Acadia National Park

The Acadia National Park is the smallest national park in the United States. Located on the rugged coast of the Down East region of Maine, near the town of Bar Harbor, the park consists of 123 km² on Mount Desert Island, 11 km² on Au Haut Isle and 9.2 km² on the Schoodic Peninsula.

                The park is composed by small islands like the Mount Desert Island, the Au Haut Isle, and parts of Baker Island. Traditionally occupied by Wabanaki Native American hunters, fishers, and gatherers; the region includes mountains, woodlands, lakes, islands and ocean, that has become the crown jewel of Maine.

 Also the park consist in more than 120 miles of marked trails,18 stone bridges, and 17 mountains to climb. The Carriage Road consists of over 50 miles of broken stone roads built by John Rockefeller, Jr. which he later donated it to the park. The Park Loop Road is 27 miles of length. The way drives easily to the Beach of Sand, Cadillac the Mountain, Rocks of Otter or any of 20 lakes that find there.

                In the park is possible to find a great variety of fauna and flora. Mammal species include deer, squirrels, foxes, rabbits, porcupines and bats. Other species include garter snakes, the American bullfrog, and the North American red-bellied salamander. 

                Also Acadia is a great place to bird watch, with many species calling the park home. More than 273 bird species have been identified in the park, including bald eagles, peregrine falcons, finches, chickadees (the Maine state bird), great blue herons, cranes, ducks, geese, woodpeckers, owls, orioles and blue jays can be seen in the park, just to name a few of the most common. While ocean fishing is open to all, fishing in freshwater lakes requires a Maine state fishing license. 

 The geography of Acadia National Park ranges from meadows, and marshes to dense evergreen forests. The National Park Service (NPS) protects this unique resource and provides a variety of visitor services.

More About Acadia National Park :

 Worried by the destruction of this natural paradise, a group of summer’s residents, led by the president of Harvard's University, Carlos W. Eliot created a society in 1901 to protect the island of the uncontrolled development.

                The first notable acquisition was known like "The Beehive", in 1908, followed soon by the summit of 1,530 feet "The Cadillac Mountain". This way newly the park was created by the President Woodrow Wilson, as Sieur de Monts the National Monument on July 8, 1916, and was administered by the National Park Service. On February 26, 1919, it became a national park, with the name Lafayette National Park in honor to Marquis de Lafayette, an influential French supporter of the American Revolution.

 The park's name was changed to Acadia National Park on January 19, 1929. From 1915 to 1933, the wealthy philanthropist John D. Rockefeller, Jr. financed, designed, and directed the construction of an extensive network of carriage trails throughout the park.

 The park's last major acquisition came in 1943, with the donation of 3,000 acres on unspoiled Au Haut Isle, an island that is about 15 miles southwest of Mount Desert Island, in Penobscot Bay.

 In 1947, a great fire broke out on Mount Desert Island, consuming some 17,000 acres and burning for 10 days before it was under control. The fire burned for days and was fought by the Coast Guard, Army, Navy, local residents, and National Park Service Employees from around the country. Restoration of the park was supported, substantially, by the Rockefeller family, particularly John D. Rockefeller, Jr.

 Sprouts was mostly allowed to occur naturally, and the fire heightens the beauty of the park, adding diversity to populations of trees and it gave a depth to its landscape.

                Today the park offers scientific, educational, and recreational activities unparalleled along the east coast. Hike to the top of Cadillac Mountain to enjoy a spectacular sunrise over Frenchman’s Bay or explore some of the quieter, and secluded mountain paths.

 The park is the second most visited National Park in the United States; Acadia National Park is open year round. The best time to visit the visitor's center is between May and early October.