Acadia National Park - Bar Island

Trailhead

Starting from ME Route 3, drive to Bar Harbor. Parking may be found on West Street, which intersects Bridge Street. At low tide, the gravel bar is accessible from Bridge Street.

During the busy summer months, leave your car at the Hulls Cove Visitor Center and take the Island Explorer Bus to the Village Green in Bar Harbor, walk down Main Street, take a left on West Street and a right on Bridge Street.

Due to the tide change, it is not advised to park on the bar.

Description

For three hours during low tide, 1.5 hours before and after the exact low tide time, a gravel bar is exposed connecting the town of Bar Harbor and Bar Island. The bar provide opportunities for investigating small tidepools. Once on the island, the trail gradually ascends through the forest on an old road. At the next  junction, bearing right leads to an old home site with a view of Bar Harbor. Bearing left, the trail gradually ascends to the highest point and provides another view of Bar Harbor. Time your hike carefully for exploring the uninhabited island. Be aware that the timing of low tide changes by approximately 50 minutes each day, so you must find a tide chart and follow it carefully.

Other Information

Dogs are allowed on the trail on a six foot leash.

Cars are allowed to park on the bar, and even to drive all the way across it, but are not allowed to drive on the island.

On the bar, tidepooling might reveal snail eggs (look like grains of rice) and seastars. Pick them up and look at them, but put them back in place when you are finished. No collecting is allowed in the park!

Geocaching is prohibited within Acadia National Park; however, the park does sponser an EarthCache Program for those seeking a virtual treasure hunt!

Trail Manager

Visit Acadia National Park online for more information or contact