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    Recommended Reviews - Thunder Hole

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    Sanjay G.

    Thunder Hole is a section of the rocky Acadia National Park shoreline where the water crashes against the rocks spouting high in the air. OK, that's what I read/heard but again you have to time it to see/hear the sound. there were bus tours and it seemed the passengers were disappointed, but I did hear a bang sound. This is a beautiful stretch of coastline. when we went there- that tipping point- it was closed. Parking: There is a parking lot across the street.

    The Thunder Hole
    Courtney K.

    Bottom Line: Perhaps a fun spectacle two hours before high tide otherwise just a view point with a lot of other people. I've consistently heard the best time to visit Thunder Hole is two hours before high tide. But I couldn't get excited enough about this stop to prioritize being there two hours before high tide so we went about our day hiking and got to Thunder Hole an hour after high tide. The views were beautiful and we enjoyed them along with 20 other tourists all in the corral aka safety rails. The noise an hour after high tide sounded a lot like the low, guttural gurgling noises my toilets made the last time the local water municipality flushed our water mains. No joke. When it comes to National Parks I am more about exploring trails away from the crowds versus stopping at sights that attract crowds so that is why this wasn't high on my list. Another reason this attraction didn't get me too excited is that Thunder Hole reminds me of some of the blow holes I've seen in Hawaii.

    The descent down
    Marcus S.

    When I first heard the name my first thought was another name for someone's bum, but there is a reason for the name, there is a unique sound when the waves hit the inlet, which is a small cavern which trap the air and causes the distant thunder sound, that's a according to the fact from a souvenir magnet I got. Yes Thunder Hole is a mini attraction within Acadia National Park. If you're lucky at the right time, with the right tide and if it's not crowded with people you'll be able to see water forced through a hole creating the sound of it's namesake. Unfortunately during my visit I did not see it and even then there were quite a few people so if you bravely come here in the colder months it you may be better off as there will be less people and the conditions may be more in line for it. The stairs down to the viewing area is nice and maintained. There is also a park plack that talks a bit about it as well. There is a parking lot dedicated to this section of the park and parts of the intersecting trails pass through here so you can drop in on it and not even really know, unless of course you're following the park map. There is a souvenir shop that has the usual Acadia National Park merchandise but of course they have Thunder Hole specific items too. While you're out enjoying Acadia National Park stop by Thunder Hole maybe you'll see the splash and hear the thunder.

    Thomas S.

    Our timing was off, so we didn't get to experience the loud thunder. Regardless, we enjoyed the cloudy sky, soft rain, and the wave breaking against the cliff. The gloomy weather made the experience more intense. The bonus was that the crowd was minimal.

    This sign has info about the ocean currents that affect the temperatures of the waters in the area.  Photo taken October 2, 2019.
    Drew P.

    Thunder Hole is a natural landmark found inside Acadia National Park. It is located on the southeastern part of the park. This was one of our stops during our tour of the park. Across the street from the main attraction includes parking, gift shop, and restrooms. My visit here was on October 2, 2019. When we got to Thunder Hole, it was busy, but not overcrowded at least. The weather was cool and overcast with temperatures in the 50s. The timing of the visit was a little over an hour before high tide was to occur. We were given about 20 minutes to visit this area. Most of my time here was taking in the views and video of Thunder Hole (videos are too big to post). I did get one good one while there and could work well as a white noise machine too. The views were breathtaking. Thunder Hole was made through natural rock formations. I was able to hear the thunder a few times as the waves were forcing the water out. Some of them came up looking like a big geyser exploding. This makes it a beautiful natural phenomenon. I was on one of the open paths down toward the hole area up until where the sections below were closed off for safety reasons. During the visit, there were quite a few people also on the rocks there. For the most part you would be fine on the rocks, but make sure that you aren't on any of the wet or black rocks. You could get swept out to sea. However, they do provide for some great views. Overall, Thunder Hole was definitely the highlight of my entire trip through Acadia National Park. With the stunning views and sounds, what is not to like about this place? Just be sure to time it right with the tide cycle when you visit. I would love to come back at a later time where I have more time to visit this place. If your travels take you this way, this place is definitely worth stopping and visiting.

    Annette J.

    Thunder Hole, one of the more visited parts of Acadia National Park, is fantastic when you catch it at the right time, underwhelming if you don't. The guide book I had on the park outlined this so we tried to time our visit to get the best experience possible. Basically Thunder Hole is a cavern that, when slammed by ocean waves during high tide, makes a huge crashing sound akin to, well, thunder. We were lucky enough to make it there during the rising tide and a windy day, which made the choppy water crash into the rocks in a very impressive way. Perhaps not as loud as you would get at peak high tide (or on a stormy day) but it was enough for us to see what all the fuss was about. The rock formations are beautiful tho, so you won't have a bad time here. You may just not get the full thunderous glory at every hour of the day.

    Lori H.

    A must stop and see while traveling along the Park Loop Rd in Acadia National Park. A ranger at the visitors center recommended we get there 2 hours before high tide to get the best waves. There were so many beautiful views to stop and take in, that we were too late by the time we arrived :-/ We did see a few bigger waves that made some thunder noises, but not as loud as we were hoping. It was still an awesome stop though. We stayed and just enjoyed the beautiful weather and sounds of crashing waves on the granite rocks! There is street parking available...seems like most people do this; however, there is a parking lot and gift shop right across the street. The gift shop is pretty small, but they still have plenty of souvenirs, snacks and beverages. I'd recommend trying the blueberry soda...yum!

    Lauren C.

    This was one of the cool sites that we viewed while exploring Acadia National Park. I'm glad that we stopped because it was a cool site to see and to also take photos. Even on a gloomy day it was a good spot to stop and take in the views. There isn't a parking lot for this stop so parking will be along the main road and it fills up fast. I'd recommend trying to take this in earlier in the day before the park gets busy. We parked along the road and the walk to the site wasn't too long. The path to the rocky viewing area was just a few steps and easy to maneuver. We waited out on the rocks with lots of other tourists and washed the waves rush in. It was a pretty spot to relax and just take in the beauty of the park.

    Terry T.

    We stopped at Thunder Hole for a nice picnic lunch while hiking in Acadia National Park. Like so much of the park Thunder Hole is another example of nature's incredible and amazing beauty. This small inlet has been naturally carved out of the rocks and gets its name from the thunderous roar of the waves crashing into a little cavern at the end of the inlet and spewing high into the air. You can climb on the rocks and just have fun taking in the incredible views. There is parking and restrooms nearby as well as a small gift shop. You can drive up or hike the very scenic ocean path from Sand Beach. The hike is less than a mile and a half and is pretty gently so it won't wear you out. After taking in Thunder Hole you can continue on the trail for another 7 tenths of a mile to Otter Cliff. If you visit Acadia National Park make sure Thunder Hole is on your list of places to visit.

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    5 months ago

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    2 years ago

    Pretty but no thunder most days, very crowded no parking. Acadia is too crowded. Go off season.

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    4 years ago

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    3 years ago

    It really sounds like thunder! Easy to access, there is parking right across the street.

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    4 years ago

    Nice open place with good views. The actual attraction is the Thunder Hole but for the full experience you need to go at specific times.

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    10 years ago

    Absolutely breath taking! My favorite in Acadia National park ... the doggies loved the hike and we all had a wonderful time.

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    Review Highlights - Thunder Hole

    Overall, Thunder Hole was definitely the highlight of my entire trip through Acadia National Park.

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    La Rochelle Mansion & Museum

    La Rochelle Mansion & Museum

    (2 reviews)

    Bottom Line: A guilded age mansion that gives a glimpse into the history of Bar Harbor and the…read moreearly 1900s. La Rochelle is a large, historical home overlooking Frenchman Bay. While it was once the 41-room summer cottage for the Bowdoin family today it serves as the headquarters of the the Bar Harbor Historical Society. The mansion is also a wedding venue. If, when visiting La Rochelle you are hoping to feel like you are stepping into a time machine to 1903, you'll need a lot of imagination. The mansion has been the home to various families and it has served several purposes since it was the Bowdoin's summer cottage. So, the physical structure is original but very little else is. Also, a lot of the rooms are closed and serve as private offices or storage for the Bar Harbor Historical Society. But, as a bonus, there is a lot of Bar Harbor history and artifacts displayed throughout. What I found most interesting about La Rochelle was the Flower Room including the placement of it. I can recall visiting mansions with a designated area of the kitchen or butler's pantry for assembling flower arrangements but I can't recall one that had a dedicated Flower Room. I also thought it was interesting that the Flower Room was placed adjacent to the main foyer instead of closer to where the servants would be working. La Rochelle is a wonderful piece of Bar Harbor and American history and I am grateful that the Bar Harbor Historical Society was able to purchase La Rochelle to preserve it for future generations. I also appreciate the very kind volunteers that work at the mansion. La Rochelle is am impressive site from West Street but it looks even more impressive from water, or so I imagine. We did not get to see the house from that view but based on pictures, you can really see the elevation of the home and the many chimneys. Before leaving La Rochelle we visited the gift shop which is full of pretty things. I was eyeing up some puzzles but due to very limited space in my suitcase I just purchased a few greeting cards. Overall we had a nice visit to La Rochelle and we were glad to support the Bar Harbor Historical Society.

    Lots of interesting information. It's a self guide tour. Plenty of time to walk around. Beautiful…read moreinterior. Was having a great time till we went into the gift shop and the first 3 sentences from the gift shop cashier was political. Such a bumer to end on a sour note. The subject was illegal immigrants.....I'm Hispanic.

    Bar Harbor Whale Watch

    Bar Harbor Whale Watch

    (256 reviews)

    For my birthday, we joined a whale watching tour in the Gulf of Maine.  We honestly weren't sure…read morewhat to expect but were blown away by getting to see 3 different types of whales (Humpback, Minke, Finback), with multiples of each type and also two blue sharks. The people that led our tour were knowledgeable and friendly and I also appreciated they had food and drinks onboard for sale (and single serve dramamine). We had a hot dog, their ocean gin drink, and a blueberry harbor ale and couldn't have had a better time. Make sure to get there early as the most in demand seats on top of the boat were full after they let the people waiting in line early on the boat. I'd say we got there 30 minutes earlier than needed and got some of the best seats but there weren't many left. There is a shop with good coffee close so you can have one person hold your spot in line while others do that. Dress warmer than you think you need: we ended up wearing long sleeve shirts and pants with jackets and beanies and it wasn't a rough or especially cold day at sea and closer to 70 degrees on land. .

    Spent the July 4th weekend in Bar Harbor and we booked this company for the whale watching as well…read moreas for the fireworks on the water. I will start by saying that the staff is absolutely wonderful! Super attentive and polite and was constantly checking on all of the riders. The ride was long but we went to two locations before we finally got a glimpse of one humpback whale- Anthur. The captain did his best to get us as close to the whale as possible without disrupting it and also tried to make sure both sides of the boat got ample time to view. The narrator on the boat had a ton of information to provide which was really cool. It wasn't just about whales, we learned about other sea life and productivity and sustainability as well as about the harbor and Acadia park. It was an experience for sure. I do tend to get a little motion sickness which thankfully I was spared on this trip- but unfortunately it seemed like it was happening all around us where people were just losing it. The staff was quick to react and accommodate those riders with bags, drinks and food. Prepare for the cold because even though it was 80 degrees on land, it was extremely windy and freezing out of the water. They do provide hot chocolate and coffee and snacks on board for purchase, you can also bring food on board as well. We went back out again in the evening for the fireworks- they do a trip out towards the lighthouse and the porcupine islands and again provide lots of information about the islands, sea life, and about the earlier settlers. That part was great- the fireworks (out of their control) was eh. Everyone said Bar Harbor has some of the best fireworks and unfortunately they were super underwhelming. Would I do it again..... probably not, but it was an experience that we enjoyed and have stories to tell.

    Thunder Hole - landmarks - Updated May 2026

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