Little Hunter’s Beach Acadia National Park Photography

Little Hunter’s Beach Photography Location

Maine Photography Hot Spot

Acadia National Park is located in the state of Maine in the U.S. It reserves much of Mount Desert Island and associated smaller islands off the Atlantic coast. Created as Lafayette National Park in 1919, the oldest National Park east of the Mississippi River, it was renamed Acadia in 1929.

Acadia National Park is one of the most photographed parks in the United States. This image alone should portray why that is so. Extra Eyes Photo Tours will take you to all of the hidden locations. It’s a great tour. See the details here: www.extraeyesphototours.com.

Little Hunter’s Beach is one of our top ten places in the world for photography and so much more. It is a place where you can truly connect with the Universe and Nature. Don’t rush through this location in your eagerness to photograph the rest of the park. Take a moment to ground yourself in the earth and marvel at the wonders of nature. Have you ever heard millions of rocks tumbling into shore with the waves? This is a sound that may only grace your ears once in a lifetime. If you practice meditation, I highly recommend taking a break here while taking incredible photos.

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Acadia Photo Tour

WHERE TO DO PHOTOGRAPHY IN MAINE

Little Hunter’s Beach is located on the southeast side of Mount Desert Island in Acadia National Park at Hunters Head. You can find this area of the park on Park Loop Road. It’s hard to find because it is hidden from sight. Extra Eyes Photo Tours will take you here on their tour. A trail faces the water on the left side of the cliff area. You can go up there and shoot down, as seen in the image above. Be careful; pay attention to your footing and how close you get to the edge. It’s not the most magnificent view to get shots, but being up there is a fantastic experience.

A fine art image by Pamela Goodyear of Acadia National Park. Long exposure. water coming up on the rocks with a blaring sunrise.

I humbly pay tribute to Mother Gaia through my art, surrounded by the breathtaking beauty of Acadia National Park’s rocky shores. As I sit upon this beach, I am reminded of the sacredness of all life and the interconnectedness of our world. The crashing sounds of rocks and rugged cliffs serve as a reminder of the power and resilience of nature, inspiring me to capture its essence through my creative expression. May this offering of mine bring love and healing to our precious planet and its inhabitants.—Pamela Goodyer

Original Photograph, Acadia National Park 2016.

ALL YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT LITTLE HUNTER’S BEACH

OPTIMAL TIME TO VISIT

We would suggest against traveling to Little Hunter’s Beach during winter because of possible road closures. Our preferred times of year are Spring and Fall, which tend to have lower attendance rates. We highly recommend visiting mid-week to avoid larger crowds. Plan your trip during the Milky Way season for a chance to photograph some of the darkest skies in the lower forty-eight states. Check out our Milky Way Photography page for information on when the Milky Way will be visible and optimal for photography.

HOW LONG TO PHOTOGRAPH

You can set aside at least two to three full days to explore every nook and cranny of this expansive park and its surrounding areas. From the sprawling forests to the winding paths that lead to hidden beauty, there is much to discover in this nature haven.

WHAT PHOTOGRAPHY GEAR TO BRING

We suggest you bring a robust and versatile camera setup to fully capture the park’s diverse landscapes and wildlife. Essential items include a DSLR or mirrorless camera, wide-angle and telephoto lenses, a sturdy tripod for long exposures, and multiple memory cards.

A wide-angle lens is essential for snapping sweeping vistas of the park’s forests and coastline and is our primary tool in this park. In contrast, a telephoto lens will enable you to capture close-ups of wildlife, but that is a rare occasion. If you go on a boat tour, you are more likely to see wildlife, and your zoom lens is a must. We’ve seen a visitor here and there fascinated by the sight of deer grazing in the early dawn or the flight of eagles soaring majestically overhead, but not very often.

So, the most important things are your tripod, N.D. filters for long exposure, milky water effects, and all of your gear for Milky Way photography, including a red headlamp, flashlight, two-second timer, and zoom lens for your boat tour.

WHAT ESLE TO BRING

Hiking boots, bug spray, hats in summer, gloves and a scarf during colder months are essential for a comfortable experience. Remember, this is Maine. It gets pretty chilly at night. A good-quality backpack that can handle your gear and personal necessities will help in your long treks.

Remember to bring water and some high-energy snacks to keep yourself fueled while exploring the vast park. There is a restaurant at Jordon Pond that you can plan to shoot around lunch or dinner time.

A field guide or map of the park could also help navigate between the popular spots and hidden gems Acadia offers. Lastly, binoculars should be brought for bird watching or observing far-off wildlife.

A PAL WHO WILL SHOW PROPER RESPECT TO GAIA AND NOT BE GLUED TO THEIR PHONE LIKE A MODERN-DAY ZOMBIE.

WHAT ELSE TO PHOTOGRAPH NEAR LITTLE HUNTER’S BEACH

Acadia National Park is renowned for sunrise and sunset views, making it an idyllic spot for landscape photography. The beauty of Cadillac Mountain, being the tallest along the North Atlantic seaboard, is a highlight, especially at dawn when it is the first place in the U.S. to greet the morning sun. Still, it is just a tourist overlook without the dramatic colors of sunrise and sunset. A slow, gradual climb to the summit rewards an unparalleled view where the sun’s first rays paint vibrant colors across the sky and sea. Later in the day, capture the dappled sunlight as it filters down, bathing the forest floor in an ethereal glow, but plan on going when the sky fills with colors.

As dawn breaks into daylight, focus on the pristine lakes that dot the park. The sky and surrounding the wilderness’s-reflections on their calm surfaces create an enchanting mirror image begging to be photographed. Remember Jordan Pond; its sparkling waters often ripple with the movement of the beavers and otters that call it home.

Rock Beach is a favorite spot for Milky Way photography. Remember the Bass Harbor Lighthouse for sunset photography and Milky Way photography. And, of course, Thunder Hole for spectacular long-exposure milky water photography.

SEE ALL OF OUR MAINE PHOTOGRAPHY HOT SPOTS TO VIEW INDIVIDUAL LOCATIONS.

DIFFICULTY

A lot of Acadian National Park is easily accessible. Rock Beach has a set of stairs that make it difficult to get down to the beach. The Bass Harbor Lighthouse is challenging to shoot. There are slipper rocks and off-trail rocks to climb down to get to a spot to create a good shot. You can view it from standing near it without climbing down, but you will not get a good shot or be able to see the icon view.

WHAT TO EXPECT

Acadia National Park may bring encounters with creatures such as foxes, white-tailed deer, and an occasional eagle. Don’t look for moose here. They are on the other side of the state. There are massive opportunities for dynamic photography here, especially long exposure and Milky Way photography. It can get very crowded, so book your hotel/motel/cabin in advance.

HOW BUSY DOES IT GET?

As one of the top ten most visited national parks, Acadia sees its fair share of visitors, particularly during the summer when the weather is at its finest. We like Spring and Fall to avoid the crowds, and there are more ways to avoid the crush of people. Opt for early mornings or late afternoons, when most visitors are tucking into their breakfasts or dinners. That’s when the park is quiet. Also, consider exploring some of the less-trodden paths. Even though they might not lead you to the most popular attractions, they can offer you a peaceful sojourn away from the hustle and bustle, letting you bask in the serene beauty of Acadia’s less frequented corners.

MILKY WAY PHOTOGRAPHY

This is one of the best places to photograph the Milky Way. The sky here is incredibly dark, and the Milky Way shines brilliantly overhead at certain times during certain months. Be sure to see our Milky Way Photography Page to learn when the Milky Way is visible.

NEARBY PHOTOGRAPHY

If this was not enough photography, you can take advantage of the rare opportunity to photograph puffins up close near Cutler, Maine. The largest puffin colony on the East Coast is not far north of Acadia National Park. Book your summer tours as early as March. They fill up fast! You must take the boat to Machias Island and spend five hours with puffins on this small island. It is an experience you will never forget.

HOW TO GET TO ACADIA N.P. & LITTLE HUNTER’S BEACH

BY CAR: To reach Mount Desert Island from the south, follow I-95 north to Augusta, Maine and then take Route 3 east to Ellsworth. Another option is to continue on I-95 north towards Bangor, then take Route 1A east to Ellsworth. From there, continue on Route 3 until reaching Mount Desert Island.

BY AIR: Travelers can take direct flights to Mount Desert Island from Boston’s Logan Airport, which is only 10 miles away from the Hancock County Airport. National airlines are available for those flying into Bangor International Airport, just an hour from the island. Car rental services are offered at both airports for convenience.

WHERE TO STAY

There are numerous options throughout the park. We will be featuring Hotels, Motels and Cabins here. Please email us to advertise for only $129.00 for the entire year!! You can scroll down for information on where to stay.

OTHER PLACES TO STAY

If you are still looking for somewhere to stay directly next to Acadia, try looking for cabins beyond Acadia, near Ellsworth, Northeast Harbor, or Winter Harbor. Acadia is open year-round, though many facilities inside and near the park are closed from October to May.

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PRIVATE JET PHOTO TOURS

WE DO A PHOTO TOUR HERE. DON’T MISS THE PLANE!

PHOTOGRAPHY BASICS

SHUTTER PRIORITY:

You have moving subjects, you will want to shoot in shutter priority to ensure your shutter speed is high enough to have your subject in sharp focus. Approximately 1/250th of a second is appropriate for people walking by, and adjust your ISO accordingly. If they are moving fast, increase your shutter speed to about 1/500th of a second. A fast bird flying by would be shot at about 1/1000th of a second. If it’s a bright sunny day, go as high as 1/1200th of a second. Remember, the higher your shutter speed, the less light comes into the camera. For More Details, see our Shutter Priority Page.

MANUAL MODE:

You can do your long-exposure running and milky water shots if you have moving waters at the location. You will have to use a tripod for this effect. Your settings will vary depending on the lighting and your neutral density filter. You will shoot in manual mode for the milky waters. ISO is always 100 or as low as your camera will allow. The aperture is f22, or the highest f-stop your camera will allow. Your shutter speed will be the only variable depending on the light. Roll your shutter speed until your meter reads zero. (In the center) Use your shutter release or 2-second timer to prevent camera movement when exposing. You will want at least a 2-second exposure for milky water. If you don’t have a neutral density filter, you may not get more than 1/15th of a second in the sun.

You can buy an ND filter here. We highly suggest you do not go anywhere without one. Long exposure to moving waters makes all the difference between lifeless images and outstanding, dynamic images.

APERTURE PRIORITY:

Aperture Priority is often used to blur the background of your images and control your depth of field (how much from the subject to the background is in focus). For more information on this – see our Aperture page

ISO:

The higher you set it, the more light is when exposing an image. The higher the number, the more digital noise, so stay below 800. If you need to go higher to get the shot, you can use Topaz Denoise to filter out the digital noise later. See the ISO page here.

WHITE BALANCE:

Be sure to set your white balance each time the lighting changes. Auto mode is not always accurate on many cameras, and we prefer to set it manually. It’s one of the more straightforward basics of photography to master. If you need more help, you can get some more details here. See the white balance page here.

WATERFALL PHOTOGRAPHY:

If you’re going to do the milky water photography shots here along the water, you must have a tripod and a neutral-density filter. Preparing before embarking on a waterfall photography excursion is always best. You can also explore long-exposure waterfall techniques by visiting our waterfall photography page for tips.

Little Hunter’s Beach Area Information

HOTELS

No lodging is located inside the park, but plenty of hotels are just outside.

Add Your Hotel in Photography Magazine Extra

Do you want us to send our photography and ghost-hunting friends to your hotel for their photography or ghost-hunting trip? Put your hotel information here. We will put pictures of your hotel, the website link, the phone number and your information on your hotel.

AREA

INFO

Entrance Fees: All park visitors are required to pay an entrance fee upon entry May–October. Passes are non-transferable. Credit cards are accepted at all fee collection areas.

Private Vehicle: $25 valid for 7 days
Admits private, non-commercial vehicle (15 passenger capacity or less) and all occupants.

Motorcycle: $20 valid for 7 days
Admits one or two passengers on a private, non-commercial motorcycle.

Per Person: $12 valid for 7 days
Admits one individual with no car.

Hulls Cove Visitor Center:
April 15 – October 31, open daily
April, May, June, September, and October: 8:30 am – 4:30 pm
July & August: 8 am – 6 pm

Seasonal Closings:

Park Loop Road:
Closed annually December 1 – April 14. Road opening may be delayed on years of heavy snow and ice. Two short sections remain open year-round.

Unpaved Roads:
Closed November 15 – May 15.

Winter Restrooms:
The following restrooms are open during winter operations:

Brown Mountain Parking Area
Eagle Lake Boat Ramp
Eagle Lake Carriage Road
Fabbri Picnic Area
Jordan Pond Boat Ramp
Parkman Mountain Parking Area
Sand Beach Parking Area

CAMPING

Schoodic Woods Campground

Located on the Schoodic Peninsula, this campground is 3 miles (5 km) southeast of Winter Harbor. It will open in 2015 from September until Columbus Day. After this season, it will be open from late May until Columbus Day. The entire campground will be first come, first served this year. Reservations for following years are highly recommended.

Fee (per site, per night): $22 walk-in tent sites, $30 drive up tent/small RV, $36 RV with electric only sites, $40 RV with electric and water. Discounts available for Senior and Access (Permanent Disability) pass holders.

Reservations for Blackwoods and Seawall Campgrounds
Reservations for individual sites are handled by the National Recreation Reservation Service (NRRS), not the park.By Phone
877-444-6777
877-833-6777 (TTY)
518-885-3639 (International)
888-448-1474 (Customer Service)

Online
www.recreation.gov

Add your campground here! Do you want us to send our photography and ghost-hunting friends to your campground to stay during their ghost-hunting trip? Put your campground information here. We will put a picture of your establishment, the website link, the phone number and your information on your campground to make it easy for our photographers and ghost hunters to find you. They are good at getting there in the dark.

Would you like to be featured in an article as a place to stay while doing photography or ghost hunting? If so, please send us an email. You will be surprised at how affordable our prices can be.

FOOD & DINING

Do you want us to send our photography and ghost-hunting friends to your Restaurant after their ghost-hunting or photography trip? Put your restaurant information here. We will put a picture of your establishment, the website link, the phone number and your information on your Restaurant to make it easy for our photographers and ghost hunters to find you.

The Jordan Pond House Restaurant:

Located inside the park. This is where we stop to eat.

Address: Park Loop Rd, Seal Harbor, ME 04675

Phone:(207) 276-3316

Perry’s Lobster Shack:
1076 Newbury Neck Road
Surry, ME
207-667-1955 – This is where you go to do sunset photography and enjoy your incredibly fresh lobster dinner. Don’t go here and not have lobster. We all actually got up during dinner and did some sunset photography, and came back. No one seemed to care. We could have shot it from our seats outside on the porch, but we wanted just the right angle. There was a dock and a man fishing below to get in the sunset shot.

Perry’s is run by Perry and his wife Beverly. The lobster shack is on the side of Newbury Neck Road, with stairs leading to the town beach. Perry’s menu is simple, with fresh lobster, mussels, and corn on the cob.

WEATHER

Little Hunter’s Beach Area Weather

Don’t forget that you can use a rain sleeve on your camera if it is raining. Use a low ISO such as 50 or 100 if it is bright and sunny.

If you photograph cloudy days, you can do running water or waterfall photography to help avoid the glaring sun. You can also use an ND filter to get long exposure for dramatic effects, even in the sunshine. If you ghost hunt indoors in abandoned places, be careful!