Denise Goldberg's blog

Saturday, December 19, 2015

in the park

Our wandering today was in Acadia, starting with entry to the park on the only open road. The park is open year-round but most of the roads are closed (and blocked). The small piece of Park Loop Road that is open to vehicles year-round is accessed via the road to Schooner Head. The road is open from the entry station just before Sand Beach to Otter Cliffs. Of course you can walk anywhere in the park, you just need to figure out how to get to your starting point.

We walked from Sand Beach to Otter Cliffs and back again (since we needed to retrieve our vehicle). There were a few other people around, two folks who were participating in the Mount Desert Island Christmas Bird Count, three brave individuals who were in the water and Sand Beach with surfboards, and a few others walking a similar path to ours.

There were times when we walking on the path, and other times when we wandered out onto the rocks.

from Park Loop Road

We stopped a few more places for a quick look, then Denise found a parking spot near the Sieur de Monts entrance to the park. We walked back to (and through) the Wild Gardens of Acadia, then headed out along Jesup Path.

through the trees

By mid-afternoon the air was feeling a bit nippy, the chill enhanced by the wind. It was time to start heading off-island.

--- Rover

Even though it's December now and the air is cold, the conditions in the park today really didn't scream winter. I'd love to visit when there is snow on the ground. Someday...

If you're interested in visiting Acadia in the cold and snowy months of the year, take a look at the article Acadia in Winter published by Down East Magazine.