Village of Otter Creek
Otter Creek, located on Mount Desert Island, Maine, is part of the municipality of Mount Desert which covers 25,699 acres and has an approximate population of 2,146 per the year 2020 census. This is about a 5% increase over the 2010 census figure of 2053. Otter Creek is a quiet community on Route 3 located on the south side of Bar Harbor. Route 3 goes from Bar Harbor, through Otter Creek as it continues on to Seal Harbor where it takes a sharp turn to the right on its way to Northeast Harbor.
What is here?
On the southern side of Otter Creek is the entrance to Blackwoods Campground in Acadia National Park. However, this will not get you to the Park Loop Road. To get to the main entrance station to the Park, head north about two miles. Just before Jackson Laboratory (which is on the right), there is an entrance. As you turn in, you will notice a sharp left turn. This goes a short distance to Wild Gardens of Acadia and The Nature Center. If you pass by this, a short distance ahead is the Park Loop Road where you will need to take a right as it is a one-way road at this location. There will be a few pull-ff sections where you can take in some beautiful views. Eventually, after passing the pull-off for the Precipice Trail, you will arrive at the Entrance Station.
Along the Way
As you leave Otter Creek and drive North on Route 3, you find yourself between two relatively small mountains. On the left, there is a body of water called The Tarn. This was glacier formed many thousands of years ago. There are some nice paths accessed immediately after on the left. The path leads down a slight incline. Take a look at the photo following this. It was taken down this path during the autumn season. It was magical to see.
During the autumn season especially, you will see groups of photographers lined up along the road taking photos of the many colors and reflections seen on The tarn. They are often part of photo workshops being given by many talented photographers come to the island each year.
The Entrance to Acadia
If you do have the time and are not in a rush, I recommends making a stop at the Nature Center. Also there is Wild Gardens of Acadia, the original Abbe Museum, and Sieur de Monts Spring. If you like history and knowing how things happened or came to be, this is a prime starting place. Read a little about th is spring. It will add some depth to the experience. Depending on the time of year, there will be some interesting and informative displays of native plants in Wild Gardens of Acadia. If you enjoy walking in the forest of open meadows, try Jesup Trail. The following image shows a spot on that Path.
For most current hours of operation, view National park Service page here: Park Hours
Park Hours/Seasons
The park remains open all year but some roads and facilities are closed in the winter. Most of the Park Loop Road, including the road to Cadillac Mountain, is closed from December 1 through April 14. Unpaved roads in the park are generally closed November 15 through May 14. Weather conditions may require that roads be closed earlier in the fall or delay their opening in the spring. (See Operating Hours & Seasons.)
Two short sections of the Park Loop Road remain open all year. One is a scenic one-mile section along the ocean by Thunder Hole. This may be accessed via the Schooner Head Road which is two miles south of Bar Harbor off Route 3. The other gives access to Jordan Pond via the Jordan Pond Road in Seal Harbor. For additional information, contact the National Park Service directly or visit their Temporary Closures page for recent postings.
National Park Service
Acadia National Park, P.O. Box 177, Bar Harbor, ME 04609
Phone:
(207) 288-3338 or Email: acadia_information@nps.gov
Additional Information
If you have never been to this part of Maine, especially here on Mount Desert Island, it would be easy to get fooled into thinking that there is not much to do. After all, it is just a small island on the coast of little old Maine. Nothing could be further from the truth. It is much larger than you likely imagine. The most important thing is to get here. It is sort of like getting a cabin on a cruise ship where you will actually spend very little time in the cabin because there is so much to do everywhere else. Take your time and explore. Most of all, take time to explore Acadia magic. You will likely discover places that you did not know about. Enjoy.
