There is an impassable collapsed bridge near Big Spring Brook Hut located at the north section of the monument (46.0333633333, -68.7807583333). This area is impassable by foot traffic and bike.
The Loop Road and North Entrance are closed to motorized vehicles for the winter starting 11/4. These areas are accessible by foot, bike, ski, and snowshoe. Restrooms and campsites are accessible but not maintained in the off-season. Learn more below. More
Since the glaciers retreated approximately 12,000 years ago, natural features and resources (the night skies, geology, flora and fauna, and scenic waterways) have attracted people to the present day area of Katahdin Woods and Waters National Monument. Among the defining natural features of the monument is the East Branch Penobscot River system, including its major tributaries, the Seboeis River and the Wassataquoik Stream, and many smaller tributaries. Known as one of the least developed watersheds in the northeastern United States, the East Branch Penobscot River system has a stunning concentration of hydrological features in addition to its significant geology and ecology. Various formations in the area provide striking visual evidence of marine waters in the monument during the geologic periods that immediately followed the Cambrian period (approximately 541 million years ago to 485.4 million years ago).
Embark on an exciting journey through time to discover how glaciers have shaped Acadia National Park. Using your GPS unit and a set of clues obtained from this website and hidden along the journey, you can guide yourself to a series of sites in the park.
Schoodic Peninsula, the only part of Acadia National Park found on the mainland, boasts granite headlands that bear erosional scars of storm waves and flood tides.
Grade Levels:Upper Elementary: Third Grade through Fifth Grade
Subject(s):Science
Students will learn about sedimentary rock and the various sizes including boulder, cobble, pebble, sand, silt, and clay. They will create a temporary piece of art, based on concentric circles, using their various sizes of sedimentary rock found in nature using a geo sieve.
Grade Levels:Upper Elementary: Third Grade through Fifth Grade
Subject(s):Science
Students will make observations of rocks along the shore of Mount Desert Island (site to be determined by teacher). Students will categorize rocks, and will use resources to identify types of rocks. Students will create a journal entry with drawing and description so work can be continued in the classroom without the rock sample.
Grade Levels:Middle School: Sixth Grade through Eighth Grade
Subject(s):Science
Story maps are visual explorations of challenging concepts. Explore the coast of Acadia National Park with a focus on the geologic processes. Learn the rock types, observe erosion and weathering in progress, and discover the wonders of Acadia's Great Head trail.
Grade Levels:Upper Elementary: Third Grade through Fifth Grade
Subject(s):Science
This hands-on program takes place at Sand Beach and is an exploration of geological processes such as weathering and erosion. Interpretation of geologic and topographic maps is included.
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Staff are generally available to answer the phone between 8 am and 4:30 pm Monday-Friday. If you reach the voicemail, please leave a message and someone will return your call as soon as possible. Messages are checked in the morning on weekends and intermittently throughout the day when staff are available.
