Acadia Locations
From ocean cliffs to lakes to mountaintops to carriage roads to mossy paths to stone bridges to birch-lined paths to sandy beaches, Acadia is full of beautiful places.
Which location is best for you? That depends on a few factors!
1) Accessibility - Can everyone in the group walk over rocks and roots, or is flat footing important? Is a spot close to parking best, or would a walk through the woods be doable?
2) Timing - Do you have to work around nap times, mealtimes, or cranky times of day? Are you up for an early session (close to sunrise) or is later morning/evening more realistic?
3) Group Size - Some locations have large spaces for big groups, and others work best with a smaller crew due to narrower paths.
4) Location - Nothing on the island will be more than a 45ish minute drive from anything else, but if proximity to a specific spot is important to you, we can guide you to the places closest to where you want to be!
5) The feel! - Each location has its own unique personality, so it’s helpful to consider what kind of “look” you’re going for in your photos.
Bass Harbor
Great for: morning light, classic coastline, lighthouse views
Group size: small groups
Best time: early morning (as close to sunrise as possible!)
Session type: mini or full sessions
Kid-friendliness: not the best - steep drops
Mobility considerations: steep drops, lots of stairs, uneven footing on rocks
Seawall
Great for: the quiet side of the island, playing with rocks, ocean horizons
Group size: small or big groups
Best time: early morning (as close to sunrise as possible!)
Session type: mini or full sessions
Kid-friendliness: moderate to okay! it’s easy to stay away from the rock edges
Mobility considerations: some slippery footing and walking over rocks
Ocean Path
Great for: ocean cliff vistas, classic “Acadia” views, can combine with Sand Beach (full session only)
Group size: any!
Best time: early morning close to sunrise, late afternoon
Session type: mini or full sessions
Kid-friendliness: steep drops from cliffs - not great for running toddlers
Mobility considerations: some uneven footing on rocks, but we can stick to flat/wider areas
Other notes: very crowded after 9am in peak season. poison ivy in the vicinity.
Jordan Pond
Great for: variety - lake, mountain, carriage road, woods, bridges, boardwalks
Group size: small or big
Best time: early morning or afternoon
Session type: mini or full sessions
Kid-friendliness: very!
Mobility considerations: easy walking
Other Notes: parking is extremely competitive (sometimes impossible!) after 9am-ish during peak season
Hunters Beach
Great for: variety (ocean, woods, bridge), fewer crowds
Group size: small to medium
Best time: early to mid morning
Session type: full sessions only
Kid-friendliness: path to the beach and beach itself have uneven footing, but there are lots of fun rocks/roots etc to explore
Mobility considerations: 1/4 mile path to the ocean is uneven (roots and rocks), and the beach is boulders
Other notes: not available for mini sessions because of the walking time to the beach
Sand Beach
Great for: mountain & ocean views, can combine with ocean path (full session only)
Group size: big or small
Best time: early morning (as close to sunrise as possible!)
Session type: mini or full sessions
Kid-friendliness: very
Mobility considerations: long staircase to get to beach but then sandy footing
Other notes: crowded and difficult to park after 9am in peak season
Sieur de Monts
Great for: woods, birches, Acadia history
Group size: small to medium
Best time: morning or afternoon
Session type: mini or full sessions
Kid-friendliness: very
Mobility considerations: easy walking from parking lot
Other notes: can be buggy
Eagle Lake
Great for: lake and mountain views, carriage roads, 3 miles from Bar Harbor
Group size: any!
Best time: afternoon/evening
Session type: mini or full sessions
Kid-friendliness: very
Mobility considerations: easy walking and close to parking lot
Other notes: parking is competitive in peak season, need to be conscious of bikers on the carriage roads
Shore Path
Great for: ocean and Bar Harbor views, in Bar Harbor downtown
Group size: small to medium
Best time: early morning or afternoon/early evening
Session type: mini or full sessions
Kid-friendliness: some drops from edge
Mobility considerations: easy walking from parking
Other notes: much of the path is under construction after the january 2024 storms, but the area closest to town and the pier has reopened. downtown parking is competitive in peak season.
Compass Harbor
Great for: close to downtown Bar Harbor
Group size: small to medium
Best time: early morning or afternoon/early evening
Session type: full sessions only
Kid-friendliness: flat walking to beach. some rocks on beach to climb, but they can be avoided
Mobility considerations: the path to the beach is about 1/2 a mile and flat. the beach itself is mostly rocky and requires walking down some rocks.
Ship Harbor and Wonderland
Great for: the quiet side of the island, combination of woods and ocean
Group size: small to medium
Best time: early morning or evening
Session type: full sessions only
Kid-friendliness: some roots, rocks, and boardwalks along the trail. the large rocks to the ocean can be avoided with little walkers.
Mobility considerations: no elevation gain, but the trails are uneven in places
Other notes: parking can be limited in peak season, so we avoid late morning through the middle of the day
