After a short and restless night in Sunrise Motel We set off around 7:30 am without breakfast. Our first stop was therefore a gas station to buy apple strudel and coffee. Afterwards, we drove to Acadia National Park.
Acadia National Park – Cadillac Mountain
Our first day's stage was the ascent to Cadillac Mountain. At 466 meters, it's not particularly high, but descending to sea level meant we still had to climb a considerable amount of elevation. Unfortunately, we drove into a solid blanket of clouds about 50 meters below the summit. It was a good thing we weren't up there for sunrise as originally planned. The early climb wouldn't have been worth it. Since it was very windy and cold, we only hiked the short loop trail. From several points, we had fantastic views of the many bays and islands. The landscape here in Acadia reminds us of the fjords in Norway.
Acadia National Park – Thunderhole
On our descent, we stopped at a few more viewpoints before rejoining the Park Loop. Before starting our hike, we stopped again at Thunderhole. Today, however, the tide was even lower than yesterday, so we couldn't hear the thunder that gives it its name.
Acadia National Park – Gorham Mountain Trail
We then stopped at the parking lot for the Gorham Mountain Trail. The 4.3 km long hiking trail leads along the mountain of the same name. Don't expect a flat, level path here; it's a climb over small and large stones to the summit. There are also some very large steps, which are laid out with smaller stones to form a kind of staircase.
Once you reach the top, the hike is definitely worth it. The view is fantastic! We were also lucky with the weather, as it cleared up for a while and the sun accompanied us the entire hike. On the way down, we didn't take the designated loop to Sand Beach, but instead went back to the parking lot. We took the Cadillac Cliff Trail, which is a small loop on the actual Gorham Mountain Trail. A good thing we did! This trail is truly adventurous. So our tip is: go downhill, not uphill.
Acadia National Park – Jordan Pond
After that, we drove to Jordan Pond. This beautiful lake is definitely worth a stop. There's a great hiking trail (5.1 km) around it. It took us about 1 hour and 15 minutes at a relatively brisk pace, so plan for a little extra time. The trail is flat and, really cool, a large section is made of boardwalks to keep the forest floor undisturbed by hikers' feet.
Acadia National Park – Bass Harbor Lighthouse
Afterwards, we drove to Bass Harbour lighthouse. What a beautiful lighthouse! You should definitely take the left-hand path towards the Atlantic. A few steps down to the rocks and you'll find an incredibly great photo opportunity. Of course, don't miss the right-hand path to the lighthouse itself – that's a must.
Our hotel for this night is the Quality Inn & Suites Evergreen Hotel Lodging In Augusta. Beautiful, clean hotel with large rooms.
Are you still looking for a suitable hotel in Acadia National Park?
You can find a hotel to suit your budget via various online travel agencies such as Agoda, Booking.com, ebookers.com, Expedia, Hotels.com, lastminute.com, otel.com or Venere.com.
