You Don’t Want to Miss the Only Lighthouse on Mount Desert Island, Maine

Have you ever been to the only lighthouse on Mount Desert Island? There are three head light stations managed by Acadia National Park Service, but only one that stands alone on MDI. Do you know which of the many lighthouses in Maine it is?

Did You Guess Maine's Bass Harbor Head Light Station?

If you did, congratulations. You would've won money if someone said I'll give you a thousand dollars if you can tell me the one, single head light on Mount Desert Island. If you didn't answer correctly, congratulations as well! Why? Because you are about to learn something new! We're all winners here!

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Bass Harbor Head Light Station Was Built in 1858 in Maine

Bass Harbor Head Light was built in 1858 and is still beautifully guiding boats to this day. Visitors are able to walk the grounds and take photos. There are two different ways to approach the lighthouse from the parking lot, but you can't tour the building. It is currently a private residence, which is so fascinating to me. Who wouldn't want to live in a lighthouse built before the Civil War on a cliff overlooking the ocean?!

Getting to Bass Harbor Head Light in Maine and Parking

On a cloudy and rainy Sunday toward the end of August, parking was busy. We waited approximately 5 to 10 minutes for a spot to open, which isn't bad at all and well worth the wait. There are only 27 parking spots for this very popular destination so plan accordingly.

The lighthouse is located in the southwestern part of Acadia National Park. From Bar Harbor, it took us about 30 minutes to commute to Bass Harbor. 

I absolutely recommend making this a stop on anyone's trip to MDI whether a local or a visitor to Maine. Scroll down to see more photos of Bass Harbor Light Head. To see more information on Bass Harbor Light Head and lighthouses near Bass Harbor, click here. For the history on Bass Harbor Lighthouse, click here.