Acadia National Park! 🏞️🤩

Let's explore Acadia National Park from Friday, October 9th to Monday, October 12th! 🏞️🤩

Welcome to bring or rent your own car or to meet us there!

Can join for any part!

A group of us will be renting cars at Hertz. Details below. We have room for four more people in the car (please reply if interested in joining our carpool with shared costs in the question you'll see after trying to RSVP).

Please try to find your own accomodations as soon as possible as they will likely either sell out or become expensive quickly.

On Friday, October 9th at 8:15am:
Pick up cars at Hertz at LaGuardia Terminal A

On Monday, October 12th evening:
Drop off cars at LaGuardia Terminal A

Our general Acadia itinerary (we may not do everything here or at the exact times listed so please check your messages!)

Friday, October 9 – Monday, October 12, 2026

⭐ = can't-miss highlight

BEFORE WE GO

Cadillac sunrise reservation ($6/vehicle) releases Thursday, Oct 8 at 10:00 AM ET on Recreation.gov — book early, these sell out in minutes. Also grab the $35 7-day park pass in the same checkout.

Beehive + Precipice folks: bring your own vehicle so you can run on your own schedule (details below).

DEER ISLE & ACADIA — TRIP ITINERARY
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Friday, October 9 – Monday, October 12, 2026
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⭐ = can't-miss highlight
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BEFORE WE GO
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Cadillac sunrise reservation ($6/vehicle) releases Thursday, Oct 8 at 10:00 AM ET on Recreation.gov — book early, these sell out in minutes. Also grab the $35 7-day park pass in the same checkout.
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Beehive + Precipice folks: bring your own vehicle so you can run on your own schedule (details below).
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DAY 1 — FRIDAY, OCTOBER 9: ARRIVAL
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7:00–9:00 PM — Arrive Deer Isle, settle in
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~7:30–9:00 PM — Dinner in Stonington at ⭐ **Stonecutters Kitchen** (seafood, $$, reservation recommended). Or **El El Frijoles** (Mexican/BBQ) / **Harbor Cafe**.
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DAY 2 — SATURDAY, OCTOBER 10: EAST SIDE & BAR HARBOR
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Main Group
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4:45 AM — Depart Deer Isle (~75 min drive)
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~6:00–7:15 AM — Sunrise atop ⭐ **Cadillac Mountain**
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~7:35–7:50 AM — **Sieur de Monts / Wild Gardens of Acadia**
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~8:00–8:10 AM — **Schooner Head Overlook**
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~8:15–10:15 AM — ⭐ **Sand Beach → Ocean Path → Thunder Hole → Otter Cliffs → Otter Point**
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~10:45 AM–12:45 PM — ⭐ **Jordan Pond Path** + **Bubble Rock** (via Bubbles Divide Trail)
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~1:00–2:00 PM — Lunch at ⭐ **Side Street Cafe**. Or **Rosalie's Pizza** / **Thrive Juice Bar & Kitchen**. Quick stop at **Sherman's Books & Stationery**.
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~2:05 PM — Bikes from **Acadia Bike**
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~2:20–4:20 PM — Bike the **Carriage Roads** (Witch Hole Pond Loop)
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Flexible (low tide) — ⭐ **Bar Island land bridge**
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~6:00–7:30 PM — Dinner at ⭐ **West Street Cafe**. Or **Testa's Bar & Grill** / **Geddy's**.
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~8:30–9:00 PM — Back in Deer Isle via ⭐ **Momo's Cheesecakes** (Ellsworth, open 24/7)
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Advanced Option — Beehive + Precipice (own vehicle, both trails, not either/or)
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5:00 AM — Depart Deer Isle straight for Precipice (skips Cadillac sunrise for better parking & real daylight before climbing)
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~6:10–6:45 AM — Arrive early, wait for full daylight
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~6:50–9:20 AM — ⭐ **Precipice Trail** (iron rungs, ~1,000 ft gain)
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~9:30–11:15 AM — ⭐ **Beehive Trail** (iron rungs, shorter but still serious)
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~11:30 AM–12:00 PM — Buffer time in Bar Harbor
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1:00–2:00 PM — Rejoin main group for lunch
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Not for kids, fear of heights, or wet rock — skip if it's rained recently.
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DAY 3 — SUNDAY, OCTOBER 11: THE QUIET SIDE
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9:00 AM — Depart Deer Isle (~70–75 min drive)
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~10:15–11:45 AM — ⭐ **Beech Mountain Loop**
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~12:00–1:00 PM — **Ship Harbor** + **Wonderland Trails**
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~1:10–2:00 PM — Lunch at ⭐ **Charlotte's Legendary Lobster Pound** (goats and chickens on-site!). Or **Thurston's Lobster Pound** / **Eat-A-Pita & Cafe 2**.
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~2:15–3:15 PM — ⭐ **Seal Cove Auto Museum**
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~3:30–5:00 PM — Free time in Southwest Harbor
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~5:30–6:15 PM — ⭐ **Bass Harbor Head Light**
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~6:30–8:00 PM — Dinner heading back
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~9:00–9:30 PM — Back in Deer Isle
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DAY 4 — MONDAY, OCTOBER 12: DEPARTURE
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7:30–8:15 AM — Coffee at ⭐ **44 North Coffee**
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~8:30–9:45 AM — Optional: **Barred Island Preserve** (tide-permitting)
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By 10:00 AM — Depart Deer Isle
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🎥 SEE IT BEFORE YOU COME — TOP 5, ON YOUTUBE
(direct search links, not one single video — lets you browse and pick what looks best)
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1. Cadillac Mountain Sunrise: https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=Cadillac+Mountain+sunrise+Acadia
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2. Sand Beach / Thunder Hole / Ocean Path: https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=Thunder+Hole+Ocean+Path+Acadia
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3. Jordan Pond & Bubble Rock: https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=Jordan+Pond+Bubble+Rock+Acadia
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4. Bass Harbor Head Light: https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=Bass+Harbor+Head+Light+Maine
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5. Beehive Trail: https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=Beehive+Trail+Acadia

Of course, please reach out if you have any questions!

The not so fun rule on RSVPs
Please only RSVP if you think you can make it and adjust your RSVP asap if anything changes (as there are other people who would like your spot). Two no shows or cancellations within 6 hours results in a 4 month ban. I will send a reminder 24 hours in advance
to the group

Thanks and can't wait to see you!