Visit The Wild Gardens Of Acadia National Park
Visiting the Wild Gardens of Acadia
There’s no better spot to soak in the natural beauty of Acadia’s flora and fauna than at the Wild Gardens of Acadia. This incredibly accessible area of the park features over 400 native plant species split into sections, representing all the natural plant communities within the park. Getting to the gardens is only a 0.2-mile walk with very little elevation gain. The walking path is easy to navigate. It’s a wonderful place if you’re traveling with a wide range of ages and ability levels.
I try to visit the gardens every time I’m in Acadia and I never ever get tired of it. It seems like every time I’m in there all my stress gets immediately wiped away and I feel re-energized.
The History of Acadia Gardens
In the early 1900s after recognizing the beauty of Mount Desert island and the critical need to preserve its beauty, George B Dorr purchased the Sieur de Monts Spring Area and named it the Wild Gardens of Acadia. I, for one, am forever thankful for this man, and you should be too. If the only act he ever did was to preserve this garden, that’s enough for me.
Eventually, in 1916, Mr. Dorr was acting as the park’s first superintendent, and he formed the Wild Gardens of Acadia Corporation to acquire more land areas and preserve them for public use. George Dorr intended to eventually donate the land as a monument for public use. This came true in 1930 when the Acadia Gardens were given to the U.S. government.
During his tenure, George Dorr forged paths through the gardens so that people could weave in and out of the native vegetation in the area without damaging them. Finally, in 2010, the Wild Gardens of Acadia was granted its own committee within Friends of Acadia, ensuring that the area would be protected for years to come.
What Can You See in the Acadia Gardens?
Acadia’s geographic position makes it a unique area that allows many plants to thrive, including some that generally grow in the north and other native species thrive in the mid-Atlantic region. This is why it’s shocking to visit and see all the wild plants that are there. The Wild Gardens of Acadia are split into sections such as a great meadow section, mixed woodland garden section, coniferous forest section, and more. You will be able to view the plant labels which make for easy identification and contain come detailed information.
There are even some sections of the gardens that are situated along the beach, so there’s something for everyone. I didn’t realize so many different types of plants, flowers, and trees could thrive in one area. Remember, these gardens are completely wild! There’s no intervention or planting of additional seeds, so this isn’t some man-made magic, this is pure Mother Nature.
Near the gardens you will also find the original Abbe Museum. Founded by Dr. Robert Abbe in 1926 it houses artifacts surrounding Native American culture. The main museum is now in on Mt. Desert Street near Main Street in Bar Harbor.
Another interesting place you will find near the Wild Gardens of Acadia is the Sieur De Monts National Monument.
Respecting the Gardens
Go visit as many times as you can, observe in awe, snap photos, close your eyes, and breathe in the fresh air, do it all, but do it respectfully. The Wild Gardens of Acadia are resilient to the weather they face in Maine, but humans pose a threat to their well-being. Because of this, the Acadia Gardens have a set of rules that they ask visitors to follow:
- Don’t leave paths or build new ones.
- No smoking – this is obvious!
- No pets allowed. Pets can cause damage to all things that grow here, especially if they run off and get into something they’re not supposed to.
- The flowers and fruits are for admiring, not touching or picking.
- Bicycles are not allowed.
- This isn’t the spot for picnicking. Walk through and enjoy peacefully.
Garden Logistics
There is no separate entrance fee for the gardens, once you’ve purchased your entrance to Acadia National Park. Visiting the Wild Gardens of Acadia is free. I recommend visiting in the spring or summer if you want to see the garden at its most colorful. But I’m sure fall would still be a nice time. Due to the snow that Maine generally sees in winter, I don’t think going during that time of year would be a very great experience.
The Trail At A Glance
Length: 0.2 miles
Height: 65 ft.
Elevation Gain: 0
Type: Network
My Rating: Easy
Handicap Accessible
Dog Friendly: No
Would we do it again: Yes
Beat the Crowds
My mom loves to visit the Wild Gardens of Acadia. In fact, I think it’s her favorite part of the entire park. She says it’s because she is just amazed at its beauty, but I think it’s because the trail is short and flat, which is her favorite style of hiking trail! Whatever the reason, we never miss a chance to stop in if we’re in the area.
It’s an adventure that doesn’t have too much thrill. No one gets heat stroke or rolls and ankle descending a mountain. The craziest thing that happens to us at the Acadia Gardens is battling our way through the parking lot to the main entrance. My mom loves to complain loudly about other visitors’ parking or wonder why the parking lot is so small, out loud of course. Since it’s such a hot spot, be sure to get there early so you can get a parking space. If you do want a hiking experience, there are a lot of great trails in the area, such as Dorr Mountain, Jesup Path, Hemlock Loop, Kebo Mountain Loop Trail and so many more.
Wild Gardens of Acadia: 10/10
This trail gets the highest rating possible. It’s beautiful, has something to make everyone happy, and is easy to get to. Trust me, I love a challenging hike, but I also love not having to bust my butt, slip in mud, or scramble up rocks to see nature’s beauty from time to time.
The gardens are maintained by a group of wonderful volunteers. If you love the gardens be sure to say thank you to one of the wild gardens of acadia volunteers if you see them around!
