Swimming Holes and Waterfalls Near Acadia & Bar Harbor
Ranks 1–3 and 5 are places where a swim can be in play if posted rules and that day’s surf or lake conditions line up. Rank 4 (Schoodic) is a rugged ocean headland first—treat the guide as safety and viewing, not a swim beach. The waterfall runs are short walks; read each one for no-swim or posted limits before you plan a water entry.
Park passes, seasonal closures, and cold water move fast in this part of Maine. Use the map to order drive time, then use each full guide for fees, lifeguard hours, and whether swimming is even offered that day. For more statewide picks, see best Maine swimming holes.
Rank 1: Echo Lake Beach (Acadia NP) — Mount Desert
Acadia NP's freshwater swim beach on the southwest side of Mount Desert Island. Seasonal lifeguard, park fee.
- Can you swim?
- Swimming allowed when posted rules and staffing say it is open
- Walk
- 0-5 min
Rank 2: Sand Beach (Acadia NP) — Mount Desert
Acadia's cold-water sand beach on the Park Loop Road, between Great Head and The Beehive, Mount Desert Island.
- Can you swim?
- Swimming allowed when posted rules and staffing say it is open
- Walk
- 5-10 min one way
Rank 3: The Bowl (Acadia NP) — Mount Desert
Small mountain tarn between Champlain and the Beehive in Acadia NP, reached on foot from Sand Beach.
- Can you swim?
- Conditional swim or wade access. Check flow and signage
- Walk
- 0-5 min
Rank 4: Schoodic Point (Acadia) — Winter Harbor
Viewing only, not a swim stop
Acadia NP's rocky ocean headland on the Schoodic Peninsula in Winter Harbor, Maine. Viewing only, not a swim.
- Can you swim?
- No swimming. View only
- Walk
- 0-5 min
Rank 5: Lakewood — Bar Harbor
Small freshwater pond on Mount Desert Island in Bar Harbor; not the Richardson Lakes Lakewood camps.
- Can you swim?
- Swimming allowed when posted rules and staffing say it is open
- Walk
- 0-5 min
Rank 6: Hadlock Falls — Mount Desert
Viewing only, not a swim stop
Tall Acadia cascade on Maple Spring Brook, framed by the Waterfall Bridge on the Around Mountain carriage road.
- Can you swim?
- No swimming. View only
- Walk
- 0-5 min
Rank 7: Bubble Brook Falls — Bar Harbor
Viewing only, not a swim stop
A small Acadia brook cascade near Bubble Pond on Mount Desert Island.
- Can you swim?
- No swimming. View only
- Walk
- 15-25 min one way
Rank 8: Duck Brook Falls — Bar Harbor
Viewing only, not a swim stop
A small cascade on Duck Brook in Bar Harbor, seen from the carriage-road bridge in Acadia NP.
- Can you swim?
- No swimming. View only
- Walk
- 0-5 min
Rank 9: Chasm Brook Falls — Bar Harbor
Viewing only, not a swim stop
Small tiered drops on Chasm Brook on the western side of Mount Desert Island, in Acadia National Park.
- Can you swim?
- No swimming. View only
- Walk
- 0-5 min
Rank 10: Man of War Brook Falls — Mount Desert
Viewing only, not a swim stop
Acadia NP cascade dropping into Somes Sound, reached from the Valley Cove / Flying Mountain trails, Mount Desert Island,…
- Can you swim?
- No swimming. View only
- Walk
- 0-5 min