4 Must-See Lakes at Acadia National Park (+10 More Ponds)

Acadia National Park is known for its beautiful rugged natural scenery. This includes the many lakes found across its landscape.

There are 24 named lakes and ponds in Acadia National Park. With so many bodies of water to explore, it can be hard to know which are worth visiting on your trip to the park. What’s more, only some of Acadia’s lakes allow recreational activities like boating and swimming.

I’ve narrowed it down to a list of the best lakes and ponds that you shouldn’t miss while visiting Acadia. Here are 4 must-see lakes and ponds at Acadia National Park, plus additional information on 10 more of Acadia’s other ponds.

4 Must-See Lakes and Ponds at Acadia National Park

Eagle Lake

Eagle Lake is the biggest lake on the east side of Mount Desert Island, which is the main section of Acadia National Park.

If you plan to see Acadia’s highlights by driving along the popular Park Loop Road, you can get a glimpse of this beautiful lake by stopping at the Eagle Lake Overlook.

But there are plenty of others ways to enjoy Eagle Lake if you want to spend more time there.

You can continue admiring Eagle Lake from the shore by bike or by foot along Acadia’s car-free carriage roads. These carriage roads circle most of Eagle Lake’s perimeter.

If you’d rather get out on the lake, boating and fishing are both allowed at Eagle Lake. Canoes, kayaks, and motor boats are permitted at a maximum speed of 10 miles per hour. Swimming and paddleboarding/oarboarding are not permitted activities at Eagle Lake.

The boat launch is at the northern end of Eagle Lake. It can be accessed by car along Eagle Lake Road. If you don’t plan to use the boat launch, you can also check out the southern end of the lake by leaving your car at the Bubble Pond parking lot and walking along the carriage road that leads to Eagle Lake.

Jordan Pond

Jordan Pond is one of the most popular spots in Acadia National Park.

At the very least you’ll want to make a stop here to admire Jordan Pond’s natural beauty. It has some of the most deep, clear water in Acadia and offers its iconic view of the hills called The Bubbles.

If you have more time on your trip to this park, there are plenty of activities for visitors to partake in.

Many visitors stop here to eat at the Jordan Pond House (the park’s only restaurant). If you don’t want to wait a very long time for food, consider bringing your own picnic to enjoy.

Boating and fishing are both allowed if you want to spend time out on the water. Just make sure to check for specific rules around these activities since Jordan Pond is a source of drinking water. For this reason, swimming (for both humans and pets) and paddleboarding/oarboarding are not allowed in Jordan Pond.

Come back to Jordan Pond at night as it’s one of the best spots in Acadia National Park for stargazing.

Jordan Pond can be accessed at its southern end where there’s a parking lot off of Park Loop Road. Several of the Island Explorer shuttle routes also stop here if you don’t want to fight the crowds for parking.

Echo Lake

Echo Lake is on the eastern side of Mount Desert Island. Technically only the southern part of Echo Lake is within Acadia National Park, so that is where you’ll head to enjoy the lake’s activities.

Echo Lake is one of the few bodies of water you can swim in at Acadia National Park. The southern end of the lake has a designated swimming area and a sandy beach. The best months for swimming are July and August because the average water temperature is over 70 degrees.

Visitors can also partake in boating and fishing at Echo Lake. The boat launch is at Ikes Point. Unlike some of the other lakes, paddleboarding and pets are also welcome at Echo Lake since it isn’t a source of drinking water.

Echo Lake is right along Route 102. The Island Explorer shuttle stops at the southern end of Echo Lake if you want to avoid driving and parking there yourself.

Long Pond

Long Pond is also on Mount Desert Island, just to the west of Echo Lake. There is another Long Pond in Acadia on Isle au Haut, but that is not the Long Pond that I’m recommending here!

The aptly-named Long Pond is the longest pond in Acadia National Park so there is plenty of lake for visitors to explore.

There are boat launches at both the northern and southern ends of Long Pond. Rent canoes, kayaks, or paddleboards at National Park Canoe & Kayak Rental by the northern boat launch. Keep in mind that the northern boat launch and the eastern shore of Long Pond are outside of the national park’s boundaries, so avoid trespassing on private land in these areas.

Long Pond is also another great place for fishing. Landlocked salmon, brook trout, smallmouth bass, and chain pickerel are all found in Long Pond.

10 More Acadia National Park Lakes and Ponds

In addition to the 4 ponds listed above, there are 10 more “Great Ponds” (ponds of a certain size) located within or bordering the Acadia National Park. They aren’t nearly as large as the 4 lakes and ponds listed above, but can be nice alternatives if you’re looking for a more peaceful place to escape the crowds.

Aunt Betty Pond: Take the Aunt Betty Pond carriage road to this pond that’s west of Eagle Lake.
Bubble Pond: Bubble Pond is near Eagle Lake and Jordan Pond, but much smaller. Stroll along the pond’s western edge on a carriage road. Swimming is not permitted here because this pond provides drinking water to local communities.
Lower and Upper Hadlock Ponds: Located by the Brown Mountain Parking Area, a network of trails and carriage roads surround these ponds. Swimming is not permitted in these ponds because they provide drinking water to local communities.
Lake Wood: Located a few minutes away from the Hulls Cove Visitor Center, this pond has a small swimming area that is much less trafficked than Echo Lake. Visitor’s must walk a 0.1-mile trail between Lake Wood’s parking lot and swimming area.
Witch Hole Pond: Take the carriage road from the Hulls Cove Visitor Center to Witch Hole Pond.
Seal Cove Pond: This pond is located on the west side of Mount Desert Island. It’s one of the larger ponds and has a boat ramp near its southern end on Seal Cove Pond Road.
Hodgdon Pond: Hodgdon Pond is just north of Seal Cove Pond. Although the National Park Service owns the land along Hodgdon Pond’s eastern shore, there isn’t much in the way of infrastructure built here to make it accessible to visitors.
Round Pond: This small pond is across the street from the northern end of Long Pond on Mount Desert Island.
Long Pond (on Isle au Haut): This Long Pond is a long, skinny pond in the southeast of Isle au Haut. Check it out if you’re camping at Duck Harbor Campground.

Need more help planning your trip to Acadia National Park? Check out these related articles:

As always, enjoy the outdoors responsibly. Leave no trace on all of your adventures.