James Kaiser - Acadia: The Complete Guide: Acadia National Park & Mount Desert Island

This book would not have been possible without the help of many generous people.

Special thanks to Christie Anastasia, Wanda Moran, Ginny Reams, Brooke Childrey, and the entire staff at Acadia National Park, professors Bill Carpenter and Helen Hess at COA, Mindy Viechnicki at Allied Whale, Rebecca Cole-Will at the Abbe Museum, and Erika Latty at Unity College. Special thanks also to Andrea Rincon, Rick Crowe, Whitney Crowe, Kevin Crowe, every other Crowe, Steve Foley, Cathy McDonald, Dan Shubert, Scott Petticord, Abby Johnston, Matt Tracy, Alyssa and Seth, Josia and Maria, and Lacey Sinclair. And a very special thanks to my family & friends, who have always supported meeven when they shouldnt have.

All information in this guide has been exhaustively researched, but names, phone numbers, and other details do change. If you encounter a change or mistake while using this guide, please send an email to . Your input will help improve future editions of this guide. Special thanks to eagle-eyed readers Joseph Snider, Mark Goldstein, Pat Bonnell, Mary Katheryne Zagora, Beth Turney and Mel Coker, who found typos/errors in past editions!

Legal Disclaimer: Although every attempt has been made to ensure the accuracy of information contained within this guide, the author and publisher do not assume and disclaim any liability to any party for any loss or damage caused by errors or omissions. Information has been obtained from sources believed to be reliable, but its accuracy and completeness are not guaranteed. All maps in this guide are based on official USGS data, but serious hikers should supplement their outings with detailed hiking maps. If the rigors and threats of nature are in any way beyond your capabilities, do not attempt any hike in this guide. Many photos in this book depict people in precarious situations. Do not assume that any situations depicted in this book are safe in any way.

I F YOUVE PURCHASED this book, youre going to Mount Desert Island. Perhaps youre already here. If so, youre in one of the most amazing places in the worlda gorgeous island filled with granite mountains that rise above the sea. An island so beautiful that nearly half of it has been permanently protected as Acadia National Park. A place where you can hike in the morning, sea kayak in the afternoon, and sit down to a gourmet meal at night.

So who am I and why should you listen to me? My name is James Kaiser, and I was born and raised near Mount Desert Island. I spent my childhood summers hiking and biking in Acadia National Park and my college summers working in Bar Harbor. Although my work as a travel writer and photographer has carried me away from Mount Desert Island, I return as often as possible. Its my favorite place in the world. I know the park, I know the towns, I know the localsI know the secrets! And Im going to show you the best that Mount Desert Island has to offer.

You could easily spend a month exploring Mount Desert Island and not run out of things to do. But if youre like most people, youve only got a few days. Make those few days count! With a limited amount of time, youve got to plan your trip wisely. This book puts the best of Mount Desert Island and Acadia National Park at your fingertips, helping you maximize your time for an unforgettable vacation. Whether youre here to hike, here to sight-see, or just here to eat and hang out, Acadia: The Complete Guide is the only guide youll need.

Now let me show you the best that Mount Desert Island and Acadia National Park have to offer!

jameskaiser.com

Subscribe to my photo-filled email newsletters

And follow my adventures on:

Acadia Top 5

Top 5 Sights

Top 5 Adventures

Top 5 Hikes

Top 5 Places to Swim

Top 5 Restaurants

Top 5 Places for Lobster

Top 5 Boat Trips

Top 5 Rainy Day Activities

Introduction

T wo-thirds of the way up the craggy coast of Maine lies Mount Desert Island, home to granite mountains, picture-perfect harbors, and Acadia National Park. Mount Desert Island is the crown jewel of coastal New Englandthe only place on the East Coast where the mountains literally meet the sea. Those mountains, rounded and smoothed by Ice Age glaciers, form one of the most distinctive profiles in the world. From the sea they look like a string of giant ice cream scoops rising out of the water. Cadillac Mountain, the islands tallest peak, is 1,530 feetthe highest point on the eastern seaboard north of Rio de Janeiro.

Nestled between the islands 24 mountain peaks are forests, lakes, meadows, marshes and Somes Sound, a narrow inlet that nearly cuts the island in two. Roughly half of Mount Desert Island has been set aside as Acadia National Park. At just 46,000 acres, Acadia is one of the smallest national parks in America, but its also one of the most popular, luring roughly 3 million visitors a year. Acadias most famous attraction is the Park Loop Road. This 27-mile road runs along the islands dramatic eastern shore before cutting through the forest, passing two pristine lakes, then twisting and turning to the top of Cadillac Mountain.