Itenerary Check: Acadia NP June 22-29 - Acadia National Park Forum - Tripadvisor

Itenerary Check: Acadia NP June 22-29

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Itenerary Check: Acadia NP June 22-29

We will be staying for a week in Southwest Harbor in late June. Would like to get opinions/ suggestions on our itinerary so far. We enjoy hiking, exploring, and viewing wildlife.

Itinerary

June 22nd – arrive 3 pm and check into Air BNB – Southwest Harbor, groceries (is avail in SW harbor or should we stop on way before arriving, plan to pick up breakfast/ lunch food), dinner in SW Harbor

June 23rd – am drive to Sand Beach and hike Ocean Trail, picnic lunch, head to Bar Harbor, dinner reservations 5 pm at Geddy’s, walk Land Bridge to Bar Island after dinner (low tide 6:29 pm)

June 24th – Sunrise pass for Cadillac Mtn, then drive park loop road. Do Beehive Trail, then reservations for Jordan Pond House at 3 pm. (worried about parking here, suggestions?, adjust the time?)

June 25th – nature cruise (Island Cruise from Bass Harbor or Sea Princess from NE Harbor?

June 26th – Schoodic Peninsula – suggestions to organize this day?

June 27th – Morning kayaking trip with Maine State Kayak – sunset at Cadillac Mountain, then head to Thunder Hole to view Milky Way (moonrise just after midnight)

June 28th – nothing planned, suggestions?

June 29th - leave early to drive home

4 replies to this topic
Bar Harbor, Maine
Level Contributor
2,045 posts
1. Re: Itenerary Check: Acadia NP June 22-29

I think you could do a lot more each day. Your proposed schedule seems a bit light on hiking. On June 24 you could go straight from sunrise to Jordan Pond. There you could easily hike Penobscot Mountain with time to spare before your reservation at the Jordan Pond House. The views from the top of Penobscot are wonderful -- long summit of open granite. Here's a description of the hike: https://www.citrusmilo.com/acadiaguide/penobscotmountain.php

There are many more hikes described at the above web site. The Beehive Trail you had scheduled for that day could be easily done the day before along with the Ocean Path walk.

There is a grocery store in Southwest Harbor. But you might do better stopping in Ellsworth on your way. There is a Hannaford and Shaw's grocery store in Ellsworth as well as a Super Walmart.

I think the nature cruise from Northeast Harbor would be better. Northeast Harbor is a sailing town. The harbor itself is interesting and there are lots of little islands as you boat out from there. One has a huge osprey nest. You could explore Northeast Harbor that day as well as take a walk through the Asticou Azalea Garden and Thuya Gardens.

It's about an hour's drive from Bar Harbor to Schoodic. If you are up for a longer day of exploring, you could also go up to Machias or even all the way to Lubec.

On your unscheduled day, you could explore the back side of Mount Desert Island: Southwest Harbor, Wonderland and Ship Harbor Trails, Bass Harbor lighthouse, Thurston's Lobster Pound. The Blagden Preserve at Indian Point. https://www.nature.org/en-us/get-involved/how-to-help/places-we-protect/indian-point-blagden-preserve/

Lots to do. Take a look at http://www.acadiamagic.com for ideas and great photographs.

Level Contributor
117 posts
5 reviews
4 helpful votes
2. Re: Itenerary Check: Acadia NP June 22-29

Thank you for the suggestions and these links Bonniemae. I was planning to add some more hiking in :).

I will do some reading and then I'll be able to add on hikes as options for the days we feel like hiking more.

Ohio
Level Contributor
514 posts
3. Re: Itenerary Check: Acadia NP June 22-29

I would really recommend the suggestion above on Penobscot Mountain. There are certainly more famous, more elevated, & more popular Acadia hikes… but none better, when you consider the actual hiking trail plus the views to go with it. Penobscot via the Spring Trail has bridges, exposures, rock scrambling, false peaks, some solitude, and an absolutely gorgeous 360 degree view of a wide open faced granite as you climb toward the summit. If I could only do one hike, just one, while visiting Acadia it would without hesitation be Penobscot Mountain on a cool, crisp, calm, autumn morning. I know you’re going in June, but this would without a doubt be on my “to do” list if you like hiking.

Ohio
Level Contributor
514 posts
4. Re: Itenerary Check: Acadia NP June 22-29

Also: There is a grocery in Trenton, and although it’s much smaller than the Walmart in Ellsworth it’s closer and easier to get in & out. I love Schoodic, but the hiking trails on the peninsula aren’t the most exciting. It’s a great area for a quieter Acadia experience usually worth about a half day. Thirdly, if you wish to explore in the other direction a trip to Deer Isle is a wonderful drive. Lastly, this is probably obvious but bring a good flashlight for seeing Acadia after midnight. The only time I took a tumble was on the Thunder Hole steps walking around in the dark.

Reply to: Itenerary Check: Acadia NP June 22-29
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