A First Trip to Acadia

Acadia National Park is now one of my favorite national parks! Even though it's not a massive park by land area, there are lots of places to explore. In my first trip there last week, we had to fit a lot into 2 days (with 2 days of driving! which was probably a mistake).

7 people
60° weather
$500/person
4 days
3 nights
2 cars
1 trip

This trip was also during the beginning of the current government shutdown, but most trails were open and we were careful and respectful of the park rules. (Don't do this or that!) The only "trail" that was closed for our itinerary was the Cadillac Summit drive.

Acadia Mountain

Acadia Mountain was the closest hike to our AirBnb, and was hopefully a moderate level hike to see if everyone in the group would be up for some of the more difficult ones.

Image with caption 'This was the first mountain-top view on this trip. It set a pretty good baseline. Our goal for the trip was to see some fall foliage, which you can see a little bit of in small patches (there are a lot of pine trees and other evergreens in Acadia).' — This was the first mountain-top view on this trip. It set a pretty good baseline. Our goal for the trip was to see some fall foliage, which you can see a little bit of in small patches (there are a lot of pine trees and other evergreens in Acadia).

Image with caption 'Selfie from a bald spot.' — Selfie from a bald spot.

Image with caption 'After you go up and down Acadia Mountain, there's a small overlook where you get this waterside view. While no tropical archipelago, the water is surprisingly clear! Maine (and also Massachusetts) had some impressive water.' — After you go up and down Acadia Mountain, there's a small overlook where you get this waterside view. While no tropical archipelago, the water is surprisingly clear! Maine (and also Massachusetts) had some impressive water.

Jordan Pond Hike (and South Bubble)

Our next stop (after a quick sandwich lunch at the AirBnb) was Jordan Pond for a more relaxed pond hike (with an optional South Bubble detour). In typical Gen Z fashion, we took lots of pictures for the 'gram along the pond-side trail.

Image with caption 'A beautiful little lake/large pond with some rolling hills in the distance. One side of the pond is a traditional trail running alongside rocks; the other side is mostly boardwalk due to some revegetation work ongoing.' — A beautiful little lake/large pond with some rolling hills in the distance. One side of the pond is a traditional trail running alongside rocks; the other side is mostly boardwalk due to some revegetation work ongoing.

Image with caption 'Some really nice reeds along the shore. I loved the coloring on these reeds: red under the water that fades to a bright green above water.' — Some really nice reeds along the shore. I loved the coloring on these reeds: red under the water that fades to a bright green above water.

We split up for the first time, with some of us with more interest and safer shoe choices deciding to head up South Bubbles.

Image with caption 'Right when you reach the summit of South Bubble, there's a little rock sitting by itself to the side. We decided to take some pictures (mostly in jest) when a fellow hiker said that the real bubble rock is further on and much bigger. But the bubble's smaller son should also get a callout.' — Right when you reach the summit of South Bubble, there's a little rock sitting by itself to the side. We decided to take some pictures (mostly in jest) when a fellow hiker said that the real bubble rock is further on and much bigger. But the bubble's smaller son should also get a callout.

Image with caption 'The real bubble. A great fight between the powers of good and evil took place here (I'll let you decide who is which side). Before I left, I gave the bubble a quick shove up the slope so it probably won't fall for another couple hundred years.' — The real bubble. A great fight between the powers of good and evil took place here (I'll let you decide who is which side). Before I left, I gave the bubble a quick shove up the slope so it probably won't fall for another couple hundred years.

Originally we scheduled a sunset hike up to Cadillac Mountain after this hike, but as a group we decided to head back early as the timing wasn't great to get up and back down again.

Hot Pot

Hot pot! While it wasn't too cold (definitely better than the Grand Canyon, more on that later), it was a delicious, fun, and heartwarming meal that we prepared together. (Mostly by others, I primarily set the table.)

Kayaking at Long Pond

With a late start to the day, we went out kayaking at Long Pond during the middle of the day. The rates were actually pretty cheap at National Park Canoe & Kayak Rental. It was the first time that I had experienced renting kayaks on the honor system: we arrived, filled out our own liability forms, grabbed supplies, went out on the water, and then came back and paid.

Image with caption 'Resting in the reeds.' — Resting in the reeds.

Long Pond is true to its name. It's pretty long.

Walking across the Bar Island Land Bridge

There was no time for this.

I guess I now have a history of not making it in time to walk across land bridges to small offshore islands. The last time was in Jersey, where I wasn't there in time to walk across the low-tide causeway to Elizabeth Castle. (To be fair, I was still recovering from being seasick for the entire 8-hour ferry ride there.)

Anemone Cave

One of the wishlist items from a friend for this trip was to see the Anemone Cave, which was the Windows 10 default background.

Image with caption 'Somewhere down there is the cave.' — Somewhere down there is the cave.

Image with caption 'The hike here is quite easy actually, both short and paved except for the last stretch. The tricky part is carefully (both for personal safety and to protect the wildlife) working down the slightly wet rocks to get the right view from inside the cave.' — The hike here is quite easy actually, both short and paved except for the last stretch. The tricky part is carefully (both for personal safety and to protect the wildlife) working down the slightly wet rocks to get the right view from inside the cave.

Image with caption 'The light makes for some terrible pictures of people.' — The light makes for some terrible pictures of people.

One of the other wishlist items (from the same friend) was actually tidepooling, so the area was hitting two birds with one stone.

Beehive Trail

This was the highlight of my trip, in terms of hiking. A small group of us summited while a few went to a nearby beach to relax.

Image with caption 'Climbing up the metal rungs of the Beehive Loop.' — Climbing up the metal rungs of the Beehive Loop.

Image with caption 'Using the last vestiges of daylight, we had great views down towards the water. That beach is where we'd later all reconvene. The fall foliage on this face of this mountain is the brightest that we saw this entire trip (although the photo doesn't do the colors justice).' — Using the last vestiges of daylight, we had great views down towards the water. That beach is where we'd later all reconvene. The fall foliage on this face of this mountain is the brightest that we saw this entire trip (although the photo doesn't do the colors justice).

Image with caption 'A soft sunset in the distance, from the top of the Beehive Trail. We made it to the top just as the sun was setting (don't worry, we brought flashlights).' — A soft sunset in the distance, from the top of the Beehive Trail. We made it to the top just as the sun was setting (don't worry, we brought flashlights).

Next time, the Precipice Trail!

After the hike, everyone reconvened at the beach after sunset for some moody pictures, which for privacy reasons I'll leave out of here.

Image with caption 'The moonlit beach at night. Taken with Google Pixel Night Sight.' — The moonlit beach at night. Taken with Google Pixel Night Sight.

Image with caption 'What the moonlit beach actually looked like. Taken with a long exposure.' — What the moonlit beach actually looked like. Taken with a long exposure.

Overall, this trip was some parts relaxing, some parts cathartic, and some parts tense. As Lo and Li said, remote places have a tendency to smooth people over like waves do to a stone on the beach.