Rocky coast of Schoodic Peninsula, Acadia National Park
If you want to get away from the crowds of Mount Desert Island and still have access to challenging hiking trails and rugged coastal scenery, consider visiting the Schoodic Peninsula unit of Acadia National Park, the only unit on the mainland. The southern half of the peninsula became part of the park in 1929, and many acres have been added since, including most of the northern territory and Big Moose Island, home of a Navy radio station until 2001. Activities at Schoodic include hiking on seven trails, biking the Schoodic Loop Road and designated bike paths, camping at the Schoodic Woods Campground, and picnicking at Frazer Point. See the following web pages for more information on the peninsula’s popular attractions and activities:
Schoodic Peninsula Hiking Trails
As the crow flies, the Schoodic Peninsula is only five miles east of Mount Desert Island, but using Bar Harbor as a starting point, it is approximately 45 miles by vehicle, a one hour drive. Because of this, the crowds are only a fraction of what you will find on Mount Desert Island. For example, in August, the busiest month at Acadia National Park, Mount Desert Island might have roughly 625,000 visitors while the Schoodic Peninsula unit only has 68,000.
A fee is required to enter Acadia National Park, including the Schoodic Peninsula unit, year-round. If you didn’t already purchase an entrance pass somewhere on Mount Desert Island, you can do so at the Schoodic Woods Campground office or online in advance at at Recreation.gov. Passes are good for seven days, but you can also purchase an Acadia Annual Pass or an Annual National Park Pass, plus various other passes (senior, military, etc.), all of which are sold at the campground office.
Other than a dirt road that leads to hiking trails at the south end of the peninsula, the Schoodic Loop Road is the only road through the park. It makes an 11-mile loop starting at the turnoff from Highway 186 just east of Winter Harbor and ends back at 186 near Birch Harbor. The road is one-way from Frazer Point on the west coast to the park’s border at Wonsqueak Harbor on the east coast. Though one-way, there are two lanes, one of which I assume is for passing. Unlike the Mount Desert Island Park Loop Road, no parking is allowed along the road. (RVs are only allowed until the turnoff for Schoodic Woods Campground.)
Schoodic Loop Road follows closely to the coast, and there are scenic overlooks and parking areas at all points of interest. However, I suggest stopping at only three places: Frazer Point, Schoodic Point (which is accessed via a side road), and Blueberry Hill. While other pullouts offer views of the rocky coast, at these three places you can actually get out of your car and walk along the coast.
During the summer, if you are camping at Schoodic Woods Campground, staying at a hotel in Winter Harbor, Birch Harbor, or Prospect Harbor, or took the ferry from Bar Harbor to Winter Harbor, an alternate way to get around the park without bothering with your car is to take the free Island Explorer Shuttle Bus (it’s the only option for ferry passengers). The bus operates from late June through Columbus Day and stops at all of the above mentioned locations and the ferry dock at Winter Harbor (it does not run between Mount Desert Island and the peninsula). Day trippers with their own vehicles are certainly welcome to take the bus as well (park at the campground), but in truth, Schoodic Loop Road isn’t nearly as congested as the roads on Mount Desert Island, so driving your own car makes the most sense.
The park also encompasses Little Moose Island, Schoodic Island, Rolling Island, and Pond Island. During low tide you can actually walk to Little Moose Island, but be careful of the rocks covered with seaweed because they are as slippery as ice. You’ll need a boat to reach Schoodic and Rolling islands, and they are both closed from mid-February through August for bird nesting season. As far as reaching Pond Island, I’m not sure if this is connected to the mainland during low tide, but it’s certainly close enough. However, there is nothing on it other than a clump of trees.
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Last updated on August 30, 2023
