Acadia National Park, Maine – If you love New England, a visit to Acadia National Park on Mount Desert Island in Maine is must. You can start the day by driving up to the summit of Cadillac Mountain to watch the sunrise over Frenchman Bay; its one of the first places in the United States to see the sunrise. After sunrise, you can explore the shoreline and network of carriage roads and trails in the park. It is a great place to explore!

This national park has an interesting past. It was first established as Sieur de Monts National Monument in July 1916 by President Woodrow Wilson. Then in February 1919, when it became a national park, the name was changed to Lafayette National Park. And then in January 1929, it was renamed Acadia National Park. Acadia was the first established national park east of the Mississippi River.

The park consists of around 48,000 acres on Mount Desert Island, Isle Au Haut, and on the Schoodic Peninsula. And the largest portion of the park is on Mount Desert Island. The miles of historic carriage roads, hiking trails, and shoreline will keep travelers busy for hours. The view of Otter Cliff from along the rocky shoreline is breathtaking!

You really can't go wrong visiting Acadia during any season. And while it is a very busy national park during the tourist season, spring is when the park is the quietest. However, this also means some sections of the park can still be closed because of lingering snow.

One location within the park that shouldn’t be overlooked is Thunder Hole (above). If you’re lucky, you will get to hear the incredible sound the waves make when they crash into this hole. When waves crash into this small cave (during stormy weather), it replicates the sound of thunder. It’s something that needs to be heard first hand to appreciate.

All of the above images can be licensed for publications by clicking on the image you are interested in. And you can view more photos of Acadia National Park Here.

Happy image making..

Connect with us on Facebook | Historic Information Disclaimer | Purchase Our EB&L Railroad Book

Erin Paul Donovan

Owner of ScenicNH Photography LLC

Erin Paul is a professional photographer, writer, and author who specializes in environmental conservation and historic preservation photography mainly in the New Hampshire White Mountains. His work is published worldwide, and publication credits include: Appalachian Mountain Club, Appalachian Trail Conservancy, Backpacker Magazine, and The Wilderness Society.