Best in a Day Itinerary

By chy Posted on Nature

 Stop first at the Hulls Cove Visitor Center to see a short orientation video and obtain maps and brochures about the park. Make sure to pick up a map of the carriage roads, which should not be missed. If you'd like to start the day with a short, brisk walk, take the trail that begins at the far end of the visitor center parking lot to Witch Hole Pond. Or, begin your drive on the Park Loop Road. To truly appreciate the coast between Sand Beach and Otter Cliffs, leave your car at the beach parking lot and walk down Ocean Trail, a flat 1.8-mile trail that parallels the Park Road.

For a short but rigorous hike, try the trail that begins just across the road from Sand Beach and makes a 1-mile loop over the Beehive, a 520-foot outcropping of granite that offers a wonderful view of Sand Beach and the ocean. If you're afraid of heights and climbing, however, pick another hike; this one entails several steep climbs that require the use of iron rungs for foot- and handholds. Another beautiful short hike in this area is the 1.4-mile Great Head Trail loop, accessible from the eastern end of Sand Beach.

After spending the morning exploring this magnificent stretch of Acadia's coastline, continue to the Jordan Pond House, famous for its view of the Bubbles, two dramatically rounded peaks characteristic of Acadia's geology. Teatime here is a century-old tradition; stop in for some popovers with strawberry jam and homemade ice cream. Or opt instead to walk the nearby self-guided Jordan Pond Nature Trail or explore some carriage roads, many of which intersect near Jordan Pond. Wildwood Stables, down the road from the Jordan Pond House, has daily horse-drawn carriage rides in the summer.

Finish your day by driving up the Cadillac Mountain Road, 7 miles round-trip. On the summit are a large parking lot, a gift shop, and interpretive plaques explaining various aspects of Cadillac and its history. More important, you can savor the magnificent view of islands and sea beneath the setting sun.