Thunder Hole In Acadia National Park, Is One Of Maine’s Most Fascinating Natural Wonders

When was the last time you paid a visit to Acadia National Park in Maine? As the state's only national park, this is a very popular destination, but it's one we can often overlook since it's quite literally in our own backyards. Acadia is a treasure of a place, and an amazing haven for hikers. There are a number of trails to take, but remember that the Park Loop Road also offers access to some of the most beautiful areas. No hiking, no sweating, just beauty! We like the sound of that! While you're coming up with your itinerary for your visit to Acadia National Park, make sure to include time to stop at Thunder Hole, a boomingly loud natural phenomenon that's one of the most extraordinary natural wonders in Maine!

Acadia National Park features 27 miles of motor roads, 158 miles of trails for hiking, and 45 miles of beautiful carriage roads. We love exploring every inch, but one of our favorite things to see is Thunder Hole!

Most of the time, the rocky coast where you’ll find Thunder Hole is calm and unassuming. It looks a lot like any other section of the coast.

The rocky feature is actually an inlet in the rocks. Waves hit this inlet throughout the day and night every single day and night!

It’s a lovely sight to see, but the real fun begins when an extra-heavy wave crashes to shore.

In addition to this thunderous crash and escape of air, you’ll also see the ocean water fly into the air. Sometimes it goes as high as 40-feet!

If you’ve ever waited for a geyser to erupt from the earth, you’ll understand what you expect.

While you can get fairly close to the action, you’ll want to be careful at the edge. The waves here are strong and if you’re not paying attention, the strength of the waves can be quite dangerous.

And never actually get into the water.

Like many areas of Acadia National Park, Thunder Hole can get busy on a warm sunny day. It’s not uncommon to see a line of people waiting.

For that reason, you may want to plan for this attraction earlier in the day. Or, even head out on a day that’s cloudy.

You can reach Thunder Hole using the Par Loop Road heading south. You’ll see it just after you pass Sand Beach. You can also typically take the Island Explorer Shuttle Bus, but you’ll need to check the website to be sure it’s running this season. When it’s operating, the bus stops at Thunder Hole around even half-hour during daytime hours.

Have you paid a visit to this national park in Maine recently? If so, what are your must-visit spots to check out? If you've seen Thunder Hold in person, we'd love to hear about your experience... and see your pictures! Let us know in the comments below!

If you can't wait to see more attractions just like this, check out the natural wonders road trip that will show you Maine like you've never seen it before! Another thing to keep in mind are the new rules for driving through Acadia National Park. You want to be prepared for when you visit this extraordinary gem in the Pine Tree State!

For more on this amazing national park in Maine, check out our Bucket List feature.