Michelle (left) and Sharon are convinced that hiking on a gray day in Acadia is better than a good day at school or work.
Bass Harbor Area
67 Wonderland
This very easy trail along an old road brings you to pink granite outcrops along the shore and tide pools at low tide. You may see skunk cabbage along the way and wonder why there are broken mussel shells inland along the trail rather than on the coastline.
Distance: 1.4 miles out and back
Hiking time: About 1 hour
Trail surface: Graded gravel road
Best season: Spring through fall, particularly early morning or late afternoon in summer to avoid the crowds; low tide for tidal pool exploration
Other trail users: None
Canine compatibility: Leashed dogs permitted
Map: USGS Acadia National Park and Vicinity
Special considerations: Wheelchair accessible with assistance. Closest facilities are at the Seawall picnic area or Ship Harbor Trail.
Finding the trailhead: From Southwest Harbor head south about 1 mile on ME 102. Bear left (southeast) onto ME 102A, passing the town of Manset in about 1 mile and Seawall Campground and picnic area in about 3 miles. Reach the Wonderland trailhead in about 4 miles. Parking is on the left (southeast) side of the road. The trail heads southeast along an abandoned gravel road toward the shore. The Island Explorer’s Southwest Harbor line stops at Seawall Campground, 1 mile away, and passes Wonderland on the way to Bass Harbor Campground. Ask if the bus driver will let you off at the Wonderland parking area. GPS: N44 23.36' / W68 32.01'
The Hike
Once you see the smooth pink granite along the shore, smell the salty sea, and explore the tide pools, you will know why they call this Wonderland. The very easy trail along an old gravel road starts by winding through dark woods, but a huge smooth pink granite rock on the left soon hints at the show to come.
At about 0.1 mile go up a slight hill and make your way carefully among some roots and rocks. This is the toughest part of an otherwise very easy, well-graded trail. Skunk cabbage is found along this section of the trail, with its purplish-red leaves and yellow flower in early spring and huge green foliage in summer. Through the trees you begin to see the ocean on the right (southeast). At 0.7 mile the trail brings you to the shore, where the pink granite dramatically meets the sea.
You can spend hours exploring here, especially when low tide exposes tide pools and their diverse marine life, from rockweed to barnacles to green crabs. Be careful of wet rocks, slick seaweed, and sudden waves.
Michelle (left) and Sharon are convinced that hiking on a gray day in Acadia is better than a good day at school or work.
You can also spend countless time exploring inland along the trail, as our nieces Sharon and Michelle did when we hiked this together, wondering about the cracked-up seashells and seaweed they found far from shore.
We theorized that seagulls must have dropped the mussel shells from midair to open them for food. That was proven later in the trip when we hiked the Bar Island Trail at low tide and witnessed that very seagull feeding activity.
There are many things to wonder about along Wonderland.
Return the way you came.
Miles and Directions
0.0Start at the Wonderland trailhead, on the southeast side of ME 102A at the edge of the parking area.
0.1The trail heads slightly uphill.
0.7Reach the shoreline, where you can add on a loop to explore the rocky outcroppings. Retrace your steps.
1.4Arrive back at the trailhead.