Referred to by locals as the Quietside, Southwest Harbor has it all in terms of attractions while also maintaining a quiet, community feel. Acadia National Park is often synonymous with Bar Harbor for those who are new to Mount Desert Island (MDI for short). This is because the Bar Harbor Chamber of Commerce has done a fabulous job getting Acadia on the map! You will find Bar Harbor on many top 10 lists including affordable family vacations, best fall foliage, most scenic marathon, best ice cream and more, but Acadia National Park and MDI is much more than just Bar Harbor. Our business, Acadia Yurts, is located in Southwest Harbor and if you only stuck to the guidebooks or TripAdvisor top 10 list, you’d risk missing many of the hidden gems that endear Acadia to the masses.
A short synopsis of the island to increase your familiarity… MDI is made up of 4 towns listed here in terms of population from largest to smallest: Bar Harbor, Mount Desert, Southwest Harbor and Tremont. While MDI has a small year-round community, it thrives on tourism from April through October, seeing approximately 3.5 million Park visitors annually. Acadia tops the 7 most visited national parks in the United States behind Yellowstone, Grand Canyon, Zion, Rocky Mountain, Smoky Mountain and Yosemite. That is a flattering crowd to be among!
Southwest Harbor has everything you might expect in a Maine seaside town; locally owned restaurants and shops, parks, galleries and a working waterfront. Unlike your typical commute, the drive from Southwest Harbor to other park attractions is stunning. You drive by Echo Lake and Acadia/St Sauveur mountains on your way to Somesville, past the end of Somes Sound to access the towns of Northeast and witness the most incredible Fall foliage on Route 233 on the way to Bar Harbor. To access most parts of the island your maximum drive time is about 20-30 minutes, depending on traffic. Southwest to Northeast is 13 miles; Southwest to Bar Harbor is 14 miles; Bar Harbor to Northeast is 12 miles. It might be your most scenic commute ever because everywhere you look you see green space, water, and beauty; not bad for the daily drive to the next adventure!
Acadia National Park is sprinkled throughout all of MDI, covering nearly half of the island’s total acreage. Within 10 miles of downtown Southwest Harbor you will find mountain peaks, biking trails, fresh water swimming, a lighthouse and more. Some local favorites for fresh water access are Echo Lake, Long Pond, Somes Pond and Seal Cove Pond. These areas are great for bringing a canoe/kayak/paddleboard or taking a dip to cool down. Echo Lake has a sandy beach and the beloved bluffs, as well as multiple boat launch sites along Rt 198. Long Pond has a thrilling cliff to jump from or a meandering walking trail along the water’s edge. Ponds End is the far end of Long Pond, located in Mount Desert, and offers canoe and paddle board rental as well as a boat launch.
Being on or near that water is part of what makes Acadia so magical. If lake water swimming isn’t your jam consider spending time walking near the water’s edge or getting out on a boat. Seawall, Wonderland and Ships Harbor are located less than 5 miles from downtown Southwest Harbor and each area brings you close to the water’s edge. All of these areas have park signs indicating you have arrived and Ships Harbor has public restrooms in the parking area. Wonderland and Ships Harbor are great for kids, dogs and those looking for an easy yet scenic hiking loop. Tide pools, rocky coastlines, mud flats and views to the horizon make each of these areas a must!
To get out on the water via boat we recommend the Cranberry Cove Ferry or Sail Acadia; both depart from Southwest Harbor. When visiting Little Cranberry consider stopping at the Islesford Dock Restaurant for lunch or shopping in the gallery next door. Sail Acadia offers sailing charters on their classic Maine Friendship sloop, the Alice E (the original Maine Lobster ship) or cruise on one of their “current day” lobster boats. The Alice E was built in 1899 and is the oldest working Friendship Sloop! Tours with Sail Acadia are sure to be one of your visit highlights!
Hiking on the Quietside is abundant. Parking areas for Acadia and St. Sauveur Mountains are on Route 198 as you enter Southwest Harbor. These mountains are moderate hikes that can be done individually or strung together for a longer venture. Just over the mountain (or around the corner) is Flying Mountain. Flying takes hikers down to Somes Sound before looping back around to the parking area. Beech Mountain has 4 separate trails that all lead to a fire tower on top of the mountain. Two trails can be accessed from the end of Long Pond (only 2 minutes from Acadia Yurts!) and the other two can be accessed from the Somesville side near Camp Beech Cliff. Atop Beech Mountain you can see the Cranberry Islands in the distance, downtown Southwest Harbor, Echo Lake and nearby Acadia/St. Sauveur mountains. Little known secret is the sunset granite thrones built facing west for a magical sunset without the crowds! The Western Mountains are also located in Southwest Harbor and boast moderate to challenging hikes without the crowds. This range can be accessed from the end of Long Pond or via the Seal Cove Road. Speaking of the Seal Cove Road; that park entrance is a great spot for running, walking a dog, biking, hiking and fishing. This area of the park sees far less car and foot traffic compared to many other park locations so it feels a million miles away while only clocking 3 miles from downtown (and less if you’re staying at Acadia Yurts!).
Thinking about all this activity is making me hungry so what is there to eat in Southwest Harbor? For breakfast on the run stop by Milagro; their homemade baked goods are divine and their coffee is delicious! To sit down and plan your day, stop by Sips for a “sip” (and a bite to eat). Their meals are reasonable in size and cost while being absolutely delicious. The Upper Deck has the most incredible views of the harbor while also serving a classic Maine food fare. Sunday brunch features the infamous Roberta DeMuro on the piano.
If you are visiting Acadia then Popovers are a MUST! Most visitors head to the Jordan Pond House but the locals go to Southwest Harbor and the Common Good Café. The Common Good a non-profit community-based organization dedicated to promoting health, nutrition, and fellowship, among the residents of Mount Desert Island. This establishment runs entirely by donations, grants, and volunteer labor, the café also runs a distribution program to deliver soup to senior residences and others who cannot make it out to the café. Mid-June through mid-October, this soup kitchen is open Tuesday through Sunday from 7:30-11:30am and cranks out the best popovers, often accompanied by live music. Their philosophy was built on “emphasizing true community building along with incorporating healthy and locally sourced food”. That’s a motto we can get behind!
For lunch and dinner, we recommend Quietside Café and Eat A Pita. Both restaurants are located on Main Street in downtown Southwest Harbor and offer space to dine in or will pack your goodies to hit the road. Quietside Café is often buzzing at night with visitors stopping by for blueberry pie ala mode or an ice cream cone to round out their day of adventuring. Red Sky, Coda and Rogue offers you foodies out there delicious dinners utilizing the freshest produce, seafood and meat available. For all local restaurants we recommend calling in advance for reservations during the summer months to ensure a table.
If you prefer to cook at home, then we recommend stopping at the larger grocery stores in Ellsworth to stock up on essentials; Shaw’s and Hannaford are both located in Ellsworth. To replenish during your stay, the IGA in Southwest Harbor or the Gott’s Store on the far side of town have you covered. After you have shopped at Gott’s, go back to your rental and find the parody video on YouTube filmed by the Barn Arts Collective. It’s an amazing look into the local scene. For fresh, seasonal produce swing by the market at Beech Hill Farms. Their hours vary from shoulder to peak season but often there is a sandwich board with the information as you pass through Somesville near the fire station. During the summer months, expect weekly farmers markets in Bar Harbor and Southwest Harbor with local produce, honey, crafts and local goodies.
These are just a few of the reasons why we have fallen in love with Southwest Harbor. We encourage you to explore on your own and send us additional reasons why you find Southwest Harbor so great!