Due to the government shutdown, Acadia remains mostly open, while operating with significantly reduced staff and visitor services. A skeleton crew of employees who are deemed essential to public health and safety remain on duty at Acadia without pay to take care of visitors who access the trails, roads, and carriage roads.

There is no park staff at Hulls Cove Visitor Center or Acadia Gateway Center to ask questions about your visit, so take time to research and plan your trip – and know what you’re getting into – before heading into the park.

While some law enforcement rangers and search and rescue personnel are on hand in case of emergencies, this is an extremely busy time in the park, and help might take hours.

Pack Your Patience (Have a Plan B and a Plan C)

There are a lot of folks here to enjoy the park, just like you. Be patient on the roads, in the parking lots, and on the trails. Getting around is going to take longer. Also have a plan B and a plan C ready, should your first choice destination already be full and crowded.

Parking Will Be Limited

With high numbers of visitors this time of year, expect parking to be hard to find, especially at popular park locations like Jordan Pond House and Sand Beach. Please only park in designated parking spots or marked sections with permitted right lane parking on the auto road. If the lot at a particular location is full, move on. Please do not park on the grass or in non-designated areas. (We highly recommend taking the Island Explorer instead! See more below.)

Take the Island Explorer Fare-Free Bus (runs through Monday, Oct. 13)

Leave your car parked at Hulls Cove, the new Acadia Gateway Center, in town, or at your place of lodging and ride the fare-free Island Explorer bus, which connects the park with the surrounding communities on Mount Desert Island and the Schoodic Peninsula. The Island Explorer continues to operate on its fall schedule through October 13, 2025. It takes the pressure off parking, reduces traffic congestion and emissions within the park, and lets you relax and enjoy your exploring. Check the Island Explorer schedule and route finder.

Park Passes During the Shutdown

During the government shutdown, the park is unable to sell park passes or collect fees. This puts significant park revenue, needed for next year’s operations, at risk. We know many visitors want to support the park by purchasing a park pass – but simply have no way of doing so right now. In lieu of a park entrance pass, visitors can support Acadia by donating the value of an entrance fee.

Cadillac Mountain – Reservations Still Required

Reservations are still required to drive your car up the Cadillac Mountain Road. Vehicle reservations cost $6. They are sold online in advance at Recreation.gov. They are not available for purchase at the park. No reservation is required to bike up the auto road or hike up the trails to the summit.

Beehive and Precipice Will Likely Be Packed

They’re incredible trails with ledge views and ladders to climb. They’re also very popular, which means you can expect lines and congestion on those trails in particular. Consider another trail instead. If you do head to Precipice or Beehive, go early and/or pack your patience.
Also note: The park encourages one-way traffic for both safety reasons (it’s easier and safer to go up a ladder than down it) as well as reducing congestion on the trails.

Know Your Hike & Trails with Ladders

You’re headed out for a hike! So fun! Do you know which hike you’re doing, how long it’ll take, how strenuous it’ll be and/or whether your fear of heights and ledges will stop you in your tracks halfway through? Do a little recon before you hit the trails. If you’re not a fan of climbing iron rungs and ladders, note these trails have them: Beehive Trail, Precipice Trail, Beech Cliffs Trail, and Ladder Trail to Dorr Mountain. Some other trails with ladders or rungs are Jordan Cliffs and the Perpendicular Trail up Mansell Mountain.

Slow Your Roll on the Carriage Roads

Acadia’s carriage roads are multi-use, meaning they welcome walkers and hikers, bike riders, and horseback riders and horse-drawn carriages. Be mindful of all the other visitors and go slowly – it gives you more time to enjoy the scenery while helping prevent injuries or startling others, including horses. Note: Everyone yields to horses and bicyclists yield to everyone.

Be Prepared

Some basic preparation can mean the difference between a splendid and memorable day in Acadia versus a stressful and cold hike that culminates in a twisted ankle.

Sturdy hiking boots/shoes: The number one reason for search and rescue (SAR) in Acadia National Park is lower-leg injuries from falls, slips, and trips on the rocky, root-covered, and often wet trails. Wear sturdy hiking boots or hiking shoes with good traction, and mind any wet rock you encounter.

Paper map: Trail apps are a great way to scout trails in advance, check distances and elevation gain, and glean intel from fellow hikers. But cell service in Acadia can be spotty, which means your cell phone might be less than helpful should you get turned around in the park. Pick up a paper map of the park and carry that in your backpack as well.

Water and snacks: You came all this way to revel in Acadia’s wonders – why risk getting “hangry” mid-way through the day? Pack some snacks and water. It’s a treat to enjoy a snack in a scenic spot, plus it’ll spare you from the thirsty and starving crabbiness that creeps up when you’re least expecting it.

What’s Open/Closed in Acadia During the Government Shutdown

Per the Department of Interior’s contingency plan, Acadia remains mostly open, but is operating with significantly reduced staff and visitor services.

Stay apprised of what’s open or closed in Acadia.

Watch Your Step!

Staying on trail is a wise environmental approach. It keeps the impact from foot traffic to a confined space – allowing the surrounding vegetation to thrive.

On many of Acadia’s summits, the evergreen forest gives way to open swaths of exposed granite that are swirled with low-lying flowers and shrubs. Those plants make the most of the shallow pockets of soil. They’re tough! But they’re also fragile. A few boot steps can destroy them. Your duty as a plant protector is to rock hop and keep your boot steps on durable surfaces!

Leave the Cairns & Stack No Rocks

Cairns are rock piles or stacks that serve to mark the trail. They’re essential in Acadia on stretches of exposed granite, where the trail can be harder to follow. Acadia’s cairns are known as Bates cairns and feature two rocks at the base, a “mantel” rock on top of those, and a directional rock on top that points the way. When you see one, let it be.

And avoid making your own rock stacks, lest other hikers confuse them for cairns and get detoured from the trail.

Pets in the Park

Federal law requires that all pets must be kept on a leash no longer than 6 feet (2 m) at all times.

These trails do not allow pets: Precipice Trail, Beehive Trail, Jordan Cliffs Trail (between the Penobscot East Trail and carriage road), Ladder Trail to Dorr Mountain, Beech Cliffs Trail, and Perpendicular Trail.

These trails are not recommended for pets (i.e., pets aren’t restricted, but use caution and know your pet’s abilities before heading out): Acadia Mountain, Flying Mountain, Giant Slide, Cadillac Mountain – west face, Bubble and Jordan Pond Path, between the carriage road and The Featherbed pond, Norumbega Goat Trail, Bubbles-Pemetic Trail, Penobscot Mountain (Spring) Trail, Upper Beachcroft Trail, and Upper Gorge Trail.

Remove your pet’s poop
That means bagging it AND disposing of it, as opposed to leaving it on the side of a trail hoping you’ll remember to grab it later. Truth is, Acadia is a wonderfully distracting place, and people forget. A lot. So bag it, carry it out, and dispose of it properly. Learn more about visiting Acadia with your pet.

Remove Your Poop

Ideally, all human pooping in Acadia would take place in a toilet. Acadia has a bunch of well-maintained toilets conveniently positioned near trailheads and popular park destinations (these bathrooms should be open and maintained during the shutdown, but please remember that a very limited staff is doing their best to keep Acadia’s facilities clean and in good working order).

If nature calls unexpectedly and nowhere near a restroom, you have two options: bag it and carry it out or dig a hole and bury it. Packing an emergency poop bag and some toilet paper makes good sense for this reason.