Visiting the Bass Harbor Lighthouse in Acadia National Park

I would say that the Bass Harbor Lighthouse is in the top five most famous lighthouses in Maine. Located in Acadia National Park on Mount Desert Island, the Bass Harbor Lighthouse is beautifully set on the rocks above Penobscot Bay and is really popular to visit in the summertime. Just because it’s popular to visit doesn’t mean that it’s easy or convenient to visit, as it’s not on the primary part of Mount Desert Island that most people visit. Don’t worry though, because we’ve got the full scoop on how to visit and add it to your Acadia NP itinerary.

Have you made the trip over to this side of the island and down to Bass Harbor Head? If not, let’s get that planned to be a part of your next visit. If you have questions about how to visit the Bass Harbor Head Lighthouse or the rest of Acadia National Park, please leave a comment or send us a note so we can help you build your awesome trip to the DownEast area of Maine.

Highlights of Visiting Bass Harbor Lighthouse

What I like most about the Bass Harbor Lighthouse, aka the Bass Harbor Head Light, is how beautiful the area AND the lighthouse are together. This is what an iconic Maine lighthouse really is: dramatic, historic, amazing during golden hour… While the Bass Harbor Lighthouse is rather small, it makes up for its size with the setting. Other lighthouses set up away from the water, like the Owls Head Lighthouse or Pemaquid Point Light, just don’t have the same vibe or Maine-ness as this one. You’ll get it once you’re there.

There’s more to visiting the Bass Harbor Lighthouse than just driving up and getting out of the car. When you arrive you’ll be able to get close to the lighthouse on the west side of it and you can read through the exhibit displays, and then you can enjoy the rest of it. Walk back to the parking area and go to the end of the lot where you’ll find a trail into the woods. Here you’ll proceed a bit through the forest until you come to the clearing that opens to stairs down onto the rocks. There is a bit of a trail and more stairs and then it ends and you’re left with rocks to traverse. If you choose to keep going, do so safely and with mindfulness of the tide and conditions. It’s from down here on the rocks that you get the best view of the Bass Harbor Lighthouse and where most of the iconic photos are taken from.

If you’re like our family, this also opens up the trip to a bit of tide pooling. We love to look through the rocky pools and splash zones to see what creatures we’ll find, and doing so with a historic lighthouse overseeing you is just pure Maine fun. I also love watching the sailing ships and boats going by when we’re down on the rocks at the Bass Harbor Lighthouse. The many boat tours that go by often include beautiful schooners, adding that vibe of 19th century maritime Maine.

Tips for Visiting Bass Harbor Lighthouse in Acadia NP

When you visit the Bass Harbor Lighthouse, try to get nice and early in the day before the sun is too high in the sky. Getting there before it’s busy allows you a more peaceful visit, better parking and better lighting for photographs. Morning is best for visiting because you’ll actually be able to park and get close to the Bass Harbor Lighthouse. Sunset is so busy here that the National Park Service even has a warning on its website that sunset is a very difficult time to visit.

Allow yourself an hour or so to enjoy the Bass Harbor Lighthouse… assuming you’re there before it’s busy. If you arrive and the small parking area is full, you CANNOT just park on the street. You’ll need to wait in the car queue or drive off and come back later. Plan for not being able to get a parking spot right away, so allow yourself an extra half hour. The nearby town of Southwest Harbor is cute and a nice place to grab a bite (such as a lobster roll), so maybe go check it out and come back later.

When you do finally have access to the parking lot, the Bass Harbor Lighthouse is an easy one to enjoy. There are exhibits talking about the light station, about Acadia National Park and information about Mount Desert Island. All of this is outside as the actual lighthouses itself is not open to the public.

Being Prepared for the Bass Harbor Lighthouse

The general visit to the Bass Harbor Lighthouse is not complicated, but if you do plan on walking through the woods down to the rocks you should wear the right shoes for it. Flip flops won’t cut it and you’ll need to be wearing tennis shoes or something more sturdy. We’re used to climbing all over rocks and seaweed so we’re kind of like ocean mountain goats, but a lot of people visiting Acadia National Park and the Bass Harbor Lighthouse don’t get to spend much time on the water like this. Just be ready to be safe. You don’t need to bring a bunch of gear or do much other planning (except for your time management). Visiting the Bass Harbor Lighthouses is pretty straight-forward.

Parking at Bass Harbor Head

So, as I’ve said, there is a small parking area here at the Bass Harbor Lighthouse. It’s at the end of the road, and the road is not a wide one. Sometimes there are people directing traffic and sometimes not. It’s best to be here early in the day as sunset is the busiest time. There are a few handicap accessible parking spots that give access to the upper lighthouse viewing area, but access through the woods is limited and is NOT wheelchair accessible.

NOTE: the Island Explorer free shuttle bus that goes all around Acadia National Park does NOT come to the Bass Harbor Lighthouse. You can only get here by car or bike. If you’ve rented E-bikes in Acadia NP, this is a great destination to ride to, and although it’s rather far, if you have an all day rental, it’s a great idea!