Despite â and maybe because of â COVID-19, Acadia National Park in Maine just had its busiest winter ever
And a few new rules worth noting for the upcoming peak season.
By Brittany Bowker Globe Staff,Updated April 24, 2021, 9:05 a.m.
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The Bass Harbor Head Lighthouse in Maine s Acadia National Park.Conor Knighton
Making the multihour drive up to Maineâs celebrated Acadia National Park in the middle of winter doesnât sound so bad when thereâs little else to do. And the data proves it â Acadia just had its busiest offseason ever.
From November to March, the park on Maineâs coast saw about 172,000 visitors â far surpassing its late-1990s wintertime high of 140,000 visitors, according to the National Park Serviceâs public use statistics.
In spite of rigid closures to comply with shelter in place rules across the country in 2020, many national parks saw record visitation numbers as nature-hungry adventurers sought safe and socially-distanced vacations. The spike in tourism led a few of the most popular parks, like Yosemite and Rocky Mountain, to implement new ticketed entry systems for day-use visitors, designed to pulse arrival dates and times and help combat overcrowding.
As vaccines continue to roll out and many states still have indoor restrictions and distancing measures in place, several of the country’s most visited national parks have announced new or continued permit requirements for the 2021 season. With day-use entries expected to sell out quickly, here’s a guide for when and how to snag one of those coveted spots.
Important 2021 Opening Dates – Acadia National Park
The National Park Service has announced the opening dates for the Park Loop Road, Hulls Cove Visitor Center, Thompson Island Information Center, Sieur de Monts Nature Center, Campgrounds and Jordan Pond House Restaurant and more.
The Hulls Cove Visitor Center will open May 7, offering park entrance pass sales and information. The adjoining Park Store will offer park-related sales items including books and maps. The Thompson Island Information Center opens May 15. The Sieur de Monts Nature Center opens for weekends May 15-28 and daily hours starting May 29.
Park campgrounds will open, but the number of campsites will be reduced due to COVID. Blackwoods Campground opens May 7 and Seawall and Schoodic Woods campgrounds open May 26. All campsites must be reserved online. Campsites will not be available for reservation in person.
Get Outside and Safely Visit a National Park
Now is the time to start looking ahead, to spring and summer excursions in the great outdoors.
A hiker takes in the view of Somes Sound from Parkman Mountain in Maine’s Acadia National Park.Credit.Sara Fox for The New York Times
By Kate Siber
March 12, 2021
Expansive vistas, serene lakes, abundant wildlife and good old fresh air what’s not to love about national parks? So many Americans have taken refuge in parks during the pandemic that 15 of them set recreation visitation records in 2020. All of the parks have adjusted their operations as a result of Covid-19, and with social-distancing protocols still in place almost a year later, there could be competition for campsites, ferry rides, programs and, in some cases, day passes at the most popular parks.
Island Explorer Bus Service To Feature 5 Routes In 2021
Last year the popular propane-driven shuttle service operated by Downeast Transportation was grounded by the nasty COVID-19 pandemic. This year it will be up and running, somewhat.
When it came to traffic last season, users of Acadia National Park on Mount Desert Island paid the price as parking was limited and the Cadillac Summit Road was shut down a few times because of traffic congestion.
Things will continue to be very different for the fare-free Island Explorer Bus service and it s passengers this year. While each bus normally carries 43 seated and 13 unseated passengers, this year riders will be spread out over every other row of seats for social distancing, for a limit of about12 passengers.