Schoodic Point

Schoodic Point, located at the southern tip of Schoodic Peninsula in Winter Harbor, Maine, provides one of the best places to view pounding surf during rough seas as well as stunning views of Cadillac Mountain to the West. It is also one of the best places to view diabase dikes. These are large veins of dark basalt that forced their way through the older granite along the Schoodic shoreline. Both the older granite, and the much darker basalt, are igneous rocks that were formed from the cooling of magma during past volcanic activity. The contrast between these two can easily be seen throughout the peninsula. You may have noticed this in the thousands of boulders on the shoreline as well.

Down East Winter Harbor Towns
Sunrise in Arey Cove at Schoodic Point in Acadia National Park, Maine
Ocean waves pounding the shore on Schoodic Peninsula, Maine near Schoodic Point
Some visitors to Acadia National Park are relaxing at Schoodic Point on the mainland of Maine.

Location

Although only four miles away as the crow flies from Mount Desert Island, Schoodic Point is about 45 miles away via coastal roads from Bar Harbor. Ellsworth, the closest commercial center and considered the gateway to Downeast Maine, is about 30 miles away to the East. US Coastal Route One is the main highway to get here from both East and West directions. There is also ferry service between Bar Harbor and Winter Harbor not far from the Schoodic Park Entrance. The Free Island Explorer Bus Service does pick-up at the dock.

A one-way park road goes around the peninsula but a two-way section breaks off at the southern end that goes to Schoodic Point. Watch for it on your right.

Area History Origin of Down East Map

Use Extreme Caution

Do not get too close to the ocean, especially when the rocks are we from sea spray, fog, or rain, and when there are rough seas. Rouge waves do occur with no warning and can wash you out to sea. People have died here as a result. Never allow children to go off by themselves.

The shoreline consists of exposed and weathered red granite that varies from 10 to 100 feet in width from ocean to the beginning of plants and forest. At times, much of this whole are can be slippery from moisture.

Schoodic Point is part of Acadia National Park. It has a good size parking area with a turnaround, interpretive panels, and rest room facilities.

Schoodic Entrance GPS: Latitude 44.375098; Longitude -68.070323

Winter Harbor MDI Map

The Schoodic Point Experience

There is no place quite like Schoodic Point along the Maine coast that combines good ocean waves with spectacular views of Mount Desert Island and especially, Cadillac Mountain. Schoodic Point offers a close-up and personal experience of the best of Acadia National Park with less crowds, when compared to sections on Mount Desert Island. This may change in the future as there appears to be some development happening on the figurative horizon. I suggest taking advantage of it now so that it will be forever etched in your memory of experiences. When visiting Bar Harbor or any place on Mount Desert Island, plan to spend a day here.

Return to Top