…read moreHarbor. It's strikingly beautiful. Not quite rainforest, but lush--we were there in early November, and it was still so green (particularly with mosses and lichens). While that's a beautiful time of year there I wouldn't recommend hiking then unless you're wearing a lot of bright orange. City-rubes that we were, although we could see that it was hunting season while driving up there, we thought a private nature preserve would be off limits. Nope. What a terrifying walk back to the car!

This was such an unexpected find. It is completely off the beaten path, off of a very long dirt…read moreroad with no signs to direct you where to go. Finally at the end of the road there was the parking lot with the Great Wass Island Preserve sign. Took the Little Pond Trail to the shore and then hiked the Mud Hole Trail back to parking lot. Entire hike roughly 2 hrs, 15ish minutes. It is truly the most breathtaking shoreline I have ever come upon, completely isolated. What a delight and really fun hike. Although the hike to the shore was very well marked, the hike back to car was a bit more challenging. Thankfully we had a hiking map app to help us figure it out. This was by far the highlight of our coastal Maine exploration!

I'm no stranger to parks and beautiful natural places, but Acadia is like a dreamscape. There's…read morestunning ocean views from crumbling gorgeous cliff sides. There are lakes, streams, ponds, scenic lighthouses, boats, bikes, trails, gardens, crazy hikes with vertical iron rungs, rolling forest hikes, lighthouses, and more! The main issue you'll run into is crowds.. lots of people want to come here, especially in July and August. Best thing to do, go in as early as possible, do some things, take a break, go back again after 3. If you're early, you can get a parking spot then work from there. If you are flexible on time, take advantage of the shuttles, but be warned, they may be full, and they don't run every 10-15 minutes, so plan accordingly. I would be in the park by 7, have plans maybe on a tour in Bar Harbor late morning or early afternoon, then head back after 4, and I got to all the must-do's, ie hiked the Beehive, the Bubbles, Cadillac Mountain sunrise and sunset (reserve this early as spots sell out, I booked mine 3 months in advance the minute they released and they were sold out shortly later, especially sunrise tickets), Jordan Pond and popovers, Bass Harbor Lighthouse, as well as some boat tours in the area, including very successful whale and puffin watching. For more hints and tips, I watched some YouTube videos, there's great info out there, especially the videos from Ash, a former park ranger, who has loads of helpful tips to get around and not spend your trip sitting in traffic or waiting in a parking spot.

Did we go in a wrong entrance or something?!…read more I was underwhelmed for sure. We walked a few trails and took some photos but ??? Im very glad we hit Cadillac Mountain - that's where it's at!!!

What a hidden treasure! This sanctuary has miles of trails to hike and explore and is a sanctuary…read morefor injured birds. The on-site museum of taxidermy, birds' eggs collected and detailed from hundreds of years ago and field notes from the 1800s is amazing!

This place is the former estate of a female ornithologist. You can walk on a wood boardwalk…read morethrough the forest and there are additional dirt trails. Use bug spray though as there are a ton of biting insects here! When you park you will notice a number of cages. These cages are housing injured raptors. You can really get to see them up close although it is a little sad that they are stuck in cages. There is a visitor center though I was there too early in the morning so I cannot comment about it.

Fort Knox in Penobscot, Maine is adjacent to the Penobscot Narrows Bridge. It is situated on the…read moreWestern side of the Penobscot River, with the views of the town of Bucksport directly across. Its a granted fort built between 1884 and 1869, and alrhough it never saw any battles, it was used for training and it is well preserved. It's 125 acres so covers a lot of ground, and involves some walking, including stairs. While the history and the fort are amazing, this is also a place to see eagles and other birds and wildlife that flourish here. And lots of boat watching as well. We did see eagles! There is also a gift shop and restrooms available and staff are eager to share information and answer any questions. We spent almost 2 hours here exploring. Entrance to the fort and observatory for 2026 for 2 non resident adults was $22 ($11 each). You could also.just choose to pay for fort entrance which is less. Plenty of parking and the entire area is clean and well maintained.

This is one of the best places I visited on my end of summer Maine vacation. Had no clue that I…read morewould get to see the bowels of a civil war era fort that was built to defend against British invaders that never showed up. The observatory at the top of the bridge was amazing!

Got park pass online before the hike the other day. Totally different experience more secluded less…read morecrowded less people. I enjoyed having most of the trail to myself you experience nature at its best. The forest opens up to a rocky shoreline great views. Saw different species of birds heard a chipmunk in the woods. A lighthouse is a few minutes away as you leave the area if you're looking for more steps or views of the ocean

Really great trail! Just a little out and back with a loop at the end, but totally worth the trip…read more The views were amazing even on the cloudy day our group hiked. Not too strenuous, some flat parts, some up and down. So many different types of mosses and lichens!

This was something I wanted to explore as I found it online while researching…read more We came here before entering the park and I found the short walk/hike down to the rocks easy (maybe 0.2 of a mile?) and the rocks are flat enough here that you can easily walk around a little and see the view from different angles. No one else was here while I was visiting (01 May) and I was able to take photos and enjoy the ocean. Gorgeous views.

What a stunning location. Turn before you hit the park entrance pass station,and you'll come out in…read morea parking lot that was, at the time we visited, nearly empty. The views from the lot are lovely enough, but the short (.25 mile) hike down to the cliff edge is absolutely worth it. If you are severely mobility challenged, you will probably want to stick to the parking lot overlook. If you are comfortable with a paved downhill slope, the views along the water are worth it. As you get to the end of the path, there will be natural rock steps toward the water and tidal pools. Avoid taking early shortcuts -- the path down to the incredible tidal pools is easier if you follow the path to its natural conclusion. I'd recommend wearing sturdy, waterproof shoes with a good grip, and taking extreme caution with every step -- even at the best possible viewing time (maybe an hour or so before low tide) -- the rocks will be slippery and falling is very easy. You will see tidal pools all along the shoreline, and there is a stunning sea cave accessible during low tide. I would continue to the natural end of the path and double back along the shoreline and tidal pools to get to the cave. Otherwise the scramble down is quite rough. The sea cave is worth the effort if you arrive prior to low tide. However, this is an area where the dangers of rising tide are acute. Be safe. Be smart. And enjoy!!

Don't miss Agamont park if you are visiting Bar Harbor. This park has much to do and see. I'm not…read moremuch for the tourist shops so I enjoyed seeing the boats in the bay. You need to pay to park but not after 9:00 pm. There are restrooms conveniently located near the parking area. During the summer the sun rises at 4:00 am and sets around 8:00 pm. It provides for secular evening photos. The gazebo was so beautiful. I would like to do a family photo here next time.

if you are in the bar harbor area, you will cross this park multiple times, across the Geddy's. it…read moreis an urban park in bar harbor. green space offers stunning views of the ocean and nearby islands, with a full 180 degrees of natural beauty on show from the northwest right around to the southeast. It's probably the best view in Bar Harbor. it is a popular viewing point for tourists. locals say- it is a popular viewpoint to watch the Fourth of July fireworks each year. This is such a peaceful spot to look out at the ships anchored in Frenchman Bay as well as the many islands near Bar Harbor. Grab a space on the lawn to relax or have a picnic and enjoy the view.