Schoodic Peninsula facts for kids
The Schoodic Peninsula is a beautiful piece of land in Maine, located about four miles (6 km) east of Bar Harbor, Maine. It's like a peaceful neighbor to the main part of Acadia National Park on Mount Desert Island. The Schoodic Peninsula makes up about 5% of Acadia National Park, covering 2,266 acres (9.17 km²). It includes the towns of Gouldsboro and Winter Harbor.
The peninsula has a rocky shoreline made of granite, with many interesting black rock formations called volcanic dikes. These dikes are like ancient cracks in the rock filled with cooled magma. The area is also home to a former United States Navy base, NSGA Winter Harbor, which is now a training center for the National Park Service.
A large piece of land next to the park, about 3,200 acres (13 km²), was bought by someone who wanted to help the park. They built the Schoodic Woods Campground and many gravel bike paths there. Then, they gave all of it to Acadia National Park! Schoodic Woods opened in 2015. It is the newest campground in Acadia National Park. In the summer, you can even take a ferry from Bar Harbor to Winter Harbor to visit the peninsula.
Exploring Acadia National Park's Schoodic Peninsula
Quick facts for kids |
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Schoodic Peninsula Historic District
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| Nearest city | Winter Harbor, Maine |
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| Area | 1,083 acres (438 ha) |
| Built | 1929 |
| Architect | National Park Service |
| Architectural style | National Park Service Rustic |
| MPS | Acadia National Park MPS |
| NRHP reference No. | 07000614, updated to 100001261 |
| Added to NRHP | June 29, 2007 |
The part of Acadia National Park on the Schoodic Peninsula feels more quiet and peaceful than the main park area. Only about 10% of park visitors make the trip here, making it a great place to explore without big crowds.
You can explore the park using a one-way, 7-mile (11 km) loop road. The most important spot is Schoodic Head. It is the highest point on the peninsula, reaching 440 feet (134 meters) above the sea. There are several hiking trails that lead up to the top.
Other cool places to see include the picnic area at Frazer Point. You can also enjoy amazing views from Schoodic Point, Blueberry Hill, and the Anvil. Many of the park's paths, service roads, and rest stops were built in the 1930s. They were created by workers from the Civilian Conservation Corps. This group helped build many parks during a tough time in history.
You can also see a lighthouse from Schoodic Head. It is called Mark Island's Winter Harbor Light Station. This lighthouse is a historic landmark.
The Schoodic Education and Research Center
A United States Navy base, called NSGA Winter Harbor, used to operate on Schoodic Point. It was active from 1935 until 2002. This base was a radio station and a place for Navy training.
On July 1, 2002, the Navy base closed down. It was then given to the National Park Service. Now, this former Navy base has been changed into the Schoodic Education and Research Center. It is a special place for research and training for the National Park Service.
