MDI Mainer

If you are planning a trip to Acadia National Park in 2021 you should be aware that sunrise and sunset are the busiest times on the Cadillac Mountain summit. The access road has often been closed to traffic because of vehicle congestion. So next year there will be a reservation (which is expected to cost $6) required to access the summit road. This is in addition to the park entrance fee. The reservations can be obtained on line.

This from the NPS: After piloting the vehicle reservation system at the Cadillac Summit Road and Sand Beach Entrance in October 2020, the NPS decided to implement vehicle reservations for the Cadillac Summit Road between sunrise and sunset from May to October in 2021. Vehicle reservations provide a timed entry, but do not require a departure time. Pedestrians and bicyclists do not require a reservation to access the Cadillac Summit Road. For more information on the vehicle reservation system, please visit: https://www.nps.gov/acad/planyourvisit/vehicle_reservations.htm

The plan to require a reservation for entering the park at the Sand Beach Entrance Station has been postponed until 2022. The test this year was a disaster, with huge traffic backups. Apparently there is insufficient cell service at the entrance station for park patrons to access their reservation confirmation to show the ranger!

On the other hand, it now appears that there will be NO mega cruise ships visiting Bar Harbor in 2021 so the area will again be somewhat less crowded than during a typical season. I say somewhat because, with the international travel restrictions and the emphasis on outdoor activities during the pandemic siege, the park has actually seen increased visitation this Fall, after a precipitous drop in the Summer of 2020.

But the spectacular scenery and inviting summer weather are still great reasons to visit and capture fantastic images. Sunrise Over Great Long Pond

Longshadow Loc: Audubon, PA, United States

Wow, thanks for the info!

jederick Loc: Northern Utah

Walkabout08

Good to know, I plan to spend some time there in the fall.

tcthome Loc: NJ

Glad you mentioned the bicycle. As I started reading your thread , the first thing I wondered was , bicycle & how far was parking.

sb Loc: Florida's East Coast

I hope the Canadian border is open this summer. Heading downeast to Schoodic, Jonesport, Cutler, and Lubec and then over the border bridge to Campobello is a great day trip, with the famous lighthouses at West Quoddy Head in Lubec and Eat Quoddy Head on Campobello.

bobmcculloch Loc: NYC, NY

Thanks, Cadillac Mtn. was on our list for our next trip to Maine.

JBRIII

If specific time is not important, been there before memorial day and no crowds. Went there once during a business trip in summer and like Grand central station as the saying goes. Venice Italy is same way.

MDI Mainer

Doubtful. The legal reason there will be no big cruise ships in Bar Harbor this year is that, under US law, foreign-flagged vessels (which the mega ships all are) cannot call at a US port unless the sailing includes a call at a foreign port, and Canada has banned all cruise ships with over 100 passengers. The foreign port all these sailings use is in Canada.

In addition the fast CAT ferry service between Bar Harbor and Nova Scotia was supposed to resume this year, but that too has been put on hold because of the travel ban.

So I'm doubtful the boarder will be open.

Sergey

Cadillac Mountain is very crowded during sunrise/sunset in popular months. If you are planning to shoot arrive early and choose your spot wisely. Some people tend to walk into your shot without a second thought.

But Acadia is a beautiful place and totally worth many visits.

This is a shot I took on my phone in October 2017 while running up to the summit from the lower lever parking lot. The crowd on the picture is just a fraction of people who were there.

(Download)

Vince68 Loc: Wappingers Falls, NY

Thank you for providing that information and link. Not sure I will be making that trip, but good to know the info ahead of time.

Lineyrich Loc: Northern Plains of US

Thx for the info. Canceled plans last Sept 2020 with hopes for 2021. Never been, any additional hints for this Midwesterner, 1st timer for approx mid-September?

MDI Mainer

I can recommend two good guides for photographers visiting Acadia National Park and the surrounding area (the first is my personal favorite):

https://amazon.com/Photographing-Acadia-National-Park-Essential/dp/0983380473/ref=sr_1_4?crid=15ZMI29ZUIHA4&dchild=1&keywords=acadia+national+park+photography&qid=1613848304&sprefix=acadia+photography%2Caps%2C183&sr=8-4

https://amazon.com/Photographers-Guide-Acadia-National-Park/dp/0881508861/ref=sr_1_6?crid=15ZMI29ZUIHA4&dchild=1&keywords=acadia+national+park+photography&qid=1613848364&sprefix=acadia+photography%2Caps%2C183&sr=8-6

and a general guide by a local guy who really knows his stuff (the link is to a new edition which will be out in May):

https://amazon.com/Acadia-Complete-National-Desert-Island-dp-1940754453/dp/1940754453/ref=dp_ob_title_bk

In addition, if you are interested in a workshop or private tour, I can recommend John Putnam, who lives, works and has a gallery on the island in Southwest Harbor (he is an outstanding instructor and a rising national figure in nature and landscape photography):

https://www.jkputnamphotography.com/index

He will be one of the presenters in April for the Out Of Chicago Live Conference:

https://www.outofchicago.com/

September and October are my favorite months on Mount Desert Island -- great weather, fewer people, most restaurants, shops etc. still open.

Hope you have a wonderful trip.

kcooke Loc: Alabama

It’s a great place but worth the hassle of going. We were there 14 years ago and it was not crowded at all. We also like the Somes Sound area too. The whole area is a great place to visit

Photolady2014 Loc: Southwest Colorado

All National Parks are getting crazy over crowded. As a visitor I am part of the overcrowding. Recently I went to photograph Mesa Arch in Moab, was there well before sunrise and not a spot to be found. Some had slept in their cars to get a spot. Others had their non photographing friend/partner standing next to them taking a spot a tripod could have been, that was frustrating. It is unfortunately getting to the point where it is just not fun.
I had wanted to go to Yosemite and do the fire fall photo in February until I saw the hordes of people and the people who even in winter sleep there for a spot.
A whole different can of worms are the bus loads of people (at least the virus has cut those back for a year). 2 years ago in Banff and Jasper area it was quite hard to get the iconic places like Peyto Lake with out the selfie people standing in the way taking 20 minutes of different poses!
Sorry, my rant for the day! I should have gone to the parks more before retirement, but then we did not have the time or travel $’s....