We have visited Bar Harbor on Maine’s Mount Desert Island multiple times. In addition to being a popular summer vacation destination, the town of 5,200 is a popular port stop on Canada and New England cruises.
The town of Bar Harbor offers a picturesque backdrop for exploring on foot, with a shore path that dates to 1880.
When we visited last September via Holland America’s 7-Day Canada and New England Discovery cruise, we were lucky to be in port during low tide.
It is only during low tide that visitors are able to walk on the gravel sandbar to the small, uninhabited Bar Island that is situated just across from the town of Bar Harbor. This tidal island is a part of Acadia National Park.
To reach the path, we turned right out of the waterfront pier — where cruise ship tenders drop passengers — and headed up West Street. A signpost indicates where to turn onto Bridge Street to reach the Bar Island Path.
If your visit coincides with high tide, you will run into water at the end of Bridge Street. During low tide, however, a sand and gravel bar appears that connects Bridge Street in Bar Harbor to Bar Island.
At low tide visitors often walk across, or park cars on the exposed bar. The gravel and sandy surface remain somewhat wet at low tide. As you walk, it is possible to dig in the sand, find shells, seaweed and other organisms that live on the bar through its twice a day tidal flow of up to 12 feet.
This natural land bridge is accessible as much as 2 hours before low tide and 2 hours after low tide.
Once you reach Bar Island, a sign indicates that you are entering part of Acadia National Park. A park pass is required to continue into the island, but you need to have purchased a pass before crossing the sandbar. There are walking trails on the uninhabited, forested island.
Despite the warning signs, visitors have been known to return from a hike to find their cars submerged, and/or that they are stranded on the island until the tide recedes.
If you are lucky to be in Bar Harbor during low tide, we recommend this scenic walk across the sandbar on a sunny day. Just be sure to take some water and watch the tides.
You might be interested to know that the tiny Bar Island inspired the town of Eden, Maine, to be renamed to Bar Harbor on March 3, 1918. The town now called Bar Harbor was incorporated on February 23, 1796 as “Eden”, after Sir Richard Eden, an English statesman. Learn more about this area in 17 Fun Facts About Bar Harbor, Maine.
Another interesting fact about Bar Island: despite repeated attempts by the town of Bar Harbor to obtain jurisdiction over its namesake island connected by a sandbar, a 1903 court decision confirmed that the distant town of Gouldsboro, Maine retains jurisdiction over Bar Island under its 1798 articles of incorporation.
Learn more about Bar Harbor, Maine with these resources:
Bar Harbor in the Roaring Twenties: From Village Life to the High Life on Mount Desert Island
For more on cruising in Canada and New England:
- A Walk Around Halifax, Nova Scotia During Our Visit By Cruise Ship
- In Search of the Best Lobster Roll During Our Canada and New England Cruise
- A Do-It-Yourself Port Day in Quebec City, Canada
- Highlights From Our Visit to Prince Edward Island Via Cruise Ship
- Culinary Walk in Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island
- Visiting Baddeck and the Alexander Graham Bell Museum from Sydney, Cape Breton Island
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