Hulls Cove Visitor Center to Open

Photo by Peetlesnumber1

Bar Harbor, Maine - Hulls Cove Visitor Center in Acadia National Park is scheduled to open on Tuesday, April 15, 2014. The visitor center will be open from 8:30 am to 4:30 pm daily. In addition to informational services, the visitor center features an audiovisual orientation program every half-hour in the auditorium. Educational material, including books and maps, may be purchased at the Eastern National sales area. For those who cannot walk the 52 steps to the visitor center, there is an accessible entrance. When entering from Route 3, this entrance is reached by going straight at the four-way stop instead of turning right into the visitor center parking lot.

Currently Cadillac Summit Road is scheduled to open on Friday, April 18, 2014. During the day the road is 99% clear with a few icy patches. Snow and ice are melting in warmer daytime temperatures, leading to water flowing across the road and refreezing overnight. Crews will be going out daily and if conditions improve the road will open prior to the 18th.

At this time, all hiking trails are open with the exception of two where peregrine falcons are nesting. They are the Precipice Trail, including the mountain section of the Orange & Black Path (formerly the East Face Trail), and the Valley Cove Trail, north of the Flying Mountain Trail. Caution is advised on the open trails, as there is still ice and snow on most.

Because of the extensive winter season, park personnel have been working to get the ice and snow off Park Loop Road and are hoping to get the entire road open by April 15. Bikers are encouraged to use caution when biking Park Loop Road at this time. The carriage roads are currently closed for the season to prevent damage during the thaw, and will stay closed until they dry out.

Keep checking our website for current information, or call 288-3338. You can also follow us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AcadiaNPS or Twitter: https://twitter.com/AcadiaNPS

The Sand Beach Entrance Station on Park Loop Road will open on May 1. All passes will be available at that location. Between now and May 1, passes may only be purchased at park headquarters on Route 233, every day from 8 am to 4 pm.