Swimming

While most of the shoreline in this part of Downeast Maine is high and rocky, there are a couple of sandy beach areas where swimming is both appropriate and fun - especially on warm summer days. The only sandy ocean beach is Sand Beach along the Park Loop Road. Here the crashing surf and spectacular scenery are major drawing cards, but the water is quite cold, even in mid-summer. For those who prefer warmer water, Acadia National Park operates a fresh water swimming beach at the southern end of Echo Lake in the town of Mount Desert.