Thunder Hole in Acadia National Park

One of the most popular attractions at Acadia National Park is Thunder Hole. It is accessed from the Park Loop Road and has its own parking lot that holds around 50 vehicles, though it is often full and visitors must park along the road. If you hike the Ocean Path, a trail that runs from Sand Beach to Otter Point, you will also pass Thunder Hole.

Thunder Hole is a narrow channel in the rocks. When a wave rushes into the chute it has no way to escape, so it slams into the back wall and erupts like a geyser and causes a noise that sounds like thunder. There is a viewing platform that runs its length, and when a big wave explodes it’s like having a water tower emptied onto your head. In 2012, five people got swept out to sea after a 20-foot wave hit, and they were nearly at the road, having left the viewing platform due to the obvious danger. One of them, a 7-year-old girl, drowned.

Visitors must descend two staircases to reach the viewing platform. However, those who are unable to do this can still see Thunder Hole from the road, though the effect of getting drenched will be missing.

Stairs down to Acadia National Park’s popular Thunder Hole

The best time to visit Thunder Hole is a few hours before high tide during rough seas, and the peak display of force is often in the winter. At low tide or when the ocean is calm, there won’t be much action. I visited twice, and I don’t know if it was the calm sea or if I came at low tide, but there wasn’t much going on other than some minor gurgling.

Information panel that shows Thunder Hole in action

For the best photographs, walk to the end of the observation deck and take photos looking back into the chute. Thunder Hole faces due east, so you’ll want to take photos before noon when the sun is still shining into the chute. In the afternoon and evening, the sun is behind the parking lot and Thunder Hole will be drab and colorless. The photos on this page were all taken at 11:30 AM. My photos from a 6 PM visit looked like I arrived on a rainy day.

Morning light shines into Thunder Hole at Acadia National Park

To the left of Thunder Hole are some rocks you can climb onto. When I visited, there was more wave action there than at Thunder Hole.

Rocks to the left of Acadia National Park’s Thunder Hole

Waves on the rocks near Thunder Hole in Acadia National Park

As mentioned, Thunder Hole is a popular stop on the Park Loop Road. Walking down the stairs to the observation platform can be like trying to exit a stadium after a sold out game. In fact, if you see tour buses parked along the road next to it, don’t even bother stopping.

Crowds when three tour buses had stopped at Acadia National Park’s Thunder Hole

There is a gift store located in the parking lot. You can also purchase snacks and drinks, but at convenience store prices…or worse. For the cost of one granola bar I could buy an entire box of them at the grocery store.

Back to the Top