If you’re visiting Acadia National Park during the summer or early fall, there are two things you can count on: endless beauty and endless crowds.
Lucky for you, there are still some landmarks within the park where you can get the endless beauty without the crowds.
There are hidden overlooks, hidden sandy and stone beaches, and even a hidden sea cave.
We’ll highlight all six of them in this guide to the Acadia National Park’s six hidden gems.
#1 – Little Hunters Beach
One of the best hidden gems in Acadia National Park is Little Hunters Beach, which is slightly hidden off of Park Loop Road so that only those who stumble upon it or know about it in advance tend to visit.
This beach is a cobblestone beach made up of Acadia’s famous cobbles, small pebbles, and a handful of large boulders.
These round, smooth rocks offer an ever-changing mosaic of colors and textures on the beach.
And the sound of the many stones and rocks being whisked around by the tide makes for an incredibly soothing sound.
The beach is surrounded by bluffs on either side, which add to its awesome scenery. And the ocean view is amazing.
At low tide, you can explore the rocky bluff areas on either side and the tide pools that are left behind here as the water recedes.
There are stairs leading down to the beach and a sign on the main road that highlights it, but both are pretty well-hidden so you’ll need to be on the lookout.
You can find directions and a more thorough overview in this guide to Little Hunters Beach in Acadia.
#2 – Seal Harbor Beach
If you want to do some swimming at one of the least-crowded sandy beaches in the Acadia National Park area, you’ll definitely want to check out Seal Harbor Beach.
It’s a much less-crowded alternative to the ever-popular Sand Beach in the heart of Acadia.
And it offers awesome views of a number of small islands that sit just offshore, along with boats that are often docked out in the harbor.
Not only does it offer a great place to swim in the calm waters, but there’s a floating dock you can swim out to and jump off of as well.
And the sandy beach is home to plenty of unique stones and sea glass that you can hunt for, when you’re not busy building sandcastles or stretched out on a towel on the warm sand.
You can even walk up the road to Little Long Pond, which offers walking trails and excellent views.
#3 – Schoodic Point
If you want to experience one of the very-best spots in Acadia without all the crowds, you have to check out Schoodic Point on the Schoodic Peninsula.
It’s located at the southern tip of the Schoodic section of the park near Winter Harbor, Maine – about an hour north of the main section of the park.
It’s hard to imagine, but the scenery at Schoodic Point is just as good – if not better – than much of what you’ll find in the main section of Acadia.
The rocky shoreline is amazing, and you can witness waves crashing high in the air against it just as you’ll see at places like Thunder Hole.
And you’ll have no problem spreading out on the granite rocks along the shoreline, so even if there are some folks exploring this hidden gem along with you, you can have your own space.
And the best part about exploring Schoodic Point is that it’s only one of a number of beautiful stops you can make along Schoodic Loop Road.
#4 – Dorr Point
Just south of Bar Harbor before actually entering Acadia National Park, you’ll find the Compass Harbor Trail.
At the end of this trail you’ll come to one of Acadia’s least-crowded, hidden gems in Dorr Point.
Dorr Point is an awesome, rocky spot that offers an amazing view of Compass Harbor, the Porcupine Islands and Ironbound Island in the distance.
Dorr Point is somewhat similar to what you’ll find at Schoodic Point, with jagged rocks stretching out into the ocean.
And there’s plenty to explore here, especially when the tide is low. You’ll find some neat little sand and pebble beaches along with tidal pools that contain sea life and interesting stones.
Dorr Point is accessible at high tide, but to really see all it has to offer you’ll want to go when the tide is out.
#5 – Schooner Head Overlook
Schooner Head Overlook offers a good view of the ocean and Egg Rock Lighthouse in the distance, but it’s not so much of a hidden gem in itself.
But rIght under the overlook is a little-known-about trail that leads down the cliff onto the granite rocks below.
This spot is a hit for a quick photo, but few explore beyond that.
If you head down further along the rocks, chances are you’ll have the stunning, rocky cliffs all to yourself.
This area is only accessible during low tide, but it’s pretty unique and will lead you to another of Acadia’s hidden gems in the Anemone Cave.
#6 – Anemone Cave
Towards the bottom of this path from Schooner Head Overlook, you’ll find a hidden sea cave named Anemone Cave that can be explored at low tide.
This cave used to be one of the highlights of Acadia National Park and drew a number of visitors down to explore it each year.
But around 50 years ago the National Park Service decided to remove it from Acadia’s main attractions as it was deemed too dangerous to remain a highlighted section.
They removed all of the signs highlighting it and also took it off of current maps of Acadia, even removing the railings that once led down to the cave.
Regardless of why they did this, Anemone Cave still exists just as it always did, and waits for those who know about it to come and check it out when the tide goes out.
It’s important to be aware that Anemone Cave is affected by tides and is only accessible during low tide periods.
During high tide, the cave is submerged, making it essential to check the tide schedule before planning a visit.
Final Word
If you’re looking to explore Acadia National Park but want some solitude, the six locations above are your best bet.