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MAINE: A Guide to Hiking Acadia National Park originally appeared on Green Global Travel.

MAINE: Hiking Acadia National Park

(The following is a guest post by Rachel Campbell of Treepot Travels, a blog focused on adventure travel and nature/wildlife photography. You can follow her adventures on Facebook and Twitter. If you’re a blogger looking to guest post on GGT, email Bret Love at info@GreenGlobalTravel.com.)

With 59 different US National Parks to choose from, the idea of selecting just one for a family vacation or weekend hiking trip can be daunting at best. In order to help make for an easier decision, many travelers will start with a list what they’re looking for in a park, what knowledge they hope to gain, and what memories they hope to take back home.

If you’re looking for majestic mountains, scenic cliffs, towering pine trees, a vast blue ocean, rocky beaches, tranquil lakes, and a large network of winding trails that not only offer up an exciting day out, but picturesque vistas, then hiking Acadia National Park should top your list. Here you’ll find a vast wilderness waiting to be explored, peacefully tucked away on rugged  islands off the coast of Maine.

Located on Mount Desert Island and other small islands nearby, Acadia  provides a mix of natural history and adventure spread across 47,452 acres. Originally known as Lafayette National Park, Acadia (which was renamed in 1929) is the oldest National Park east of the Mississippi River. Somes Sound, an inlet within the park, is often referred to as the only fjord on the east coast of the US.

During our 2-day adventure hiking Acadia National Park in December, my husband and I were able to explore the majority of the park. We were also lucky enough to be the only people braving the cold (a daring 10 degrees Fahrenheit on average!).  This gave us a wonderful opportunity to experience the park’s pristine beauty at our leisure, with literally no other travelers in sight.

First we walked (albeit very slowly) along the large rounded boulders that make up the beach of Otter Cliff. These colorful rocks were originally deposited along the shoreline a millennium ago, when large glaciers once lined the eastern United States, and then shaped over the course of centuries by the pounding of the sea and each other. The striking contrast of the colorful red and orange stones against the granite cliffs and the dark green pines is something that simply cannot be captured through the lens of a camera.

After a few hours of discovering as many nooks and crannies along the beach as possible, we left the rocks in search of wildlife. But after walking a short ½-mile, we decided to turn around and head back to our truck, due to the setting sun and increasingly cold winds. We decided that we would hike back up to Otter Cliff the next day, for there was so much more to see.

The next morning the sky was a bright blue, and the ground was covered with a fresh layer of powdered snow. Once again, we were the only ones exploring the park, allowing us to run around and act like little kids hiking for the first time. Otter Cliff was ours for the taking!

This is when the true magic happened. Once we made our way into the forest, we were overwhelmed with the sweet pine scents. We continued to hike to the top, keeping our eyes open and cameras ready, hoping to spot winter wildlife willing to pose for a picture.

Unfortunately, wildlife viewing was slim picking due to the strong, chilling winds. So we weren’t able to grab any animal photos, but saw several different species of birds and a few curious-turned-angry squirrels. The squirrels were busy preparing the last of their winter food stashes, rushing against time as snow painted the ground. But during the warmer seasons, Acadia National Park visitors often encounter bears, deer, bats, rabbits, raccoons, otters, frogs, and sea mammals such as dolphins and whales.

If you’re less interested in wildlife than plant life, Acadia definitely will not disappoint. From ferns to pine trees, from wild flowers to fresh water plants, you’ll find it all here. The beaches are full of slippery moss that lines the rocks at the water’s edge, making for an adventurous (if slightly nerve-wracking) stroll.

If you visit during the late summer months, you’ll discover majestic mountains covered in blooming wild flowers, creating a canvas of colors to complement the blue skies. The wooded cliffs provide a year- round escape from the hustle and bustle, while the water lilies that line the park’s freshwater ponds create a colorful yet relaxing backdrop where you can enjoy an afternoon picnic by the water’s edge.

No matter when you visit, the park offers many activities to suit every adventurer’s needs. During the warmer months hiking, wildlife viewing, sailing, rock climbing, biking, swimming, fishing and more are available during the day. If you’re looking to spend the night in the great outdoors and gaze up at the dazzling stars, there are many campgrounds available. During winter months, activities include winter camping, hiking, dog sledding, skiing, and more.

If you’re an early bird, Cadillac Mountain is the best place to hike. Here, you’ll experience the rising sun before the rest of the country, making for a memory few others ever experience.

Our adventure hiking Acadia National Park was by far the highlight of our park visits to date. Not only did we get to experience nature at its finest, but we also learned more about what makes us happy as travelers. We felt like we were transported into another world– one worthy of a fairy tale. Acadia proves that, no matter what lifestyle you live, where you’re from, or who you travel with, nature can accommodate your adventurous spirit while providing a peaceful escape.

When intrepid travelers list what they’re looking for in national parks, some think of mountains and trees, while others dream of of oceans and wildlife. Acadia National Park combines all of those qualities in one beautifully wrapped package that’s just waiting to be opened, explored, and treasured. –text & photos by Rachel Campbell

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MAINE: A Guide to Hiking Acadia National Park originally appeared on Green Global Travel.

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