Information Centers

Park Access Information

Legend

GoodMeets most accessibility standards
OKUsable, does not meet all standards
?May be usable with assistance
XMajor Barrier. Not accessible

On this page you will find access information about:

Information Centers

Main
Entrance		 Parking Rest
Rooms		 Pay
Phones		 Water
Fountain		 Special Notes
Thompson Island Good Good Good Good OK Open Seasonally
Visitor Center OK Good ? Good OK To avoid 52 steps, follow signs which lead to upper parking lot. Open May - October
Nature Center X Good OK Good X Back door has a ramp. Open June-September.
Headquarters Good Good OK Good Good Open May-Oct. M-F 8:00 AM-4:30 PM Nov.-April Daily 8:00 AM-4:30 PM

Museums

 on Mount Desert Island (privately operated)
  Main
Entrance		 Parking Rest
Rooms		 Pay
Phones		 Water
Fountain		 Special Notes
Abbe Museum
(Sieur de Monts)		 ? Good none Good X Assistance may be needed for ascending a steep paved trail to museum.
College of the Atlantic
Natural History Museum
(Bar Harbor)		 ? Good OK Good none There is a 5 inch curb at the beginning of the ramp to building and at door threshold.
Great Harbor Museum
(Northeast Harbor)		 OK OK Good Good   Only bottom floor is accessible.
Mt. Desert Oceanarium
(Southwest Harbor)		 OK OK ? X X One inch curb at entrance Numerous hands -on exhibits. Phone available.
Wendell Gilley Museum
(Southwest Harbor)		 X OK Good none Good Ramp to side entrance - may need assistance. Phone available.

Picnic Areas

Overall
Rating		 Parking Rest
Rooms		 Water
Fountain		 Fire
Grill		 Picnic
Table		 Special Notes
Bear Brook Good Good Good Good Good Good Some level sites.
Fabbri Good Good Good Good Good Good Paved walkway leads to accessible site.
Frazer Point (Schoodic) ? Good X X Good Good Several level grassy sites.
Pretty Marsh X Good X X Good Good Rough terrain.
Seawall OK Good Good none Good Good One accessible site, others on uneven terrain.
Thompson Island OK Good X ? Good Good Accessible restrooms available seasonally across Rt. 3 at Thompson Island Information Center.

Beaches
Overall
Rating		 Parking Rest
Rooms		 Water
Fountain		 Pay
Phones		 Changing
Rooms		 Special Notes
Echo Lake ? Good X X OK X Steep road to beach begins at the “No Parking Any Time” sign.
Sand Beach X Good X X ? X 31 steps make the beach inaccessible.
Ike's Point OK OK none none none none This is a small boat launch area.

Park Campgrounds

Overall
Rating		 Ranger
Station		 Rest
Rooms		 Pay
Phones		 Fire
Grills		 Picnic
Tables		 Amphitheater
Blackwoods Good Good Good Good Good Good Good
Campsites A-58, A-66, A-67, B-13, B-15 are accessible with paved walkways leading to fire grill, picnic table, water, restrooms and amphitheater. You can also register for your campsite from your car window. (Reservations required mid-June to mid-September.)
Seawall OK X Good Good Good Good Good
Campsite A-27 and nearby restroom are accessible.

Gift Shops

operated by Acadia Corporation

Main
Entrance		 Parking Rest
Rooms		 Pay
Phones		 Special Notes
Cadillac Mountain Good Good Good none
Jordan Pond Good Good X X Only first floor is accessible.
Thunder Hole X X none none

Restaurant

operated by Acadia Corporation

Main
Entrance		 Parking Rest
Rooms		 Pay
Phones		 Special Notes
Jordan Pond House Good Good OK Good

Interpretive Programs for Visitors With Disabilities

 Ranger-led activities are offered mid-May to mid-October. Ask for the Acadia Beaver Log, the park newspaper, at any park information station. Our goal is to make as many programs accessible as possible to all visitors. Please check with the park staff regarding details of specific programs offered.

Accessible programs will be indicated in the Beaver Log.

Visitor Center Orientation Programs
A printed script for the orientation program is available at the information desk.

A certified sign language interpreter may be available for some interpretive programs with a two week advanced notice. This service is dependent on availability of funds and interpreters.
Phone (207) 288-3338 (TDD or voice) for information.

Auto Tape Tour
A self-guiding tape tour of the Park Loop Road, Cadillac Summit and Somes Sound, may be rented or purchased at the Visitor Center. Tape players may also be rented.

Trails

Sieur de Monts Spring area

Accessible parking is located at the far end of the parking lot.
Wild Gardens of Acadia
Follow the paved path to the entrance. In the Wild Gardens, the paths are packed gravel-surfaced and narrow, so assistance may be helpful.
Hemlock Road
On the right as you enter the parking lot is a hard, gravel-surfaced abandoned road which meanders through woodlands at the base of Dorr Mountain.

For the adventurous and hardy

Wonderland Trail
Parking is in the Wonderland Parking Area, west of Seawall Campground on Route 102-A. Following an abandoned road, the trail has both level and hilly sections. It is generally hard-packed with some loose sections and is only slightly rocky. In a mile, the trail leaves the woods and opens onto the shoreline at the tip of the Wonderland Peninsula. Assistance may be helpful, but the view is worth the effort.
Man of War Brook Fire Road
Park in the small unmarked gravel parking area on the east side of Route 102, one-eighth mile north of the larger paved Acadia Mountain Parking Area. Follow the abandoned road through a quiet, mixed growth woodland. The road is about one mile long. Bewareof uphill and downhill grades, washouts, and exposed culverts.
Carroll Homestead - Self-Guiding Trail
Located on Rt. 102,one mile north of Southwest Harbor, this half mile self-guiding trail takes you around the grounds of the Carroll Homestead. The path is hard-packed but root-covered and uneven. Assistance may be necessary. Accessible parking is available at end of the road adjacent to house. The self-guiding trail pamphlet is available on site or at the Visitor Center.

Carriage Roads

 Generally, the carriage road system offers the best access to many remote and scenic areas. The two easiest are listed below. Others tend to be steeper, slightly uneven with sections of loose sand, gravel, or slightly rocky areas. Extended use of the carriage roads depends on your ability and endurance.
Eagle Lake
From the Eagle Lake Parking Area on the north side of Route 233, you have access to the carriage roads. North, the carriage roads lead towards Breakneck Ponds, Half Moon Pond, and Witch Hole Pond. South, under the stone bridge, the carriage roads lead in two directions around Eagle Lake. When following the carriage roads, be aware of washouts, steep grades, and bicycle traffic. Assistance may be helpful.
Bubble Pond
From the parking area, follow the level trail to the north end of Bubble Pond. From here you have access to the carriage roads, one of which borders the pond.

Boat Cruises

 All boat cruises are operated by private businesses. Cruise prices vary. Although it’s possible to board boats at any time, you’ll find it easiest at high tide when the rampway slope is less steep. (At low tide, however, you’ll have the best chance to see harbor seals.) Contact the boat operators ahead of time. Check the Beaver Log for phone numbers.
Frenchman Bay Cruise
One can remain in a wheelchair on the lower deck.
Islesford Historical Cruise
The boat cruise is accessible. Deboarding on Little Cranberry Island would be difficult. One can remain in a wheelchair during the cruise.
Baker Island Cruise
The same ramp that is used for the Islesford Historical Cruise is used for this cruise. The boat cruise is accessible. Deboarding on the island requires transferring to dory and is not wheelchair accessible. Baker Island is extremely rocky.
Bass Harbor Cruise
One must be able to transfer down into the boat and into a seat.

Other Information

Isle au Haut Ferry
Strips of wood running perpendicular to the ramp make it extremely difficult to unload at Isle au Haut Town Landing. There are no accessible campsites on Isle au Haut.
Wildwood Stables
Assistance in boarding carriages will be provided. The height of carriage seats is 54 inches. There is no designated accessible parking. There is no access to restrooms and there are steps to the office.
Intertidal Zone
The best access to an intertidal zone is on the gravel bar between Bar Island and Bar Harbor at low tide. Access is via Bridge Street in Bar Harbor. The ramp to the gravel bar is rocky and uneven. Vehicles may be driven onto the gravel bar.
Thunder Hole
Parking is available in the right hand lane. There is no designated accessible parking. Visitors can use a ramp to access the upper viewing area.

Emergency Phone Numbers

 Park Rangers: Personal Injury or Property Damage 288-3369

Outside the Park:

TDD

TDD (Monday - Friday 8:00 AM - 4:30 PM, May to October Daily 8:00 AM - 4:30 PM, November to April) (207)288-3338

Acadia National Park is continually working to improve access for all visitors. If you have any comments or suggestions concerning access during your visits, please write:
Division of Interpretation
Acadia National Park
P.O. Box 177
Bar Harbor, Maine 04609
Or Phone (207) 288-3338.

02/96
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AcadiaNet 1996