About the Trail
One of the crown jewel features of Acadia National Park is its beautiful coastline. With its jagged pink granite formations standing up to the never-ending assault of the ocean's waves it’s truly a magical sight. Ocean Path is a family-friendly trail that follows a dramatic stretch of coastline between Sand Beach and Otter Point. Along the way, you will encounter several famous landmarks, including Sand Beach, Thunder Hole, Monument Cove, and Otter Cliff. While the trail runs right along the main Park Loop Road, it is well worth it to get out of the car and go for a stroll on this trail.
Ocean Path officially starts at the Sand Beach parking lot, located along the Park Loop Road less than half a mile south of the NPS entrance booths. The path is a well-groomed mostly level gravel trail, allowing for a non-strenuous leisurely stroll. Along the way, several trails branch off the main trail, allowing for a more in-depth exploration of the granite formations.
A quarter of a mile south is the impressive Otter Cliff, an area where the granite formations rise much more dramatically above the water. As such, this area is popular with climbers, and you may spot people rappelling down to ocean level then climbing back up. Past Otter Cliff, the trail starts heading west and officially ends at Otter Point, a great spot for relaxing on the rocks, exploring tidepools, and taking in the sunset if the timing is right.
(excerpted from Joe’s Guide to Acadia National Park)
About the Artwork
The first trip my husband and I took together was to Acadia National Park, where we ambled along Ocean Path watching the waves crash on the rocky shore while inhaling the combination of pine trees and salty air on a warm spring day. Living my entire life near the Atlantic Ocean, I’ve always respected its strength and admired its beauty. I chose to paint this scene as one that is representative of many coastal Maine vistas, but also because this particular spot is embedded in my heart and soul. This is actually the first digital painting I ever completed and it continues to be one of my best sellers to this day.
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