So, you know when you think a trip is going to be super chill but it turns into an epic adventure of hiking, everything blueberry, and a pup named Grundii helping you up mountains? Yeah, that’s what happened.
I packed up my tiny travel trailer and made my way to Acadia National Park, which, if you haven’t heard, is basically a playground for outdoor lovers with a side of blueberries and epic views. My trusted sidekick on this adventure was my fur-baby, Grundii (yes, it’s a name, and yes, he’s basically a four-legged hiking buddy who helps me up those steep inclines due to my MS). He was all in, with his tail wagging and his enthusiasm at an all-time high. Little did he know, his job wasn’t just to hike—it was to be my personal Sherpa. Haha 😜
Visiting Acadia National Park at the start of fall foliage season felt like stepping into a giant box of crayons – every tree was showing off its best autumn outfit, and I was just trying to keep up without tripping over my own excitement (or a stray pinecone)!🍂
Day 1: The Calm Before the Storm (of Hikes)
I woke up at the ungodly hour of 5:00 AM to get a head start on my 300-mile drive to Mount Dessert Narrows Campground, my first Thousand Trails. I’m pretty sure my brain hadn’t even fully woken up until we hit the road. But hey, the trailer was hooked up the night before, and the weather was perfect. After finding my pull-thru site (woohoo!) and setting up, I headed out to drive the 27-mile Acadia Loop Road. What a great way to get a lay of the land before my upcoming adventures (not gonna lie, I was mostly just trying not to get lost—future me thanked past me). Starting out at the Hulls Cove Visitor Center, I checked out the beautiful stops, including Paradise Hill Overlook (where you’ll get the best view of Freshman Bay), Sand Beach and Otter Point Overlooks, and passed Jordan Pond House along the way. We topped it off with a spectacular sunset at the campground. It was as if mother nature was saying "Here you go.....you deserve this trip". 😊
Day 2: Foggy Beginnings and Neverending Trails
Up at the crack of dawn, I drove up Summit Road to Cadillac Mountain for my early time slot, but guess what? Nothing but fog. Navigating a foggy mountain road that twists and turns like a rollercoaster, with drop-offs so steep I half expected to see a cliff-hanging goat beside me. It was like driving blindfolded, except the fog was the blindfold. Seriously, it looked like a scene straight out of a ghost story. Womp womp.😢 But no worries, I had a backup plan: hiking. With a walking stick in one hand and the leash in my left, Grundii and I conquered Acadia Mountain and Echo Lake, enjoyed a picnic (the best kind of picnic, right on the water), then hiked Wonderland Trail and Ship Harbor Trail. Afterward, we saw the Bass Harbor Head Light Station, but of course, the line for parking was longer than I’d like to admit. On the plus side, waiting made it feel like we were really earning those views.
Day 3: A Day of Trailblazing Triumphs! (and Countless Miles)
Today was all about getting up early (again) to grab that coveted parking spot at Sand Beach. We hiked the Bowl Trail Loop to the Beehive, then looped back to Gorham Mountain. To keep things interesting, we decided to walk the Ocean Path back to the car, visited Thunder Hole along the way (which was basically nature’s version of a rock concert), and had a picnic at Sand Beach. From there, it was a jaunt up to Great Head Trail. Jumping in the car, we headed to Little Hunter’s Beach to listen to the soothing sound of the cobbling cove. Seriously, this beach could lull anyone to sleep... but not us. We were on a mission to take in the breathtaking views on the scenic drive back to the campground. 😜
Day 4: Jordan Pond & The Bubble Bonanza!
Got up early for that parking spot again (seriously, parking at Acadia is like trying to find the last cookie in a jar). Hiked the Jordan Carry Trail from Jordan Pond House to North and South Bubble and checked out the famous Bubble Rock. Ah Bubble Rock..... the ultimate game of 'Jenga' but with nature’s version of a giant, precarious rock balanced on the edge of a cliff. It’s as if some mischievous giant decided to plop a boulder right on top of a hill, just daring you to come closer. You stand there, eyeing the rock, wondering how it's not tumbling down the mountain like a runaway boulder in an action movie. It’s got this perfect balance of ‘don’t touch it, or it’ll fall’ and ‘I really want to climb it for the perfect Facebook shot.’ Bubble Rock is basically nature’s version of a cliffhanger – literally. 😬 Afterwards, we took the terrifying hike back down to Jordan Pond. 😨 As we were about to collapse from exhaustion, we rewarded ourselves with some delicious popovers and blueberry iced tea. Seriously, I can’t even describe how good they were. Long wait for a table, but oh-so-worth-it. And who couldn’t forget the blueberry soda?! Following that, we hiked the Acadia Carriage Roads to get to Jordan Stream Path, and guess what? We saw the famous Cobblestone Bridge—who knew stones could be so majestic?
Day 5: Rain, Schmain – Let’s Go Anyway
Rainy day, but did that stop us? Heck no! I drove out to Schoodic Peninsula, checked out Frazer Point Park, Schoodic Point, Arey Cove, and Winter Harbor Light. And with that, it was full steam ahead to Bar Harbor. But the real adventure was walking to Bar Island using the Bar Island Path (you only have a short window to do this during low tide before you get stranded). Of course, Grundii decided to get extra muddy in the rain. So, while checking out downtown ‘Bah Harbor’, hehe, we stopped at Bark Harbor pet store to buy him some treats (he loved them) and some dog-washing supplies (he didn’t). Oh, and I grabbed a blueberry candle, some blueberry tea and fudge from Acadia Country Store because who doesn’t need fudge when they’re on vacation? At this point, the rain was coming down so hard, it felt like the clouds were trying to drown Agamont Park. We looked at the park... and the park looked back, completely submerged in the downpour, saying, "Not today, friends. Not today."🌧️
Day 6: Hoofbeats, Heights and Heaping Plates
Today was all about relaxation... or at least it was supposed to be. I left Grundii in the trailer (sadly, no dogs allowed on the carriage ride), and went for a horse-drawn carriage ride on the Acadia Carriage Roads, which is just as magical as it sounds. I met the adorable Mike and Ike, the horse duo that guided us. After returning to the trailer to fetch Grundii, we made our way back to Cadillac Mountain…Take 2…. and this time the sun was shining! The vistas were breathtaking! Dinner that night was a seafood feast at The Travelin’ Lobster Bar: oysters on the half shell, lobster bisque, and blueberry beer. And who could forget the blueberry pie to-go! The food was amazing 😋, and since the restaurant had outdoor seating, I could bring Grundii along. Returning to the campsite felt like a scene from a movie – just me, my trusty pup, and the sunset painting the sky with colors that made you wonder if the world was showing off a little. The water was reflecting it all, like nature’s own Instagram filter. Absolutely breathtaking! Nothing says "perfect day" like lobster and a gorgeous sunset.🌅
Day 7: Time to Pack Up...Can't We Stay Longer?
After six days of hiking, driving, eating, and all-around adventuring, it was time to pack up the tiny travel trailer and head home. But first, I had a coffee and just stared at the gorgeous scenery for a bit because—let's face it—this was a vacation I could get used to. Plus, Grundii looked so content after 6 days of hiking 15 trails for 40 miles, he didn’t even try to jump out of the car on the way home. Small wins.
And that’s a wrap! A week of trails, tail wags, and blueberry everything.
Acadia National Park: 10/10, would hike again. ✅