Thunder Hole in Acadia National Park, Maine

Thunder Hole is the place in Acadia National Park to experience the thunder of the sea against the rocky shores of Maine! On calm days you may wonder what the fuss is all about. But wait until the waves kick up a few notches. Thunder Hole is a small inlet, naturally carved out of the rocks, where the waves roll into. At the end of this inlet, down low, is a small cavern where, when the rush of the wave arrives, air and water is forced out like a clap of distant thunder. Water may spout as high as 40 feet with a thunderous roar! Hence the name: Thunder Hole. (Thunder Hole photos.)

This spot also offers gorgeous panoramic views of Otter Cliff, on the south side, and Sand Beach, to the left or to the north. Thunder Hole is a great place to stand and watch or sit and relax, taking in the spectacular sights, sounds and smells. One of the pleasant things that greats you upon your arrival are large groupings of wild roses or rose hips depending upon the time of year that you arrive. The Island Explorer Shuttle Bus stops here about every half hour during normal seasonal daytime hours. The last bus leaves at 6:58 P.M. Check their schedule to verify.

There is a 3 mile (roundtrip) long Ocean Path that begins at Sand Beach upper parking lot directly to the north of here and follows the coastline in a southerly direction past Thunder Hole and continues until it reaches Otter Cliff to the south. You may choose to do this walk and it is highly recommended for its unrivaled beauty. The Park Loop Road follows in the same direction but is one-way on this side of the island.

When there is a storm nearby, even when it is many miles out-to-sea, exercise extreme caution. Always remain vigilant and stay informed by listening to the radio and checking with the National Park Service. Always make sure that children are supervised and close-at-hand. Rogue waves can and do happen as it did tragically in 2009 when Hurricane Bill was over 300 miles out-to sea. The photo to the right shows one of these monster waves.

Thunder Hole GPS for Parking: Latitude 44.321011; Longitude -68.189330
Hulls Cove Visitor Center GPS: Latitude 44.409286; Longitude -68.247501

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