Boulder Beach derives its descriptive name from the shoreline filled with large smooth granite boulders and cobbles polished by Atlantic waves over millennia, representing glacial erratics transported 20 miles or more by retreating ice sheets that shaped Acadia National Park's distinctive coastal geology. This Bar Harbor beach became part of the park established as Sieur de Monts National Monument in 1916 and renamed Acadia in 1929, incorporating lands donated by George Dorr and John D. Rockefeller Jr., serving Hancock County's national park heritage along the Park Loop Road coastal scenic drive.
The beach offers photography opportunities especially during sunrise when colorful skies contrast with rounded granite stones, with visitors exploring rocks of various shapes and sizes smoothed by wind and water erosion. Accessible via the well-marked Ocean Path trail from Sand Beach after half a mile of coastal hiking, the beach provides picnicking spots, panoramic Atlantic views, and relaxation while listening to waves crashing against the distinctive boulder shoreline. Rock exploration and beachcombing complement the coastal scenery accessible from the small parking area off Park Loop Road near Thunder Hole, creating optimal conditions for landscape photography and geological observation.
Bar Harbor dining includes Trenton Bridge Lobster Pound for classic Maine lobster and steamed clams served since the 1950s, Side Street Café for award-winning lobster rolls, and Geddy's for family-friendly pub-style dining served for over 40 years, serving Acadia National Park visitors and Mount Desert Island's coastal tourism community.
