Maine's long coast has many quality beaches with miles of soft sand and picturesque landscapes. Its long beaches make it a good destination for those who enjoy outdoor activities. You can swim, take long walks, fly a kite, picnic or kick a ball around. Just under 300 miles from Boston, you will find Bar Harbor on Mount Desert Island, Maine. Mount Desert Island is accessed via a bridge near Ellsworth. The town of Bar Harbor does not have any beaches, however, a number of beaches are located within a short drive.
Sand Beach
Located in Acadia National Park, Sand Beach sits neatly between rocky coastline and mountains. It is a small beach situated on the eastern side of Acadia National Park. Visitor facilities include restrooms, a changing area and parking. At the end of the beach you will find a hiking trail that goes around Great Head. Another walking path traces the coastline from the upper parking lot. Lifeguards monitor the beach from Memorial Day until Labor Day. The beach faces south providing lots of sunshine. However, water temperatures remain chilly in summer, hovering around 50 degrees Fahrenheit.
Hadley Point Beach
A short drive northwest of central Bar Harbor you find Hadley Point Beach. The beach allows dogs, so you can bring the family pet, as long as it is on a leash. This beach is not suitable for sandcastle building, since it has a rocky surface. However, for visitors that enjoy picnicking or barbecuing, it won't disappoint. Facilities include picnic tables and permanent grills. The beach is a popular launching point for kayak rental companies and boating enthusiasts. Beachcombers can often see seals from the shore. Nearby you can stay at the local campsite or hire a cottage, go whale watching in Frenchman's Bay, take a bike ride and play miniature golf.
Echo Lake Beach
On the western side of the island you will find Echo Lake Beach. The beach sits on the south side of Echo Lake. It offers fresh water swimming under the supervision of lifeguards from Memorial Day to Labor Day. Tall cliffs and pine trees surround the lake. You can hike up around the cliffs along a trail that begins at the beach parking lot. The lake allows fishing from April until September. You can fish from one of the lake's rocky points or a small boat.
Little Hunters Beach
Seven miles south of the town of Bar Harbor, along Park Loop Road you will find Little Hunters Beach at Hunters Head. The beach is small and rocky, which creates an interesting sound when the waves hit the shore. You can't swim at this beach because it has strong undertows. However, the beach's seclusion provides a quiet place to walk, picnic and relax. No lifeguards patrol this beach, so take extra precautions if you spend time there with children.
Seal Harbor
Nearly eight miles along the Park Loop Road from Bar Harbor sits the small town of Seal Harbor. Just off Route 3 you will discover Seal Harbor's sandy public beach. Right near the beach you can see seaside cottages that Henry Ford built for his family. The beach does not get as crowded as the more popular Sand Beach and provides a quiet place to walk and relax. It has a flat surface, making a suitable area for children to play. Next to the beach you will see Seal Harbor Yacht Club, which has a number of guest moorings for you to tie up your boat. Nearby, serious hikers can walk along the 5.2-mile-long trail that goes up Penobscot Mountain. The surrounding wilderness is home to nesting peregrine falcons. The trail has a skill level rating of difficult. An entry point to the gravel, car-free, carriage roads is located less than a mile from the beach, off Jordon Pond Road. The roads are suitable for walking and mountain biking.
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