📍 Southwest Harbor, ME: Clark Point Café
Our first full day on Mount Desert Island — finally! If you missed the start of the trip, Day 3 covers the drive north, our quiet-side stay, and our first Maine lobster dinner — the perfect lead-in to our first full day in Acadia.
We were excited to wake up and dive straight into Acadia, but after the long drive the day before, a sunrise hike felt a little too ambitious. Acadia Day 2 promises much exploration, including Southwest Harbor, Boulder Beach, and Bass Harbor Lighthouse. Boulder Beach at sunrise was high on my photography list, but we decided to slow down, sleep in, and ease into the day with breakfast.
⭐ Pro Tip for Photographers
Always scope out sunrise locations during daylight before attempting a pre-dawn hike. Acadia’s coastline is stunning, but it’s also rugged — uneven boulders, crashing waves, slippery seaweed, and sudden cliffs make it a place you do not want to navigate in the dark without knowing your footing and route in advance.
With that in mind, breakfast won.
We headed to Clark Point Café in Southwest Harbor, a small, trendy spot with plenty of Instagram-worthy dishes. We arrived around 9 a.m., which turned out to be… not ideal. The line stretched out the door with both locals and visitors waiting for a seat. The café operates on an interesting system — you order at the counter and then trust that a table will open up when your food is ready.
Their sign says it best: “Trust the process.”
Somehow, it worked. We were seated, fed, and caffeinated within about an hour. The food? Solid and photogenic. My wife loved hers. I’m more traditional — I went with pancakes. They weren’t your typical pancakes, though… they were Dutch baby pancakes, and honestly, unlike anything I’ve had before. Worth a try if you stop in.
Verdict: Popular, busy, and best visited early — but definitely recommend.
📍 Boulder Beach Scouting + Park Loop Road
🎥 Watch Day 4 in motion: Park Loop Road and Boulder Beach
👉 https://youtu.be/qedh7aVxLFo
After breakfast, we set out to scout Boulder Beach and a few other photography spots along Park Loop Road. This isn’t just any drive — Park Loop Road is the primary route through Acadia National Park and the access point for many of its most iconic locations, from Sand Beach to Thunder Hole to Boulder Beach itself. If you’re photographing Acadia, you’ll spend a lot of time on this loop.
Once you enter the park, the road eventually shifts to one-way traffic, and on the popular stretch between Sand Beach and Otter Point, the right lane often doubles as overflow parking (when permitted).
Parking can be hit or miss depending on the season. On our October trip, we found parking further south and walked up. There’s also a small lot just south of the Gorham Mountain Trailhead that works well for Boulder Beach. You can find this and other locations in my Free Acadia Map Resource (link coming).
📸 Quick Note on Thunder Hole
Thunder Hole was open during our visit and, unsurprisingly, packed. It was the hardest place to park, but it did have one thing every photographer appreciates: a public restroom. For our entire stretch of Park Loop Road that morning, it was the only one we found.
📍 Scouting Boulder Beach for Sunrise
Our goal at Boulder Beach was simple: understand the layout and pick sunrise compositions for the next morning. We parked at Gorham Mountain and walked south along the coast. Like many of Acadia’s best sunrise spots, there aren’t obvious signs here, you have to know what you’re aiming for or be willing to explore a bit.
The path down to Boulder Beach is short but uneven. The boulders shift, the seaweed is slippery, and the incline is just enough to make you pay attention. It’s not difficult, but you do need to step carefully. I setup and took my first shots at Acadia to get a feel, although conditions weren’t optimal for photography.
📸 Photographer Notes: Things I Learned
- Saltwater mist is a factor. Bring a lens cloth… or two. Also know it can damage equipment.
- Know the tides. They affect where you can safely stand and composition.
- Expect splash spots and wind. This coastline does not care how clean your lens was a minute ago.
- Be patient. The wind, splash, terrain make for a challenging environment. Its an added challenge to a sometimes already difficult task for that perfect compositions, balancing, exposure, etc.
With some familiarity, we felt we were set and prepared for any future planned sunrise shots, at least at Boulder Beach.
🍽 Lunch in Northeast Harbor
We headed to Northeast Harbor for Lunch. Northeast Harbor was a great midway point on our way back to Mt. Desert. We stopped at Colonels Restaurant and Bakery. It did the job for lunch, we did have to wait a bit. Just a reminder, food options are limited on the island as compared to the number of visitors. Plan accordingly, a short wait can be expected. After lunch, we returned to the Airbnb to relax and prepare for a sunset trip.
📍 Bass Harbor Lighthouse
As Acadia Day 2 continued, our main goal for the evening was Bass Harbor Lighthouse. Bass Harbor Lighthouse sits outside Acadia National Park in the village of Tremont on the southern tip of Mount Desert Island. You have likely seen pictures of it. It is one of the most photographed locations in Acadia and a classic sunset destination. I was excited to visit, even knowing how busy it can be.
Getting There
Reaching the lighthouse was more complicated than expected. Traffic moved slowly, and with only one road in and out, the line backs up quickly. Once cars reach the trailhead parking area, the loop is tight and fills fast. Drivers take turns navigating through, hoping for an opening. Most visitors were using the overflow parking farther up the road, which adds a bit of extra walking.
We were fortunate. Just as we were about to leave the main lot and circle out, a car pulled out and we were able to take the open space. The trailhead has a restroom, which was a welcome surprise.
Two Ways to Explore
From the trailhead you have two options:
- Paved path to the west
This leads you up close to the lighthouse and offers a clear view of the shoreline and ocean.
- Wooded trail to the east
This descends a stairway down the cliffside to the rocky shoreline, where the well known sunset compositions are typically taken.
Both paths are manageable. We saw older hikers making their way down to the rocks without issue.
🌊 Crowds and High Tide
The crowds were heavy, even in October. Many visitors were climbing near the lighthouse for photos, and the shoreline was full of people.
What surprised me was how much the tide affected the view.
The rocks that photographers stand on for the classic composition were completely underwater. Waves pushed far up the shoreline. With the tide so high, there was no safe way to take a photo. It also made the area feel more crowded because less shoreline was available.
You must check tide tables before visiting for sunset photography.
🌅 An Alternate View and a Little Wildlife
We also visited the west side viewing area. It was busy as well, but we found a spot along the fence overlooking the water. From there we used binoculars and spotted seals in the distance. A fun and unexpected highlight.
A Quiet End to the Day
We did not stay long at Bass Harbor. Sunset did not work out. On our drive out, we stopped and hiked Ship Harbor Trail until dark. I wish we had more time. It was quieter and more peaceful, and with better light I am certain there were great photography opportunities.
⭐ Lesson Learned
As iconic as Bass Harbor Lighthouse is, I am not sure I would visit at sunset in October again. You may get lucky with perfect conditions, but for us, another coastal location in Acadia would have been a better choice. It is simply too popular during peak evening hours.
