Hidden in between rocky Maine coast and the sea are tide pools teeming with starfish, sea urchins, and creatures of the ocean deep – making Marginal Way a great discovery when in Ogunquit. Learn more about Marginal Way and enjoy this ocean walk on your vacation. Kayaking in Ogunquit is a great way to get outdoors and spend quality time with family and friends. Ogunquit is home to miles of beach and plenty of rugged coastline – plus the tidal Ogunquit River. With opportunities for kayaking in quiet, secluded bays, and for paddling among the wildlife of the York River and Cape Neddick River inlets, you can enjoy the best of relaxing day together. The tidal pools are just one small part of what makes the park so incredible.We recommend Excursions Coastal Maine Outfitting Co. This was my tenth trip or so to Acadia, and every time I go, I find new places to explore. Bring your binoculars and plan to be there around dawn or dusk for the best fauna viewing. Here, the shore hosts great tidal pools, but is especially famous for its harbor seals. Then, the trail opens up into a meadow, where you will see a path down to the water. To get to the shoreline, take the Big Wood Trail for one mile through rich and dense pines, mosses, and ferns. Not owned by the National Park and, as a result, not frequented by many of its visitors, the Preserve is one of the island’s hidden gems. The last tidal pool stop I made was at the top of the Quietside, at The Nature Conservancy’s Blagden Preserve on Indian Point. And, for a longer journey, right down the road is Bass Harbor Head Lighthouse. Too, the water is typically clear and gentle, which makes the area a nice place to stop and have lunch. As such, you can easily get close without causing any damage or stepping on barnacles. Wonderland is particularly nice, because the pools are larger and less crowded with seaweed. From there, you can walk in either direction to explore the pools. To access the tidal pools, take a half-mile or so walk through pines, until you hit the shoreline. To get there, just pull off 102A to find a small, skinny parking lot with a bathroom. The next tidal pools I visited were on Mount Desert Island’s west side, known to the locals as the “Quietside.” Several tidal pools make the Quietside their home, and the first I checked out was at Wonderland. It remains a beautiful natural wonder hidden along Maine’s coast. I highly recommend taking a peek, as you will be able to see all sorts of unusual life, from hot pink seaweed to deep red anemones. As you approach from the tidal pool areas at Schooner Head, you can kneel on a small ledge to view the inside. That being said, you can still see inside the cave without entering. Further, its environment is also very delicate, so, in response, the Park Service no longer advertises it as a place to go. As it is incredibly difficult and dangerous to enter, it can only be reached at the lowest tide. However, Schooner Head Overlook’s main attraction is Anemone Cave. This time, the tidal pools were magnificent, populated by crabs, periwinkles, barnacles, sea anemones, sea urchin, and more marine life. Keep in mind that wet rocks are incredibly slippery, and rocks with seaweed are twice as dangerous, so proceed with extreme caution. It was a short walk to get down to the waterfront and, from there, a bit of a scramble. Because of the clouds overhead, there wasn’t a single car in the parking lot. I arrived first thing in the morning, so that I could be there as the 11 a.m. The first tidal pools I visited were at Schooner Head Overlook. For finding the best time, offers a helpful tide-monitoring resource. For safety reasons, get there when the tide is going out (approaching low tide), and always keep an eye on the water - it comes in faster than you think. The most important thing when viewing tidal pools is timing! You must know when the tide is out or when it is coming in. Revisiting old favorites and discovering new ones, I went to three different spots on both sides of Mount Desert Island’s “lobster claw.” On a trip to Acadia this summer, I tried to explore parts I hadn’t seen before and focused on seeing Acadia’s famous tidal pools, located in several places, all unique and each worth a visit. But, most don’t think to look there, let alone consider it a reason to love the park. For many hikers on the East Coast, myself included, Acadia National Park is beloved and cherished, and much of its beauty comes from the surrounding water.
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