Acadia National Park

Acadia National Park

3 million visitors per year – 54 sqaure miles – the highest coastal mountains on the east coast.

The park is made of two islands and a peninsula: Mount Desert Island (which is accessible by a land bridge), Isle au Haut, and Schoodic Peninsula.

Artists and writers flocked to Mount Desert Island in the 1850s, attracted by its dramatic natural beauty and the rustic life it offered. Later, in the Gay 1990s, wealthy vacationers, inspired by the paintings, came and built “cottages” of a level of opulence that the country had not seen before. Many of the cottages were burned to the ground in the great fire of 1947, but the magnificent landscape that the painters celebrated remains – jagged, granite cliffs with forests of birch and pine that grow right up to the coastline.

The park's proximity to the ocean gives it a milder climate that that of the mainland, which helps it to sustain more than one of the best places on the Eastern Seaboard to take in fall foliage. The park is also known as The Warbler Capital of the United States. Over 375 species of birds, including around 30 varieties of warblers as well as the endangered peregrine falcon, inhabit the park.

Peak season tips: Expect nothing but bumper-to-bumper traffic on the Park Loop Road on the east side of Mound Desert Island on the summer. To avoid crowds, try the island's much less crowded but only slightly less spectacular western side. Also consider taking a ferry trip either to Baker Island or to Isle au Hault. June is the best month to see birds in the spruce, fir, and hardwood forests. August is the best month for sea birds.

Camping : The Blackwoods campground on the east side of Mount Desert Island is exceptionally well-landscaped with more than 300 campsites interspersed among groves of trees. It is open all year. Reservations via Mistix are advised.

Jordan Pond. Photo by Elena.

On the less-crowded west side is the 200-site Seawell campground, which is open only druing the summer. You have to hike in from a parking lot to reach it, but the serenity of nearby roads that are less traveled makes it well worth the extra effort. Sites there are available on a first-come, first-served basis only.

Particularly remote are Isle au Haut's five small lean-to shelters, which are perfect for escaping the cars and crowds without sacrificing convenience. The ferry there lands at a nearby hamlet where one can obtain provisions.

Best one-day trip : From the visitor center, take Park Loop Road to the 3.5-mile road that leads to Cadillac Mountain, where a short, paved trail winds around the 1,530-foot mountain, the highest coastal mountain in the nation. Back on Park Loop Road, turn around and continue down the East Coast. Stop at Sand Beach – it's a good place for a dip, and the 1,4-mile Grat Head Trail there offers a moderate hike around a rocky, forested peninsula. Continue on Park Loop Road to Route 3 and turn onto Route 198. Keep an eye open for Hadlock Pnd Carriage Road Trail where there is a 4-mile loop across three granite bridges. This trail goes past the highest waterfall in the park and is one of the best places to enjoy the spring blooms.

Best experience: Take the charming carriage ride through the park that is offered by the Wild Wood Stables near Jordan Pont. If carriages are too old-fashioned for you, this also is one of the few national parks where snowmobiles are allowed. The network of carriage roads provides excellent terrain.