Jordan Pond — Attraction in Mount Desert

This is a must see. The pond is absolutely beautiful, peaceful area. We took the loop trail all around the pond and it involves gravel, rock climbing and wooden walkways over streams and wet areas. We stopped at the restaurant on site and asked to be seated outside on the lawn outback under umbrellas. The outside dining area is so peaceful and has stunning views of the pond below and surrounding scenery. We knew to eat outside because we had been here before and checked it all out. There is very ample seating inside with a window wall overlooking the pond. What you need to do is go to the reservation reception area which has a window just to left of the restaurant entrance outside under the covered area. Here they will take your name and number in the party and give you an estimate of the wait time along with a pager. Any time we have been here we had some sort of wait and to us well worth it. We come for the popovers and drinks on the lawn, which are to die for and warm with butter and jams. They will bring another popover when your done with the first so it will be fresh and warm. The parking for Jordan pond and restaurant is free but limited for the amount of people visiting. We had to circle around the three small parking areas and finally got a spot.

Update 8/5/2020: Things are so different here since COVID-19. The pond is just same as usual very beautiful and quiet place to sit or take the trail around the pond that takes about an hour and a half. The wooden walkways are in the process of being replaced with pressure treated wooden support structures and native very wide and thick cedar planking that is naturally rot resistant wood. The walkways keep your footprints off the natural forest floor and are actually very nice structures. There will be little detours around the work areas being done by volunteers by friends of Acadia and others. There is extensive roped off areas along the trail to as before, “Leave No Trace” of your boot prints on the forest floor and shoreline allowing nature to restore these areas. As you walk the trail you will encounter wooden walkways, bridges, large rocks to walk around and fairly level gravel walkways. The trail is friendly to guests of pretty much all ages and abilities as I am 64 and the rocky trail area may be a bit challenging but doable. You will be able to see where the trail goes as you climb around huge boulders and over rocks in one area by the bright pinkish color of the native pink granite landscape rocks that are native all through the park. You can see where people have worn the surface of the granite and the pinkish color shows through. The whole park and Cadillac Mountain are made up of the pink granite. The parking areas here were very full as we did come right at lunchtime. By the time we left the parking areas had plenty of parking as it was well past lunchtime and the restaurant really doesn't have a dinner menu during covid 19. Don't judge the restaurant during this time as this is not the normal operating procedure. The water in the pond is absolutely crystal clear. There is no swimming, wading or animals...

Parking and Facilities: Finding parking can be challenging, especially during peak times, so arriving early is advisable. Restrooms are conveniently located near the start of the trail. Remember to bring enough water, as the hike can take anywhere from 2 to 4 hours depending on your pace and how often you stop to take in the views.

Trail Overview: The trail itself is both fun and dynamic, providing a mix of different terrains. Facing the pond, you have two options for starting the loop: the right and left entrances.

Left Entrance: This entrance begins with a natural trail that soon leads to beautifully set-up planks, which make the initial part of the hike easier and more enjoyable. This section offers a fantastic introduction to the serene environment of Jordan Pond.

Right Entrance: The right entrance provides an alternative experience with natural trail that can be equally rewarding, though the left is often favored for its gentle start. Scenic Highlights: As you continue, the trail becomes slightly more challenging as it winds through a terrain of large boulders. While it may seem daunting at first, it’s not as hard as it looks and adds a touch of adventure to the hike.

The halfway point is arguably the best part of the hike. Here, you’ll find a scenic bridge that offers stunning views of the pond and the surrounding mountains. This is a perfect spot to take a break, enjoy the scenery, and maybe even snap a few photos.

Activities on the Pond: Throughout the hike, you’ll likely see people kayaking on the crystal-clear waters of...

“Must stop at park loop road. Specially in falls”

Though we don’t have that much of time in hand, but we did some R and D on Acadia. So, we decided to stop here.

place is so beautiful that you can just sit here for hours (provided no crowd is there) or you can find such spots in its 90 mins trails around the pond. In fall, we come to know why we love bright color so much. Bring your camera for sure.

North and south bubble point are visible … we had some fun nearby pond... You can easily spend 1-2 hours here...

Update: (7-Sep-2023) Jordan Pond is one of the most stunning places to visit in Acadia National Park, especially at sunset for photography. you can also take the 3.1-mile-long Jodan Pond Path which is relatively easy and follows the lakefront in a loop. it just walks around the pond. I did not do it, rather I went for the south bubble track.

You can take in the views of the North and South Bubbles in the distance. The best views are right by the parking lot on the south end of the pond.

from Jordan Pond, there is a 2-way road to Cadillac Mountain.

Parking: I guess being a top tourist location of the park, its parking is always full. you might need to wait (Depending upon the time of the day) up to 30 minutes...