Finding the Quieter Side of Acadia National Park in The Schoodic Peninsula!

While most tour guides to Acadia National Park are filled with talks to hikes to the Bubbles, which way to hike the Beehive, when to visit Jordan Pond, how many popovers to eat (not an option) and how to see the sunrise on Cadillac Mountain, there’s actually another part of Acadia National Park (and a nearby Preserve) that most people never venture to. Side note, I also did all of the things mentioned above - which you have plenty of time to do if you visit for 5 days or more.

The Schoodic Peninsula

This part of Acadia National Park is the least visited section of the park. It’s easy to see why - there’s not a lot of epic hikes to go on, it’s on the mainland of Maine and it’s not super developed. At the same time, if you are just OVER all the people, cars and hiking back-ups on the more visited portions of Acadia, taking the hour drive to the Schoodic Peninsula can be a nice reprieve.

The area is a 6-mile one-way loop where you can view lighthouses, seabirds and forested islands. We spent a good half hour at Schoodic Point, watching the waves and hanging out. Afterward, we stopped at the Schoodic Institute and Rockefeller Hall to learn more about the area. If you are making your way back to Bar Harbor for the evening, we highly suggest stopping at Sweet Pea’s Cafe. They are only open seasonally, but they have a delicious farm-to-table menu, including pizzas and salads. 

Indian Pointe Blagden Preserve

While not within the boundary of Acadia National Park, this peninsula on the western side of Bar Harbor was a surprise treat. You walk through 2-miles forested with red spruce, white cedar, and balsam fir and end up in an apple orchard and finally to the Western Bay. If you are lucky, you can see Harbor Seals off the shore. Again, we spent a good half hour here, watching the water and seals. When you get to the preserve, you won’t find a lot of cars or people, just FYI.

Western Side of Acadia National Park.

While this portion of Acadia can be crowded, we noticed it was not nearly as crowded as the Eastern part of Acadia. There are actually some great hikes here, including the Beech Cliff Trail and the Beech Mountain Fire Tower. If you start your hike at the Beech Cliff Trail, you can also hang out for a bit at Echo Lake. This trail isn’t for the faint of heart, though - just like the Beehive hike, it includes ladders throughout. The views from the top are incredible and even better at the Fire Tower (note, you are not allowed to go up it).

If you are on this side of the island, you can combine both the Indian Pointe Preserve and the hikes on the Western Side together, possibly stopping at Thurston’s Lobster Pound for a Lobster Dinner in between.

Acadia National Park is on the most visited US National Parks, but it doesn’t mean you have to navigate with the crowds everywhere you go when spending time in this gorgeous park in Maine!
Always remember to Leave No Trace, Pack your 10 Essentials, and if you want to learn more about ways to enjoy US National Parks more responsibly check out this article!

Because Adventure Feeds the Soul,
Amy K