Acadia National Park

Lighthouses and coastal sights in Acadia National Park

Lighthouses & Coastal Landmarks

Acadia’s rugged shoreline is defined by granite cliffs and historic maritime structures. This collection features the 1858 Bass Harbor Head Light, the park's most photographed lighthouse, alongside the offshore Baker Island and Bear Island Lights. Natural landmarks include Thunder Hole, where incoming tides create booming sounds in a narrow rock inlet, and Somes Sound, a deep glacial fjard. The Bar Harbor Town Pier serves as a central hub for boat tours exploring the Mount Desert Island coastline.

Lighthouses & Coastal Landmarks — Map

Famartin / CC BY-SA 4.0

A

Thunder Hole

A narrow granite inlet where incoming waves trap air in a small cavern, producing a thunderous boom and water plumes up to 40 feet high. The phenomenon is most active during incoming mid-tides or stormy weather.

WhisperToMe / CC0

B

Bass Harbor Head Light Station

Bass Harbor Head Light is a lighthouse located within Acadia National Park in the southwest portion of Mount Desert Island, Maine, marking…

Mourial / CC BY 3.0

C

Somes Sound

Somes Sound is a fjard,

National Park Service / Public domain

D

Bear Island Light

Bear Island Light is a lighthouse on Bear Island near Mt. Desert Island, at the entrance to Northeast Harbor, Maine.

E

Bar Harbor Town Pier

The primary waterfront hub for whale watching tours, nature cruises, and schooner excursions. It provides public access to Frenchman Bay and views of the Porcupine Islands from the downtown Bar Harbor waterfront.

F

Baker Island Light

Baker Island Light is a lighthouse on Baker Island, Maine, which is part of Acadia National Park.

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