From a Pond to the Ocean — Acadia National Park

Solo hiking in autumnal Maine.

It was a surprising experience driving into Mount Desert Island, Maine — an island that houses bits and pieces of Acadia National Park throughout it.

I had driven in just after nightfall and settled into the room I was staying in at this inn on the water. Everything about it was different and gorgeous and like nothing I had yet to experience.

I woke up in the morning ready to go — to the office and pour myself a cup of coffee. I took it outside and enjoyed a lovely view of the water and the mountains.

Today, I am going to Acadia National Park.

I went back to my room, got dressed, and laced up my hiking boots. After hopping into my rental car, I plugged the Visitor’s Center address into Google Maps, and off I went.

Climbing up the steps to the Visitor’s Center, I paid for parking and grabbed a map. I headed to my first destination.

Jordan Pond

I started at Jordan Pond because I had read that the 3.5-mile loop was relatively easy with some gorgeous views. Jordan Pond Trail Loop definitely delivered!

I started from Jordan Pond House and went left, heading clockwise around the pond. Soon, I was walking into the forest and the path turn into a somewhat narrow boardwalk.

The boardwalk is in place for part of the trail to protect the fragile ecosystem around it. My feet were lightly thumping on the planks with each step, making me feel like a protagonist on an adventure — which I kind of was!

I turned around and would see all that I’d walked disappearing into the trees I’d passed. It was surreal.

After a while, the path took me closer to the pond and I was once again able to see the mountains around me.

There were quiet stretches where I felt completely alone, but every few minutes or so, I’d cross paths with fellow hikers. Most were friendly and we would greet each other.

There was one couple I had met when I had stepped onto the trail from the parking area. They had asked me if I had just hiked the loop. They were starting, going in the opposite direction. We met again on the other side of the pond, about halfway through, checking in and asking about the trail to come.

About two hours later, I had completed the loop. I walked up to Jordan Pond House and bought a PB&J from the shop. I took it up to the deck on the second floor and enjoyed lunch with a view of the land and mountains around me. I couldn’t believe that I was in Maine. In a National Park! Alone! (Of course, there were lots of people around me on the deck, being October. It is a popular time to visit Acadia due to the foliage.)

After lunch, I hopped back in my car and continued on the 27-mile Park Loop Road, a scenic drive of forests, mountains, and shoreline around the main section of the park.

Ocean Path

As the afternoon began to turn into evening, I parked by Sand Beach with plans to catch the sunset. I hiked Ocean Path trail for a bit. The trees occasionally broke away on the coastal side, revealing rocky cliffside and the ocean.

On a lot of these rocks were people waiting for the sun to set. I kept going until I found a stretch of rocks all to myself. I sat down on a rock and took in the salty air. It was weird to think that I was still in the same park as earlier in the day. I had hiked around forest and a pond and now I was sitting on rocks staring at the ocean.

The sun soon set beyond the mountain. I stayed, noting the glow the sun had left, but eventually had to leave to make sure I wasn’t hiking back in the dark.

It was a phenomenal first day. It was my first time visiting a National Park by myself. I really enjoyed hiking alone with my thoughts, being able to stop to take pictures as often as I wanted, and being able to solely decide which trails were worth doing — which definitely came into play the following day!

Have you been to Acadia National Park? Thinking of adding it to your list? Let me know in the comments!

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— Breanna