For many of our guests, the Bar Harbor Lighthouse Tour in Acadia National Park is a favorite excursion. A symbol of harmony, safety, and contemplation, the lighthouse draws us in with its unwavering presence. Have you ever taken the time to truly get to know the history and beauty of the lighthouse? What better way to explore the serenity of the Maine coastline than through the lens of the lighthouse?
All Aboard
The Bar Harbor Lighthouse Tour in Acadia National Park is hosted onboard the Eden Star, one of Acadian Boat Tour’s five tour boats. A pet-friendly 70-ft craft with a spacious upper deck, restrooms, indoor heated cabin, and galley serving beverages and snacks, the Eden Star is the perfect vessel for your adventure. The tour will meet onboard in Bar Harbor, about a 45-minute drive from the Inn. The tour is available from mid-August to early October and takes about 3 hours and 15 minutes, with plenty of time for photography along the way. The cruise is fully narrated by a naturalist who will share the history of America’s lighthouses, tales of bravery, ghosts, and heroism.
The route will take you on a cruise along the coastlines of Bar Harbor and Seal Harbor and through the islands of Acadia National Park, with views of the famous “cottages” along millionaires row. The sights along the way include three of Maine’s lighthouses, the Isleford Lifesaving Station, and the natural wonders of the Acadia National Park islands. You may also have the opportunity to observe the natural wildlife of Frenchman Bay, including seals, harbor porpoises, sea birds, and bald eagles.
Egg Rock Lighthouse
Egg Rock Lighthouse is one of the three lighthouses you’ll have the chance to see. It stands at the southern entrance to Frenchman Bay on Egg Rock, a tiny island first mentioned by the name before the American Revolution due to many seabirds’ nests and eggs there. In addition to its light, it also includes a wood keeper’s house, fog signal house, oil house, boathouse, and generator house. It is still active today.
Mark Island Lighthouse
Another of the lighthouses you’ll see on tour is the Mark Island Lighthouse, also known as the Deer Island Thorofare Lighthouse. In 1998, over 140 years after it was built, the Island Heritage Trust purchased it in an effort to preserve its history and that of the heroic men and women who lived isolated lives there as lighthouse keepers.
Bear Island Lighthouse
The third lighthouse seen on tour is that of Bear Island, located at the southern entrance to Somes Sound, which runs through Mount Desert Island, where most of Acadia National Park is located. The original Bear Island Lighthouse was built in 1839, while the lighthouse we see today (now 31 feet high and constructed with brick) was built in 1889.
Baker Island Light Station
If the tide is just right, you may also have the opportunity to visit the Baker Island Light Station. President John Quincy Adams ordered it be built because the shallow sandbars of the Cranberry Isles were a hazard to ships passing through. In 1997 the Coast Guard considered discontinuing its use, but locals protested, so the lighthouse continues to be active today. Due to the many wrecks in the area, locals have found historical artifacts in the waters surrounding Baker Island.
Islesford Lifesaving Station
In addition to the spectacular Maine coastline lighthouses, you will also get to see The Station, a beautifully renovated vacation home that used to be a U.S. Life Saving Station. Located on Islesford Island, also known as Little Cranberry Island, this unique island home has a rocky shore and incredible views of the ocean, islands, and the Acadia Mountains.
Sand Beach, Thunder Hole, and Otter Cliff
As you observe the coastline of Acadia National Park, you’ll notice natural wonders like Sand Beach, Thunder Hole, and Otter Cliff. Sand Beach is a small yet beautiful beach nestled between Acadia’s mountains and rocky shores. Thunder Hole is a carved-out inlet where waves are forced through a narrow channel by the tides, causing a thunderous sound due to the escaping air. Otter Cliff is an awe-inspiring sight as it’s one of the steepest coastal cliffsides north of the equator.
Mount Desert Island’s Gilded Age
Last but certainly not least, you’ll get to see the historic “cottages” of Mount Desert Island’s Gilded Age along millionaire’s row, including The Ford, Rockefeller, and Vanderbilt estates. In the 1800s, wealthy industrialists were drawn to the area for its natural beauty. By 1880, Bar Harbor had become the summer destination for the rich and famous.
This is just the beginning of what you will learn on the tour. Check availability for your stay and return to a luxurious home base after your spectacular Bar Harbor Lighthouse Tour in Acadia National Park. This is an adventure you will never forget!
Published June 2023