BEACHES IN & AROUND ACADIA NATIONAL PARK

SAND  BEACH;
Just under 300 years long, Sand Beach in Acadia National Park is by far one of the most popular beaches on Mount Desert Island, not to mention it is breathtakingly gorgeous.  Sand Beach is ocean water, which means it will not be warm like one would expect to find at a lake or pond, and the water is salty. 

Pros;
a large sand beach with lots of sun
Thunder Hole is not far away
Changing rooms
Flush toilets
Island explorer Free Buses service beach
Several nearby hiking trail heads, including Beehive, the bowl, Champlain South Ridge trail, Great Head,  and the Gorham Mountain Trail.

Cons;
Beach can get  over crowded
parking lots often full
Many will find the water cold

To access Sand Beach, drive along the One Way section of the Park Loop Road, just beyond the Fee Station on the left are the parking areas for the beach.
If your taking the free Island Explorer to the beach, you want to board the Sand Beach bus at the village green along Main Street in Bar Harbor.  A park pass is required, but since they can't hold up the buses to check everyone for a pass, it is on an honorary system - so at no time will you be asked to present a park pass.

Phone number to Park Headquarters;
207-288-3338



ECHO  LAKE  BEACH
Echo Lake Beach in Acadia National Park is smaller in size compared to Sand Beach, but has a few things going for it that Sand Beach doesn't have, like fresh water swimming in a warm body of water.  But like Sand Beach, this is a very popular swimming area with both locals and tourists and parking spaces can quickly fill.  To assure you get both a parking space as well as a prime spot on the fine sand beach, arrive early.  Children love this beach because they can wade out a ways  and the water doesn't get much deeper.  Nearby Beech Mountain towers over the lake and there is a fire tower on the mountain you can climb up.

Pros;
warm body of water
Restrooms
Changing rooms
fresh water swimming
serviced by free Island Explorer Buses

cons;
Parking spaces can fill quickly
smaller size beach can become crowded

To reach Echo Lake Beach in Acadia National Park, drive through Somesville headed towards Southwest Harbor along route 102.  The lake will come up on your right, just after passing the lake, look for signs directing you to Echo Lake Beach on the right.
To take the free Island Explorer buses, from the Bar harbor Village Green along Main Street in Bar Harbor, hop on the Southwest Harbor bus.

Phone number to Park Headquarters;
207-288-3338




LAKE  WOOD  POND  BEACH

On a nice warm summer day Lake Wood Pond Beach in Acadia National Park can be breathtaking with Young's Mountain rising up in the rear of the pond.  If you have never heard of Lake Wood Pond Beach it is for good reason - the National Park Service does not promote the pond at all nor does it make any upgrades to the area.  A number of blogs have labeled the water at Lake Wood Pond as the warmest body of water on the entire island to swim in, with the pond being sheltered on all four sides by forest. 
To reach the diving ledge, park at the first parking area you come to and follow a trail behind a sign, No Alcohol Allowed" sign which will lead well along the pond, when the path ends at the water, the diving ledge is along a well worn path to the right.
To reach the sand beach, park in the second parking lot you come to, past the metal gate follow the path to the beach. 
Perhaps one of the biggest advantages of Lake Wood Pond Beach is that the park does not promote it, so there are no crowds, and on average you will find between 20 to 40 people there with only half that number being at the beach itself.

Pros;
said to be warmest swimming hole on the island
location not well known
no crowds
has a nice diving area
fresh water swimming

Cons;
not serviced by free Island Explorer Buses
not well marked
day use area, must leave before dusk
some nude swimming takes place on far end of pond

There are several paths around the sides of the pond and locals seem to have their favorite spots they go to.  Most popular area of the pond is the diving area.  To reach Lake Wood Pond Beach, from Route 3 in Hull's Cove, turn onto the Crooked Road and drive about .7 miles to the blue street sign on the left that reads "Lake Wood Pond Road Pvt. - totally ignore the private part, the pond is park of Acadia National park and open to anyone with a park pass.  A narrow dirt road leads a short ways up through the woods to the two parking areas.

Phone number to Park Headquarters;
207-288-3338





HADLEY  POINT  BEACH
To locate Hadley Point Beach, from route 3 turn onto Bay View Drive and look for the Hadley Point Road and follow it to the beach.  The town of Bar Harbor owns the property and there is private property not far from the beach.  This is not a sand beach and many go there to escape the summer heat and have picnics and fish.  Just a reminder, in Maine it is illegal to do any salt water fishing without purchasing a salt water fishing license, for Mainers the cost is $1, not sure if the fee is higher for non-Mainers.  Some online sites claim you can tent at the breach or sleep in your car for free - that is false information as Bar Harbor Police regularly make the beach a part of their patrol during the summer months.  Hadley Point Campground is not too far away and the campground is serviced by the free Island Explorer Buses.  To reach the campground by bus, at the Bar Harbor Village Green along Main Street Bar Harbor, get on the Campground Bus.

Pros;
free beach - no park pass required
picnic tables & grills
good fishing location
usually a nice cool ocean breeze

Cons;
not serviced by free Island Explorer Buses
off the Main Road
not a sand beach
cold ocean water




SEAL  HARBOR  BEACH
Seal Harbor Beach is located in the village of Seal Harbor along route 3.  This beach features fine sand with ocean water for swimming.  On nice hot summer days the parking area can become full as this is a sought out beach with locals.  It is common for kids to find star fish there and to the far right hand corner of the beach in the water it is common to locate sand dollars.  What many tourists don't know is that if you stand and look outward towards the ocean, the top of the hill on your left is where Martha Stewards summer home, Skyland,  is located. On her Maine visits she is said to enjoy going into Seal Harbor to her favorite bakery there.

Pros;
might spot Martha Steward
very nice fine sand beach
cool ocean breeze on hot days
serviced by the free Island Explorer Buses
town beach - no park pass required
path leads to shops in town

Cons;
might spot Martha Steward
salt water swimming (cold)
limited parking area

To locate Seal Harbor Beach follow route 3 from Main Street Bar Harbor in direct of Otter Creek.  Route 3 passes through Main Street Seal Harbor before rounding the corner and not much further on the right is the parking area for Seal Harbor Beach, with the fine sand beach directly across the roadway. From inside Acadia National Park you can reach the beach  by way of taking the Stanley Brook Road not far from Jordon Pond. 
To reach Seal Harbor Beach by the free Island Explorer Buses, from the Bar Harbor Village green along Main Street, hop onto the Northeast Harbor bus, Seal Harbor Beach is a regular bus stop.





WONDERLAND BEACH
Wonderland beach is located along route 102A in Seawall, Maine, just down the road from the Seawall Campground in Acadia National Park.  The small parking area is marked by a large sign - WONDERLAND, and the beach is located at the far end of a old fire road.  It is a fairly easy walk but in a couple places, if pushing a stroller, you will need to carry the stroller across a couple rough areas.  To the far right of the beach is a tiny cove where lobster traps and buoys often wash ashore.  I have never seen anyone swim here but people do lay on towels or blankets in the sun.  The beach itself is made up of crushed shells and sand, and if you run the hands through your finfers you can often find pieces of smooth sea glass.  The main path continues past the beach to where nice pieces of smooth drift wood often washes up on shore.

Pros;
sand beach
cool ocean breeze on hot days
some nice areas to fish
serviced by free Island Explorer buses
(they stop by request only)

Cons;
no restrooms
no changing rooms
very limited parking

To reach Wonderland from Southwest Harbor, follow route 102 out of town in the direction of Manset, as your coming to a sharp curve in the road, look for route 102A to the left and follow it until you come to the sign for Wonderland on the left.  To reach Wonderland on the free Island Explorer buses, from Main Street in Bar Harbor, get onto the Southwest Harbor bus at the Village green, and tell the driver you want to get off at Wonderland.  To catch the bus back, simply wave it down as it approaches the Wonderland Parking area.

Phone number to Park Headquarters;
207-288-3338