Bass Harbor Head Light Station

Historical landmark · Hancock County

Bass Harbor Head Light Station

Historical landmark · Hancock County

1

116 Lighthouse Rd, Bass Harbor, ME 04653

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Bass Harbor Head Light Station by null
Bass Harbor Head Light Station by null
Bass Harbor Head Light Station by null
Bass Harbor Head Light Station by null
Bass Harbor Head Light Station by null
Bass Harbor Head Light Station by null
Bass Harbor Head Light Station by null
Bass Harbor Head Light Station by null
Bass Harbor Head Light Station by null
Bass Harbor Head Light Station by null
Bass Harbor Head Light Station by null
Bass Harbor Head Light Station by null
Bass Harbor Head Light Station by null
Bass Harbor Head Light Station by null
Bass Harbor Head Light Station by null
Bass Harbor Head Light Station by null
Bass Harbor Head Light Station by null
Bass Harbor Head Light Station by null
Bass Harbor Head Light Station by null
Bass Harbor Head Light Station by null
Bass Harbor Head Light Station by null
Bass Harbor Head Light Station by null
Bass Harbor Head Light Station by null
Bass Harbor Head Light Station by null
Bass Harbor Head Light Station by null
Bass Harbor Head Light Station by null
Bass Harbor Head Light Station by null
Bass Harbor Head Light Station by null
Bass Harbor Head Light Station by null
Bass Harbor Head Light Station by null
Bass Harbor Head Light Station by null
Bass Harbor Head Light Station by null
Bass Harbor Head Light Station by null
Bass Harbor Head Light Station by null
Bass Harbor Head Light Station by null
Bass Harbor Head Light Station by null
Bass Harbor Head Light Station by null
Bass Harbor Head Light Station by null
Bass Harbor Head Light Station by null
Bass Harbor Head Light Station by null
Bass Harbor Head Light Station by null
Bass Harbor Head Light Station by null
Bass Harbor Head Light Station by null
Bass Harbor Head Light Station by null

Highlights

Perched on a rocky cliff, this stunning 1858 lighthouse offers breathtaking ocean views and charming hiking paths that beckon photography lovers.  

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116 Lighthouse Rd, Bass Harbor, ME 04653 Get directions

nps.gov

Information

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116 Lighthouse Rd, Bass Harbor, ME 04653 Get directions

+1 207 288 3338
nps.gov

Features

wheelchair accessible parking lot

Last updated

Jul 12, 2025

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"A northeastern U.S. state known for its rocky coastline, maritime history, and nature areas."

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View Postcard for Bass Harbor Head Light Station

Mark Bright

Google
You can view the light from two sides. You can walk down some stairs and get a different view from below the light. We climbed out on the rocks to get better pictures. Very beautiful place to visit. You may have to wait on someone to leave to park though.

Theresa St. John

Google
Beautiful lighthouse. I did not realize that there was a path down the other side, would have made better pictures. It is a private house, which made me a little uncomfortable - I did not stay long. It is super pretty though, and the view over the ocean is amazing. Glad I went.

danae russum

Google
Really cool lighthouse experience. We went right after dusk, it was very foggy and misty but we loved the ambiance. There is a cliffs trail that takes you out toward the ocean or the tower trail which takes you up much closer to the lighthouse. If you take the cliffs trail make sure you have proper shoes.

Lacie Couzin PhD RN

Google
This is a great place to get close to a lighthouse. You can view it from the easy trail on the right, or take the short path to the rocky trail at the left. Both provide a beautiful view!

Courtney Ray

Google
Very beautiful! Absolutely worth the visit! We appreciated the bathrooms nearby. Although it felt a little strange since one one lives in the lighthouse we are grateful for the experience and would recommend!

Vickie Johnson

Google
Fun excursion. History was interesting. Light house was not easy to see from the trail to the left, but got up close in the other one. Not much to do there otherwise. They did have restrooms! Enjoyed this little light house, but if your time is limited, there are others a bit more interesting in Maine. Portsmouth was great.

Bmw Fanatic

Google
If you’re planning a trip to Acadia National Park, Bass Harbor Head Lighthouse might be on your list. While it’s a picturesque spot and a popular photo op, I found it a bit underwhelming overall. The lighthouse itself is surprisingly small—especially if you’re expecting a towering, dramatic structure like you might see in movies or other coastal areas. You can’t go inside, and views of the lighthouse are limited unless you’re willing to scramble down a rocky trail for a side view (which can be tricky and crowded). The area around the lighthouse is also pretty tight, with minimal parking and lots of people trying to capture the same shot. That said, the surrounding scenery is lovely, and sunset views from the rocks are beautiful if you time it right. It’s definitely worth a quick stop if you’re nearby, but I wouldn’t go out of my way for it. A nice detour, but not a must-see if you’re short on time.

Kristy B

Google
This is such a gorgeous spot. Unexpectedly beautiful, even on a dreary day. Definitely worth a stop if you're in the area. It's a very short hike down the woods to get to the rocks and the lighthouse on the other side.

Jenn D.

Yelp
Breathtaking!! For first time visitors there is a walking path off the parking lot to the left that we would have never seen but we fortunately seen people coming from the path that lead down some steep stairs and you can see the opposite side of the lighthouse!!

John D.

Yelp
Light it Out Built in 1858, the Bass Harbor Lighthouse is one of three lighthouses managed by Acadia National Park. The Good: *Beautiful lighthouse that's known for it's spectacular sunsets. *Free to visit *Docents on-site to answer questions *Listed in the Register of Historic Places *Restroom The Meh: *Really not much to see as it's just a short walk to the door of the lighthouse or a short jaunt across some rocky cliffs to get to the more famous angle of the Lighthouse. The Ugly: *Extremely small parking lot that holds maybe 30 cars. Which should seem like plenty but this is an **extremely** busy lighthouse. So you'll need a bit of luck getting a spot. But, fortunately, as stated above, there's really not much to see here so people are constantly leaving. Conclusion: Swell lighthouse that's definitely worth a visit.

Alyssa A.

Yelp
Bass Harbor Lighthouse is a nice stop if you have the time. Venturing away from Park Loop Road in Acadia National Park, this lighthouse is about a 30 minute drive away. While you can't go into the lighthouse, the views from here are beautiful. You can take a short little hike down to see the water and get a view of the lighthouse from below. It's not paved and you'll be walking across rocks, but it's definitely worth it. It was not busy while we were visiting, so we had no problem finding parking. But the lot is small, so I'd imagine it can be difficult to find spots during busier seasons. Also a popular destination for sunset. So plan ahead. Bass Harbor Lighthouse is good for a 20-30 minute visit, so if you have the time for at least a 1 hour round-trip drive for it, it's worth the stop.

Daniel P.

Yelp
Excellent light, good parking, nice setting, and a wooden stairway that leads to a stone stair that gets noticeably less "curated" as it continues down to a heavily bouldered shore near the water line. a person could very easily get very hurt looking for that perfect picture... so maybe it's better to just stay topside and take the relatively easy stroll down the ramp for a look at the grounds and buy a piece of framed art from a local purveyor. not as exciting as a helicopter rescue but cheaper and you'll get a better picture too. so anyways... the bass harbor light station is a basic mid-19th century conic tower set fifty some odd feet above high water with a lovely finial above and living quarters out back. the original lens was a 5th order Frensel, turn of the century replacement is a fourth-order; occulting red light (on for 4 seconds and eclipsed for one) used to was oil, then a different oil, electric since 1949, automated since 1974. property of the national park service since 2018 but the coast guard still maintains the blinking thing :-)

Mona L.

Yelp
Beautiful coastal area where this lighthouse is located. As previously noted, we looked for the short path that leads to stairs at the backside of the lighthouse. This is what is needed to get to the more popular rear view sight of the lighthouse. It leads right from the small parking lot. The area below the staircase offers a great view of the harbor area but you would need to scramble over rocks and boulders to get a more expansive view, which we did not do. We got a few pictures then walked over to the front path that leads down to the front side of the lighthouse and I was a bit surprised at how small it was. The lighthouse itself is not opened to the public. Anyway, the trip to the harbor area was okay. The weather was great and the drive from Acadia NP was scenic with no major traffic.

Brian L.

Yelp
It was a worthwhile detour to see during off-season (January)... and due to a recent storm, it was off-off-season. Many roads to Acadia were blocked off, and even some of the paths around the lighthouse were inaccessible. We ran into David, a park ranger or warden or path checker and fixer-upper sort of guy, who was extremely friendly and we talked about all topics related to storms and parks. It's clear he loves what he does and we feel lucky to have cross paths with him. The lighthouse itself is not as 'impressive' as say, Portland Head Light, but is charming and quaint in it's own way. It seems to be right on someone's private property, so I don't envy those homeowners at all during the tourist season. There's a path directly to the lighthouse and a side path through a small wooded area for an alternate view and moderately treacherous rocky jaunt along the mighty angry sea. A worthy stop if you're going to Bar Harbor.

Sanjay G.

Yelp
This photogenic spot is very popular with photographers. A gorgeous view of a lighthouse perched along the rocky coastline. this is Maine, which you see everywhere, this iconic lighthouse. After parking your car, you walk down a short path to get up close to the lighthouse and panoramic ocean views. - that is where the lighthouse is- and that's it.. it stops there and I was wondering where people take those iconic photos? so I went back into the parking - and there is a small walkway going in the left direction (near the restroom) that takes you down (mind it, it's rocky)... photographers were already there with their setup where normal people won't go. it's a bit dangerous. From Bar Harbor, it takes over 30 minutes to drive here. Along the way, you will pass Echo Lake Parking: This is another trendy place to visit in Acadia and the parking lot is tiny.

Mark W.

Yelp
It was fine. You walk to end for a nice view, but a view you can really get anywhere. It is mostly accessible except for the last part which steepens quite a bit. In fact, a family left there wheelchair bound grandpa at the top of that steep hill when we were there. You see, water, water and more water with a few sprinklings of islands all around. If you had issues with hiking and needed a nice place with a view this would be it. Otherwise, I wouldn't really recommend one drive ALL the way out here. We spent less than 5 minutes there. It took us 35 min to drive from Bar Harbor. Not really worth the effort. You can't go into the lighthouse or any of the buildings or fenced areas. If you are already nearby or have lots of time to kill, perhaps it would be worth taking a look but don't expect to be satisfied.

Jenny G.

Yelp
This lighthouse is in the town of Bass Harbor, the other part if Acadia National Park. You can walk closed to the lighthouse but to get a good picture of it you need to go out to the rocks to see it. There is a little trail on the left side of the parking lot and stairs to go down to the overlook. We did went out to the rocks a bit more but only to get a glimpse of the lighthouse. I would recommend going there a bit earlier in the day as we went around 4pm and picture caught a glare. Anyhow, it was a good trip to the lighthouse. If you won't go, you won't know.

Tricia B.

Yelp
This is may be the only lighthouse near Bar Harbor that you can see on the island. It's physical presence on the island helps a lot. It's a short stop but the small parking lot is a bit of a challenge. We were lucky enough to get a spot, and on our way out passed a line of cars waiting to get in. There are two trails - we took the easier, paved one on the right side of the parking lot. There's an informational board on the way down with the history and names of the keepers, and the view is beautiful overlooking the water. We were not able to go into the lighthouse, and there is no gift shop at this location.

Niharika G.

Yelp
A great stop if you're willing to drive about 30 min from Acadia National Park and 45 min from Ellsworth. The lighthouse is gorgeous and love the small .4 mile trek that leads to it. Tip: come here early in the morning, and avoid sunset. The parking lot has only about 20 parking spaces and you have to wait for people to leave to get a spot. Take the trail to the right of the restrooms to get the best view of the lighthouse. You'll go down a wooden staircase and then will have to carefully step through slick boulders and rocks to see the view of the lighthouse!

Marshall G.

Yelp
We came early before anyone else. There is parking and bathrooms. 0830 hrs. You need your park pass to enter. Honor system. You can view this from two sides. One is ADA. THE Other is A bit of Bouldering. Both great. There is no lighthouse keeper any more. The US Coastguard has responsibility since the summer of 2021. Really Nice.

Vivek D.

Yelp
Great views here. The biggest question is whether it's worth stopping by here. From Bar Harbor, it's nearly a 30 minute drive. Nearly 45 from Ellsworth, so not sure it's really worth the trek when time's of the essence at Acadia. Be prepared to wait some time for parking (I wish they could expand parking). You'll spend no more than 10-15 minutes here, but perhaps waiting for parking will make the trip a bit more worth the amount of time it took to get here.

Bruce K.

Yelp
Before we get into it, I need to point out that there is an unassuming trail head at the top of the parking lot. GO THERE! A short walk, a few stairs, and you will be at the most amazing spot down at the waterside to get the wonderful picture of the lighthouse. We nearly missed it and that would have been a terrible shame. Some of Maine's lighthouses are closer to civilization than others. The Bass Harbor Head Light is one of the further away ones - more than 20 miles from US-1 and through a part of Maine that is likely completely blocked by seasonal traffic. You can absolutely get here by road and the lighthouse is absolutely beautiful. Maybe you don't want to come when it's cold like we did... This was our third lighthouse of the day and the walk down the stairs to the rockshore made me felt like we really earned it. The history of Bass Harbor Head Light dates to 1855, when it was determined that there was sufficient reason for a lighthouse at the mouth of Bass Harbor. In 1876, construction was completed on a fog bell and tower, since removed. The tower is 33 feet high and the lens has a range of 13 nautical miles. There is limited parking here and there's not much you can do to reserve a spot. Good luck. [Review 14877 overall, 379 of 2021, number 60 in Maine.]

Jason K.

Yelp
My wife and I were on a week long road trip along the coast of Maine and my wife saw that there was this lighthouse nearby. If you go, be prepared to wait 15-20 minutes to park in the parking lot, that only holds about 40 cars. People were very patient and the light house is a short walk from the parking lot. It is a cool light house, but it is private property, so you cannot enter it. There is a passage at the end of the parking lot, with a nice set of stairs leading down to a precipice with a beautiful view from the bottom. Probably a four star attraction, except for the long wait to get into the parking lot. If you don't mind waiting, it is worth a visit.

Dani S.

Yelp
Really pretty lighthouse near Arcadia national park. It's very pretty, I'm very photogenic. However parking was an absolute nightmare. The parking lot adjacent to the lighthouse is super tiny and there was a huge line. Located at the southern most tip of the peninsula near bar harbor, this lighthouse has been well-maintained and still functioning today. The ocean view is very beautiful. I wouldn't say it is the most beautiful lighthouse in Maine, but it's worth a visit if you're in the area.

Stefanie C.

Yelp
All the cities my in-laws suggested for summer vacation involved a lighthouse. I love lighthouses!! I think they're beautiful and have much history to learn from. Because we ended up in Maine, I insisted on visiting Bass Harbor Head Lighthouse. It was a quick drive from where we were staying so... low investment. Parking was easy, and it wasn't a far walk to the actual lighthouse. There were a lot of tourists already there taking pictures. The view of the water was incredible, but the lighthouse itself wasn't very impressive. Days later, we took a tour on a fishing boat, and I got more enjoyment out of learning the history of the lighthouse. Overall if you're here on vacation and choosing between this place and another, you're not missing much by skipping out on the lighthouse. If you're nearby, stop for 10 minutes to cross it off your bucket list. Or come during sunrise or sunset. I'm sure it's more more worthwhile. Otherwise, go on a hike in Acadia National Park instead.

Lourdes M.

Yelp
It's picture perfect! For the love of photographs , people tried going through rocks just to glimpse and take a good angle shot of the lighthouse. It nice that the government made a path and friendly steps to get closer as possible. The lighthouse is regularly featured to scenery calendars. It is best to come during sunset time . Sunrise setting will be an alternative. The park has small parking lot so be ready to park further and walk a bit.

Sarah C.

Yelp
Lighthouse is about 25 mins from downtown Bar Harbor. If you don't want to wait, don't go near sunset. I went around 4ish and even then, I had to wait for 20mins. If your driver doesn't care for the view, walking is faster. I was able to walk there and back while my friend was still waiting to park the car. Take the trail down near restrooms for a better view. Trail will turn into stairways and then rocks. The right is an easier paved path. About 15 parking spaces?

Olivia K.

Yelp
If you are looking to view and/or get a good shot of a lighthouse in Maine, this is one place to do so. It's actually pretty picturesque. Once you get to the free open parking lot, you have one of two options FIRST OPTION: You can walk down the obvious path to the right. Along the path, you can read a little bit about the lighthouse and you come to a dead end with a bell and the white house where the lighthouse actually stands. On the top, you can see the red light darkening every 4 seconds. But, there's honestly not a lot to see here. If you want to get the perfect shot of the lighthouse in a distance, you want the SECOND OPTION: There's a hidden path to the left through what seems like a forest-y trail. It takes you down some stairs and you get to the rocks by the water. If you just stop there, you barely can see the lighthouse. You actually have to get down those rocks fairly close to the waters to get a decent shot. But it's fun & worth the trek if you are down for it.

Evelyn M.

Yelp
Does disappoint with views! Take the trail and explore the view from the Rocky shoreline!!!

Bobby A.

Yelp
This the probably the most famous lighthouse in all of Maine and is regularly featured in calendars, postcards and other Maine-related tourist paraphernalia. While the lighthouse setting is absolutely beautiful, you should be warned that the parking lot is very limited and you're probably going to be in a traffic line-up to get a parking spot. It's not a big deal since most people are not here all that long since aside from the lighthouse and the rocks below, there really isn't much to explore.

Yonnie C.

Yelp
Came here today on a rainy day, but was still able to get some nice photos of this lighthouse. We took both trails. One extends out down some steps and over some rocks. Just be careful as you scramble towards the ocean over these orange rocks, was a bit scary for me since it was windy and rainy today! Nice to visit this lighthouse, although a bit treacherous to climb over rocks at high tide.

Allan K.

Yelp
Go to the left from the parking lot, walk down the path to reach where all the people are at when you go down the road and wondered how they all got there! It was soooooo packed. Don't ever go during the sunset.... Wayyy to packed. A officer is always there to tell people to not enter because the parking lot is full. I'd say go two hours before sunset if you want to find a parking spot there is another parking lot that is a giant cluster of rocks and cars, no one gets out unstressed. We parked a mile away at a trailhead as I had a park pass and it was always open, if you don't mind walking! Please don't be those people who park in front of other people's properties, so embarrassing.

Brad G.

Yelp
Beautiful lighthouse especially at sunrise or sunset! It's often quite crowded but definitely worth a visit!

Seth A.

Yelp
I'd give Bass Harbor Head Lighthouse 3.5 stars. I liked it, but I had greater expectations for more. I had researched that this lighthouse is a part of Acadia National Park and according to what I read on nps.gov....."this lighthouse doesn't get any more Maine than this!" So I was excited to check it out on my extended weekend getaway 2 weeks ago. Actually, Bass Harbor Head Lighthouse is a 22 mile drive (about a half hour) from the heart of Mt. Desert Island at Acadia. I was surprised to find this out while looking for it after I explored Sand Beach, Jordan Pond House and Cadillac Mountain. The good thing is, just plug this Bass Harbor Head Lighthouse into Google Maps from your location and it'll take you directly there. Upon arriving at the Lighthouse, you don't pay a fee. You simply park and walk around a bend to the lighthouse overlooking the water. The views were okay, nothing overwhelmingly beautiful as all you do is gaze into the endless waters of the Atlantic Ocean. But according to my research and reading, I had thought that you could get a scenic view of the lighthouse from the rocky coastline, which supposedly is the iconic picture I had envisioned. As I checked around.....I figured it out! From the lighthouse...walk back to the parking lot and from a tiny section of the woods, there's a small opening that leads to a trail that connects a path down to the rocks. Ah!!!! Here is where you can get a REAL GLIMPSE of the lighthouse and the picturesque photos that I visualized online. The path is real basic. Follow it for 2/10's of a mile. Then walk down a flight of stairs that leads to rocks and eventually the angle capturing the lighthouse hanging over the edge of the coast. BE CAREFUL, obviously....the rocks can be slippery and when I visited in late afternoon, the tide was high and the water was a little rough. But if you climb slowly, you can get the perspectives and the views of the lighthouse balanced up against the craggy coast. It's very picturesque. MY ONLY DRAWBACK....I came here around 5pm and the views from the rocks faces into the sun setting. My pictures had me in difficult shadows. I'm saying...the view would have been ideal had I visited in the morning with the sun gleaming against my back. SO CERTAINLY VISIT IN THE MORNINGS. The afternoon was still okay for me but the sun's glare tainted the ideal shots I was looking for. Still....the pictures were pretty. One other thing....also, the lighthouse is partially blocked with growth from shrubbery and trees. It would be nice if it's possible for someone to groom the growth of the woods so the lighthouse can be exposed without hindrance. Just my suggestion, lol. You'll understand what I mean when you're there. And that's pretty much all Bass Head Harbor Lighthouse has to offer. I was there for a 30 minutes. Unfortunately you're not allowed inside the lighthouse. It's property of the Coast Guard. Although confronting the lighthouse face to face was an alright experience, the purpose of it all is to follow the hidden trail down to the rocks....navigate onto them and immerse yourself facing the rugged setting of seacoast landscape that's the embodiment of Maine.

Rene C.

Yelp
The Bass Harbor Lighthouse is a small lighthouse build of the coast of Maine and is easy to get to. My family and I went during the off season so there was no tragic and plenty of parking for our visit. The view of the Atlantic Ocean was awesome as was the sounds of the waves slightly crashing against the rocks.

Victoria W.

Yelp
This was our first sight seeing stop in Maine, so expectations were pretty high. We loved the boulders and the small hike down to the water. We love climbing on rocks and a little challenge. The views were very pretty and there was some challenge. I didn't really know what to expect with a lighthouse, so it was a little boring. Very pretty, but boring. Parking was rough and so was the drive to get there. The pictures look like they were Bob Ross's inspiration. We still had fun and we are happy we made it there!

Leila S.

Yelp
Absolutely breathtaking view of the lighthouse and rocky cliffs you would expect.

Jennifer H.

Yelp
This is definitely worth the 30 minute drive if staying in bar harbor. We went early enough so there was parking, but be warned it is VERY limited. The light house can be seen from multiple angles but climbing onto the rocks and listening to the waves while sitting, watching and waiting for my clumsy fiancé to fall head first straight into the cold water on that 64 degree day was me fave. (FYI sadly he didn't fall)

Lori H.

Yelp
Nice lighthouse to visit. You can't go inside, but the views from the cliff are beautiful on a clear day! It's free, there's parking, and restrooms. You can't go inside because the Coast Guard occupies it. Also, if you're going to walk down the rocky path to try and get a nice photo, be sure to wear tennis shoes...it can be quite treacherous trying to get far enough out for that perfect shot!

Christina S.

Yelp
Highly recommend coming to this lighthouse at sunset. We saw a beautiful sky and baby seals! Grab yourself a couple of drinks, find a nice spot on the rocks, and enjoy the view.

Lucas Z.

Yelp
Extremely disappointing and overrated attraction. Just horrible. Would absolutely not recommend. Very crowded and touristy with a tiny parking lot and a long wait to get in. We probably waited for 45 minutes to see the light house itself which was no bigger than 15 feet tall and quite unimpressive. STAY AWAY!!

Jennifer E.

Yelp
This lighthouse is one of the driving factors as to why we came to Maine. I saw a picture of it a few years ago and wanted to see it in person. The parking lot is small. Be prepared to wait a bit for a spot. There are two ways to get close to the light house. Either way you only see the sides. To get "the shot" you have to climb down the into the rocks. Honestly, it wasn't something I was willing to do. My husband did it. Got us a few shots. Next time I will try to see it via a boat. You can not go inside. The one path is not good for older visitors as it has many wooden steps.

A B.

Yelp
Unfortunately it was foggy when we visited. To access view of lighthouse you have to walk amongst rocks so wear shoes. Semi crowded as well

Ed L.

Yelp
Exploring Maine with friends is certainly a delight. During my stay on Mount Desert Island on a recent mid October 2016 trip, we ended up taking our adventuring southbound and ended up at the Bass Harbor Head Lighthouse. It was nice to see a Maine lighthouse up close. All those photos you've seen online doesn't do justice. You just need to see the lighthouse for yourself. First thing though, admission to Bass Harbor lighthouse is free. Definitely free. I like free. The Bass Harbor Head lighthouse is administered by the National Park Service and there was a sign at the parking area that told us that. My friends arrived here on a brisk Saturday morning after breakfast at Slip's in Southwest Harbor. The drive was not more than 15 minutes down Maine highway 102 South and the parking was already tight as it was, but managed to find parking. It was great to be able to see the sites and sounds of the Atlantic Ocean waves, crashing constantly along the shore. It was truly a nice day to be out and about in Maine. The purpose of the lighthouse back before modern ships technology was to warn boaters and mariners of the coastline and that they could seriously wreck their vessels if they strayed too close to the coast. These lighthouses were used prior to the turn of the 20th century when traveling by ocean was a relatively simple yet dangerous thing. My experience here at the Bass Harbor Head lighthouse was as serendipitous, very unscripted, and lovely, as it ever was. While we do have a couple of lighthouses here and there in Hawaii, nothing more notable and iconic than those in Maine, so it was definitely a treat to be able to come here and visit. I had planned to see the lighthouse in Lubec, but this one at Bass Head harbor was definitely the shorter choice of the two. My friends and I spent about 1/2 hour here at the lighthouse before heading back to Southwest Harbor. We took photos of the lighthouse, as well as selfies with it and also ventured down the rickety stairs down to the rocky coastline for more photos and opportunities to take them. It was nice to see the water buoy dancing about on a nice autumn's day. This particular lighthouse seemed smaller than the ones I've previously in photos, but it's still a lighthouse that served its purpose and is an attraction today. The lighthouse tower is painted white, while the house structure attached to it was boarded up. Too bad we can't see what was inside there. I'm sure that it was used by those who had operated the lighthouse in the past to make sure that the lights were on at all times for the ships that passed through Maine and Mount Desert Island area. For what it's worth though, the Bass Harbor Head lighthouse is a delightful tourist attraction that gets its fair share of people streaming in and out of here in a regular pace. It's one of Maine's prized treasures and the iconic lighthouses that Maine is famous for will live on for future generations. For me personally, I enjoyed this side adventure when I was in Maine. Sad to say that I already miss it and wished that I was there a little bit longer, but that's how I made my Maine schedule that way. Hope to be back though. It was fun seeing others take photos of the coastline and of the lighthouses. They seem to be enjoying themselves as well as we were. 4.0 stars for the lighthouse itself. 5.0 stars for the free parking and admission. 5.0 stars for the Atlantic Ocean views. Support local! A-

Allen C.

Yelp
One of the many lighthouses in Maine; this one gets a lot of visitors because of how close it is to Acadia. It's worth a stop if you're on this side of the park, though I didn't feel like it was a must-do while you're on Mount Desert Island. The lighthouse itself isn't all that impressive up close. It's occupied by a member of the Coast Guard so you can't go inside. The best way to enjoy this place is to take the stairs down and get a view along the cliffside. You can venture out onto the rocks to get a better view. Be careful though; I felt like this was one of the more difficult cliffsides to maneuever on, compared to the other lighthouses I visited in Maine.

Green T.

Yelp
My family and I drove all the way to this lighthouse and it was as I expected. In all honesty, the view was not that great. It could not be compared to views from other lighthouses since the lighthouse was extremely small. Overall, this lighthouse was average.

A.W. S.

Yelp
Pretty place, but don't expect that there is a great view of the lighthouse readily available. You have to do some pretty significant rock scrambling to even see the lighthouse, and the iconic pics you see online are taken by pretty adventurous scramblers. Note: the path at the top of the parking lot, near the restrooms, is largely unmarked, but that's the path you need to take to go down the steps to the rocks.

Dan R.

Yelp
This lighthouse located near Acadia's Seawall Campsite is a great place to visit while in the area. The view from the lighthouse is amazing and watching a sunrise or sunset from the landing near the lighthouse is also incredible. The information board near at the ramp has some unique information about the history of the lighthouse as well as the life of a lighthouse operator.

Jeff W.

Yelp
I've been going to Maine a lot and this is definitely a must stop place for a tourist. It has a small parking lot, so if you want to catch the sunset, get there early! If you're just going to get a nice little peek of what nature has to offer, you can go at any time. It's small, it's crowded at times, but it's worth it. Sadly, you can't get in the lighthouse, and I think that the mystery is half of the draw. Bug spray is necessary if you go floating into the woods, but sticking to the path to the lighthouse isn't terrible.

April G.

Yelp
Absolutely stunning evening experience. Sun was just setting behind the "lamp" when we arrived. So beautiful, especially while breathing in the scent of balsam and hearing the waves crash against the rocks below. We hiked up from Bass Harbor and enjoyed this lovely piece of Maine tremendously.

Blond B.

Yelp
Beautiful! Wish you could tour the inside but it is owned by coast guard now. Also wear good shoes the walk down is very rocky. Tough to get good pictures as it is very small area on the rocks and very busy.

J K.

Yelp
This is a great place to take the elderly and small children. It was very underwhelming compared to other light houses I've visited. It is fully functional so you can't go inside. Its free though if you want to check Maine lighthouse off your bucket list!

Matt E.

Yelp
For the love of god, bring bug spray. If you learn nothing else from me, take that away. I came during sunset to take the classic photo of one of the countries most photographed lighthouses and if there was one thing more prevalent down by the rocky coast then other photographers and tourists it was mosquitoes. The lighthouse is not open to the public so there's no tours or souvenir store but there is a parking lot and a well marked path and wooden staircase down to the water. Come here to take a look at a beautiful iconic Maine scene but don't expect anything else while you're here.

Rich M.

Yelp
While I am a huge lighthouse fan, I will concede that this is one of my least favorite lighthouses of the Maine Coast. It is beautiful in it's own right, offers a distinct red beacon and is still a working an inhabited lighthouse operated by the Coast Guard, unfortunately because of that it is gated, and isn't very accessible. It is gorgeous don't get me wrong, but most lighthouse aficionados don't want to just "see" it, we want to walk through it, touch it, smell it, run our hands along the same cold steel and vented stairs that countless watchmen and keepers labored and toiled along for years. I have great appreciation for the state with over 70 lighthouses. This is one that quite honestly, should NOT be open to public access. The roads are too narrow, the path that leads down to a breathtaking view aside the original signaling bell is right outside the door to the keepers quarters and the quarters are inhabited by a family. You can literally walk within 5 feet of the light and then can't go in. Please USCG, do better for your people. Give privacy and support to the men and women who give so much to this dwindling trade.