We already had a major trip planned for 2024 – our Canadian Rockies and the “third time’s the charm” trip – so we were looking for something without a big travel investment yet with big “wow” factor.

Acadia National Park was perfect!

With Acadia being relatively close by – we didn’t need to get on a plane – it provided plenty of variety and beauty to tickle our hiking and outdoors “habits”.

Our home base was a little cottage on the outskirts of Acadia – the Tide Watch Cabins. Somewhat on the rustic side of the accommodations spectrum, though it was perfect for our needs – near enough to the park, and offering a daily light show, featuring the sun:

Our activities included two hikes – one to Cadillac Mountain (5.3mi, 2hr50m, 1,300ft elevation change), the other around Jordan Pond (5miles, 2hr 30m, 550ft – optional – elevation change), as well as a pleasant “road trip” following the Park Loop road and, of course, a visit to Bar Harbor and the shops.

Read on about each of these.

Our first Acadia hike was Cadillac Mountain – highest point in the park. Yes, you can drive to the summit (requiring advanced reservations), but what’s the fun in that? Instead, we followed the North Ridge Trail, with the trailhead (and free very limited parking) just off the Park Loop road.

Trail footing generally was good, though some bouldering was needed.

Nothing too difficult and overall, a nice hike in the woods. We were back at our cabin early afternoon, with plenty of time to get out and see more of the park.

That late afternoon/evening, after we recovered from Cadillac Mountain hike, we took a drive to see other parts of the park. Stopping along the way in some of the periodic pull-outs to soak in the vistas, we spent a bit of time at the Bass Harbor Light Station just taking in the sights and enjoying the view of the iconic lighthouse.

Not far from the light station, we also paused at the Maine State ferry station, nothing special, though it gave us a place to enjoy the sunset over the spit of land. Seemed very quintessential Maine.

For our second hike, we chose a trail around Jordan Pond, and eyed a little button-hook side trip to the Bubble. Much of the trail is flat with little/no elevation change, with the exception of the side trip, which added about 500ft of elevation gain in a very short distance (steep)!

We began at the Jordan Pond House, offering plenty of parking, food, and facilities. Turns out to be a pretty popular place (read: people), since the trail is flat.

It was a very pleasant walk as we skirted the pond. Once we turned and headed away from the pond on the Bubbles Trail, things got interesting.

Almost immediately, we gained elevation, mainly walking through forest, though quickly existing through a section of rock, requiring a bit of a scramble thrugh what might be called a chimney, to reach higher ground.

Through that section rock scramble section, we were glad we made the effort – being rewarded with a stunning view of the lake and other islands near by.

Fortunately, there was a trail leading downward, along the backside of the Bubble, bringing us back to the trail junction at the Jordan Pond trail. The balance of the trail was again flat, though interestingly, the western side of the pond was mainly a walk along a slightly-elevated boardwalk, avoiding walking through bog and marshy sections of this loop trail.

In all an enjoyable hike – though a bit sketchy getting up the Bubble – could be avoided by coming up the backside, to enjoy the views!

We spent the evening in Bar Harbor – the shops and just enjoying the beauty of the surrounding harbor itself.

And with that, we said goodbye to Acadia, though not before yet another sunrise from our cabin on the water

Bottom line, we only scratched the surface of the wide variety offered by Acadia – imho, it lives up to “the hype”. The NPS site calls it “The Crown Jewel of the North Atlantic Coast” – I’d say it’s right up there with some of the other big-name national parks – the Tetons, Yosemite, Zion, and others – in a beautiful, and very “unassuming” – it’s an amazing place, and I hope to return.