Thunder Hole

Thunder Hole is one of the most fun and unique spots in Acadia National Park. When the waves crash just right, the water hits the rocks and shoots up with a loud boom like thunder. It’s amazing to watch and really shows the power of the ocean. The best time to visit is about one to two hours before high tide when the waves are strongest and the splash can reach impressive heights. Be ready for some sea spray because it’s all part of the fun. The viewing area has railings and is easy to access, but it can get crowded during peak times, so go early if you can. It’s a quick stop but absolutely worth it, exciting, beautiful, and a perfect example of Acadia’s wild coastal energy.

Thunder Hole is one of the must-see spots in Acadia National Park! When the waves hit just right, the water crashes into the rocky inlet with a deep, thunder-like roar — it’s an incredible natural sound and sight. The area offers gorgeous ocean views, dramatic cliffs, and great photo opportunities. Timing is everything — the “thunder” effect is strongest a couple of hours before high tide, so plan your visit accordingly. Even when it’s calm, it’s still a beautiful stop along the Park Loop Road and well worth a quick visit. 🌊⛰️📸

A definite stop - so worth it but be prepared that the times of day and the tides will effect the outcome of your visit. But it’s still worth going no matter what. Parking can be very busy but you don’t really stay very long so parking spots come open continuously. There’s a cute little shop across the street. It’s usually very busy but if you’re patient you can get inside. Most all of the shop have similar items- If you can’t squeeze in 😂.

Thunder Hole along with the entire Acadia National Park coastline is breathtaking. The color of the rocks against the light green color of the ocean is beautiful. Easy to access the viewing points.

The star rating isn’t related to the natural beauty of the location it’s just the time we went there was NO action. Beautiful scene, parking was fine, a little over crowded but otherwise a good stop. My only recommendation is to do your research and plan your trip according to the tides/ weather to actually see the majestic natural beauty of Thunder Hole or you may leave a bit disappointed like we did.

Lookout area to look at the waves near ocean level. A small section has stairs, other area is simply rock easily walkable. There's small parking lot across the street and a very small visitor center. Nice but similar to other viewpoints.

We visited on September 9, 2025. It was very crowded (throughout the entire Park Loop areas). We visited two hours before high tide, per the recommendation. It was cool but a little underwhelming. BUT, the area at Thunder Hole is spectacular and worth a visit whether or not you hear the roar.

We call this The Quiet Hole. This is the second time we've been here and it was fairly sedate both times. Supposedly the best time to see it is two hours before high tide but that didn't work for our schedule.

This may have been our favorite place to visit in Bar Harbor. Loved exploring the rocks, the sounds of the waves, and the scenic view. Hike wasn't bad, was able to park along the road and walk along the way on a paved pathway. On a beautiful sunny summer day, the sound of the waves and smell of the salty ocean was perfect.

Located inside Acadia National Park. It has a parking lot across the street for you to park and walk over. I liked that there are steps at various levels, so you can get a range of different views of the rocks and water. Plus it's a great place to get your steps in (if thats important to ya). I really enjoyed this spot on our way out leaving the park. Beautiful scenery to enjoy nature. One could spend a few minutes here or a couple of hours here taking it all in. It was not high or low tide, so I did not get to here the "thunder" but still really cool to look at. According to the internet: "Thunder Hole is a popular inlet known for the loud thunder like boom and spray created when the waves crash into a narrow sea cave. The sound and spray are most dramatic 1 to 2 hours before high tide, but it also interesting at low tide for a closer look at the cliffs." While it was cloudy and chilly on my visit, I still had a great time with my group. Enjoy!

Very crowded (August) worth the beautiful views. But we didn't wait for the "thunder" . We didn't want to miss the even more beautiful and less crowded nearby trails.

Fun, quick little stop while driving along the Park Loop. You can view Thunder Hole while walking on the Ocean Path, but I'd recommend just parking in the lot nearby if you want to visit. As with nature, you can only do your best to predict what's going to happen. We were there 2 hours before high tide as recommended, but we were only able to hear some gurgles in the 20 minutes we were there. It's more likely you'll get lucky to hear the thunder noise, or you'll be waiting around for a bit. Acadia wasn't too busy while we were there, but Thunder Hole was surprisingly decently crowded. Plan accordingly. Even if you don't get to hear any of the noises, still a pretty view of the water. Unless you're determined to hear the thunder, I'd do a quick stop by and then move on to your next stop.

Thunder Hole is a section of the rocky Acadia National Park shoreline where the water crashes against the rocks spouting high in the air. OK, that's what I read/heard but again you have to time it to see/hear the sound. there were bus tours and it seemed the passengers were disappointed, but I did hear a bang sound. This is a beautiful stretch of coastline. when we went there- that tipping point- it was closed. Parking: There is a parking lot across the street.

Pretty but no thunder most days, very crowded no parking. Acadia is too crowded. Go off season.

Bottom Line: Perhaps a fun spectacle two hours before high tide otherwise just a view point with a lot of other people. I've consistently heard the best time to visit Thunder Hole is two hours before high tide. But I couldn't get excited enough about this stop to prioritize being there two hours before high tide so we went about our day hiking and got to Thunder Hole an hour after high tide. The views were beautiful and we enjoyed them along with 20 other tourists all in the corral aka safety rails. The noise an hour after high tide sounded a lot like the low, guttural gurgling noises my toilets made the last time the local water municipality flushed our water mains. No joke. When it comes to National Parks I am more about exploring trails away from the crowds versus stopping at sights that attract crowds so that is why this wasn't high on my list. Another reason this attraction didn't get me too excited is that Thunder Hole reminds me of some of the blow holes I've seen in Hawaii.

We were completely underwhelmed. It is a huge tourist hotspot so prepare for crowds and difficulty with parking. The water was barely moving and it made at most the sound of a wet squelch. There was no action and we went at the recommended 2 hours before high tide. I'm sure there are times it is amazing but this wasn't the case. I have also had the privilege to see many blow holes and sea caves which were so much more exciting and consistent so I wouldn't recommend this if you have had similar experiences. If you've NEVER seen something like this before, by all means go. It is on a really nice pathway to walk to at least. The gift shop is terribly overpriced. Otherwise there isn't much else going on around there.

So, here's the key with Thunderhole: if you don't come at *exactly the right time* then this is just some coast of Maine to look at it. Which, in my eyes, always gets five stars, but because this is marketed as an incredible natural wonder where you're supposed to be able to hear the waves crashing into the rocks so loudly it sounds like actual thunder... you should know that mostly it doesn't. The best time to visit for the boom and the spray, according to the placards, is one to two hours before high tide (which means for a short window twice a day you *might* get to experience it; and one of those two times the park isn't open) AND it has to be a windy day. In all seriousness, a full moon probably wouldn't hurt either. Why does it boom? "Over eons the relentless force of the ocean has gouged a narrow cave in this granite ledge. The cave traps air when it suddenly fills with water and creates a thunderous burst of ocean spray. Formations like Thunder Hole are just one way to experience the sheer power of these coastal waves and currents." Also 3.5 MILLION PEOPLE VISIT FROM MAY TO OCTOBER (...no, seriously, expect it to be *very* busy).

When I first heard the name my first thought was another name for someone's bum, but there is a reason for the name, there is a unique sound when the waves hit the inlet, which is a small cavern which trap the air and causes the distant thunder sound, that's a according to the fact from a souvenir magnet I got. Yes Thunder Hole is a mini attraction within Acadia National Park. If you're lucky at the right time, with the right tide and if it's not crowded with people you'll be able to see water forced through a hole creating the sound of it's namesake. Unfortunately during my visit I did not see it and even then there were quite a few people so if you bravely come here in the colder months it you may be better off as there will be less people and the conditions may be more in line for it. The stairs down to the viewing area is nice and maintained. There is also a park plack that talks a bit about it as well. There is a parking lot dedicated to this section of the park and parts of the intersecting trails pass through here so you can drop in on it and not even really know, unless of course you're following the park map. There is a souvenir shop that has the usual Acadia National Park merchandise but of course they have Thunder Hole specific items too. While you're out enjoying Acadia National Park stop by Thunder Hole maybe you'll see the splash and hear the thunder.

Our timing was off, so we didn't get to experience the loud thunder. Regardless, we enjoyed the cloudy sky, soft rain, and the wave breaking against the cliff. The gloomy weather made the experience more intense. The bonus was that the crowd was minimal.

Thunder Hole is a natural landmark found inside Acadia National Park. It is located on the southeastern part of the park. This was one of our stops during our tour of the park. Across the street from the main attraction includes parking, gift shop, and restrooms. My visit here was on October 2, 2019. When we got to Thunder Hole, it was busy, but not overcrowded at least. The weather was cool and overcast with temperatures in the 50s. The timing of the visit was a little over an hour before high tide was to occur. We were given about 20 minutes to visit this area. Most of my time here was taking in the views and video of Thunder Hole (videos are too big to post). I did get one good one while there and could work well as a white noise machine too. The views were breathtaking. Thunder Hole was made through natural rock formations. I was able to hear the thunder a few times as the waves were forcing the water out. Some of them came up looking like a big geyser exploding. This makes it a beautiful natural phenomenon. I was on one of the open paths down toward the hole area up until where the sections below were closed off for safety reasons. During the visit, there were quite a few people also on the rocks there. For the most part you would be fine on the rocks, but make sure that you aren't on any of the wet or black rocks. You could get swept out to sea. However, they do provide for some great views. Overall, Thunder Hole was definitely the highlight of my entire trip through Acadia National Park. With the stunning views and sounds, what is not to like about this place? Just be sure to time it right with the tide cycle when you visit. I would love to come back at a later time where I have more time to visit this place. If your travels take you this way, this place is definitely worth stopping and visiting.

Thunder Hole, one of the more visited parts of Acadia National Park, is fantastic when you catch it at the right time, underwhelming if you don't. The guide book I had on the park outlined this so we tried to time our visit to get the best experience possible. Basically Thunder Hole is a cavern that, when slammed by ocean waves during high tide, makes a huge crashing sound akin to, well, thunder. We were lucky enough to make it there during the rising tide and a windy day, which made the choppy water crash into the rocks in a very impressive way. Perhaps not as loud as you would get at peak high tide (or on a stormy day) but it was enough for us to see what all the fuss was about. The rock formations are beautiful tho, so you won't have a bad time here. You may just not get the full thunderous glory at every hour of the day.

We stopped at Thunder Hole for a nice picnic lunch while hiking in Acadia National Park. Like so much of the park Thunder Hole is another example of nature's incredible and amazing beauty. This small inlet has been naturally carved out of the rocks and gets its name from the thunderous roar of the waves crashing into a little cavern at the end of the inlet and spewing high into the air. You can climb on the rocks and just have fun taking in the incredible views. There is parking and restrooms nearby as well as a small gift shop. You can drive up or hike the very scenic ocean path from Sand Beach. The hike is less than a mile and a half and is pretty gently so it won't wear you out. After taking in Thunder Hole you can continue on the trail for another 7 tenths of a mile to Otter Cliff. If you visit Acadia National Park make sure Thunder Hole is on your list of places to visit.

Looking back at the week-long vacation with my in-laws in Maine, Thunder Hole was one of the best parts. Well to clarify, the trail leading to Thunder Hole. We started our vacation off strong by making it through the long line into Acadia National Park (took almost an hour) and finding parking somewhere along a trail. We walked past the paved path and down to the giant boulders overlooking the ocean. There were lots of neat pockets of water and natural areas for photo ops. My sister and I climbed to the top of every boulder we could find, and that turned out to be the best workout of the week. So fun... I've missed climbing. When we arrived to the actual Thunder Hole, it was underwhelming because we didn't make it in time for high tide. I told myself I would just watch videos online to experience it. I suppose it's unfair to give Thunder Hole itself 5 stars, but even if you start there and rock climb away from it, you'll have a fantastic time.

A must stop and see while traveling along the Park Loop Rd in Acadia National Park. A ranger at the visitors center recommended we get there 2 hours before high tide to get the best waves. There were so many beautiful views to stop and take in, that we were too late by the time we arrived :-/ We did see a few bigger waves that made some thunder noises, but not as loud as we were hoping. It was still an awesome stop though. We stayed and just enjoyed the beautiful weather and sounds of crashing waves on the granite rocks! There is street parking available...seems like most people do this; however, there is a parking lot and gift shop right across the street. The gift shop is pretty small, but they still have plenty of souvenirs, snacks and beverages. I'd recommend trying the blueberry soda...yum!

This was one of the cool sites that we viewed while exploring Acadia National Park. I'm glad that we stopped because it was a cool site to see and to also take photos. Even on a gloomy day it was a good spot to stop and take in the views. There isn't a parking lot for this stop so parking will be along the main road and it fills up fast. I'd recommend trying to take this in earlier in the day before the park gets busy. We parked along the road and the walk to the site wasn't too long. The path to the rocky viewing area was just a few steps and easy to maneuver. We waited out on the rocks with lots of other tourists and washed the waves rush in. It was a pretty spot to relax and just take in the beauty of the park.

It really sounds like thunder! Easy to access, there is parking right across the street.

We loved thunder hole! You do have to pay the park fee which is $30 (I think) to get in. Parking was a little confusing. Don't take the fret spot you see on the road! There will be more closer to a thunder hole. We walked about a mile because we took the first spot we saw. We enjoyed the walk there, though. But it was very pretty. We unfortunately didn't get to hear the thunder sound.... but we are also impatient and love to move and explore. We had a lot of fun climbing on the rocks and seeing the scenery. I loved watching the waves crash on the rocks. I enjoyed walking around and seeing the area. Would love to come back some time!

We must have lucked out on the time, as we paid no attention to tide times and we heard the roar of the waves, crashing like thunder that gave this spot its name. Rocky outcroppings and beautiful views make a stop or walk to this spot a must in my book.

"Tide is high, but I'm holding on"- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ppYgrdJ0pWk On the Oregon coast, there are spectacular crevasses like Thor's Well&Devil's Punchbowl; there are sites carved by fire&waves. Maine's Thunder Hole proves worthy competition to the sights along the Pacific Northwest (after all, one of PDX's founders&the one who named it, was from Maine) Thunder Hole is supposed to be at its best at high tide, but even at low tide&in inclement weather, it's just as spectacular. It thunders powerfully. One gets the sense that under certain conditions, one would rather NOT be on the walkway directly beside it. The tide IS high&you're holding on, you're not the type who gives up just like that. A must-visit on the epic Loop trail.

I only rate this 3 star as our experience was kind of a dud. We got there about an hour before high tide and stayed till high tide. No "thunder" in the hole, just a few blurbles (yes, I just made up that word). Nice views and made for some decent pictures, but not a 4 or 5 star experience. Next time we'll try to get there a couple hours before high tide (as recommended by other internet sites), to see if it makes a difference.

This place is gorgeous! I actually visited this natural beauty about 3 years ago, & shamefully didn't realize I could review it on Yelp. So here we are.. better late than never.... We came here on a weekend and the drive is absolutely breathtaking. I am not used to all this scenery, being from Hampton Roads and all, so when I actually got to the top I was beside myself. The best part? The awesome sound of the water at the actual hole.

I read somewhere that the boom was better at high tide, but when I got there the sign said two hours prior to high tide was best!!! I wish I'd gotten it right, because there was nothing but a viewing platform and rocky coastline to see. Disappointing

Nice open place with good views. The actual attraction is the Thunder Hole but for the full experience you need to go at specific times.

While traveling through Acadia National Park we stopped at Thunder Hole to see the wonder of this well known attraction. When we arrived the place was packed and we didn't get to hear the thunderous waves crashing due to the tide and calm water. Although that was the case, it was a beautiful sight and we enjoyed the stop. We just hope that the next time we visit we can actually hear the sounds of thunder!

Make sure you come an hour or so before high tide! A windy day is best too. I came here twice during my trip to Acadia and the first day was very mild despite proper timing- the "thunder" was not impressive. Day 3 was a very windy day and I happened to pop back over an hour and a half before tide and it was extremely boisterous! So cool! Be prepared to get wet if you want to get close- wear a rain jacket!

At high tide, the water comes into this narrow crevasse and creates a loud thundering sound. The walkway can only hold so many people so make sure you get a spot.

Whether the hole is thundering or not, this is a must stop on the park loop road. The rocks are amazing and the scenery is spectacular. Try to get there within 2 hours of high tide and you may get lucky with the 'thunder'. Great place to just sit on the rocks and enjoy Mother Nature.

The view here was great, but make sure you go two hours before high tide, which is recommended by Acadia Park. We went at high tide, as did many people. However, we did not see much since the waves were not at their peak. Either way, the view was beautiful.

So, the amount of "thunder" varies pretty significantly. We went at both one hour before high tide and stayed until high tide, and two hours before high tide, and while it is an interesting place we didn't experience the "thunder" as discussed. Seas were calm, so I think that played into it. I would go on a stormy day next time to see if there was more thunder.

It can get crowded, it's all on paved paths with railings, so it's not the most "wild" section of Acadia. The Island Explorer bus stops here and it's a quick side trip, so in my mind it's definitely worth it. When the waves come in and hit the cavern just right, it forces the air out and does make a loud crack that sounds like distant thunder. My favorite part is actually the big splashes of water shooting up into the air when it hits the area just right. Bottom line is, do yourself a favor and see it. It can be done in a very short amount of time and it's a cool area.

We were at thunder hole 5 years ago. The thunder was out in all it's glory. Expecting the same this visit was disappointing. Tho we made 2 trips at high tide, it didn't happen. Thunder hole was an inlet naturally carved out of the rocks from water erosion over the years. When waves roll into the inlet, water as high as 40 feet shoots out sounding like thunder. There are many steps to get down to the opening of the inlet. No matter where you stand when it's active is a great view. Take your camera.

This was honestly one my favorite parts of my trip to Bar Harbor. My partner and I had such a great time watching the waves crash in over the rocks. We unfortunately didn't arrive in time to get the full sound of "thunder" experience, but we had a great time nonetheless. Would suggest arriving in mid afternoon, as the tides change from low to high. You will need to pay $15 per person as an access fee to enter the National Park.

Thunder hole is a great geological wonder for sure.. But I went once at night, forgot how long the drive was, so it began to get dark. I felt a presence when I got to the bottom and peered down into the hole... This place is most definitely haunted by a young soul... Sounds crazy but I definitely felt it.

Absolutely breath taking! My favorite in Acadia National park ... the doggies loved the hike and we all had a wonderful time.

Thunder Hole is one of the must-see things in Acadia. A really great natural wonder that kids and adults will love. The rock walls along the way before and after Thunder Hole are great to just sit on and admire the ocean view. It can get crowded but that's expected there.