People Are Building Hundreds of Rock Stacks on Bar Island. Here's Why Park Stewards (and Some Visitors and Locals) Are Taking Them Down. For some visitors, the stones are art and play. For park stewards, they're rock graffiti that can damage a fragile landscape.

People Are Building Hundreds of Rock Stacks on Bar Island. Here’s Why Park Stewards (and Some Visitors and Locals) Are Taking Them Down.

For some visitors, the stones are art and play. For park stewards, they’re rock graffiti that can damage a fragile landscape. Carrie Jones Aug 10, 2026 The Bar Harbor Story is generously sponsored by Geddy’s. ACADIA NATIONAL PARK—In one of the recent posts about the stacks of rock on the area between Bar Harbor and Bar Island, a Bar Harbor resident said, “Wow, Someone was busy … Continue reading People Are Building Hundreds of Rock Stacks on Bar Island. Here’s Why Park Stewards (and Some Visitors and Locals) Are Taking Them Down.

Internal Memo Tells National Parks Not to Report Deaths

Memo applies to “all Interior bureaus and offices.” Jun 27, 2026 by Ethan Andrews/BDN ACADIA NATIONAL PARK—Officials at Acadia National Park may stop reporting deaths in the park. That possibility comes from a U.S. Department of the Interior internal memo obtained by the Washington Post instructing staff at national parks not to confirm deaths or provide details about severe injuries on park property. According to the memo, which … Continue reading Internal Memo Tells National Parks Not to Report Deaths

Acadia Advisory Commission Fails to Meet. Again. Created by Congress, group fails to meet for third time in 18 months; it's meant to meet three times each year. Free to read, just click through.

Some of Acadia’s Messages on Climate Change on Display After Judge Rules Against Trump Order.

Jun 16, 2026 The Bar Harbor Story is generously sponsored by Thrive Juice Bar & Kitchen. By Sabrina Martin/BDN ACADIA NATIONAL PARK—After a federal judge late last week ordered the Trump administration to restore signage that it had removed from national parks, some messages about the impact of climate change were on display in Acadia on Monday. But some displays that were removed last fall from … Continue reading Some of Acadia’s Messages on Climate Change on Display After Judge Rules Against Trump Order.

Acadia National Park Ranger Sues Federal Government Over Alleged Race and Age Discrimination

Acadia National Park Ranger Sues Federal Government Over Alleged Race and Age Discrimination

Carrie Jones May 27, 2026 The Bar Harbor Story is generously sponsored by Bar Harbor Bicycle Shop. ACADIA NATIONAL PARK—David A. Smith, a law enforcement ranger at Acadia National Park, has sued the federal government in U.S. District Court. In the May 20 lawsuit, the Bar Harbor resident said that be was passed over from positions because of his race and his age. Smith is Abanaki. … Continue reading Acadia National Park Ranger Sues Federal Government Over Alleged Race and Age Discrimination

Why Hundreds of Volunteers Keep Returning to Pick Up Other People’s Trash. A Small Act That Protects an Entire National Park and the Towns Around It.

Why Hundreds of Volunteers Keep Returning to Pick Up Other People’s Trash.

A Small Act That Protects an Entire National Park and the Towns Around It. Carrie Jones Apr 27, 2026 The Bar Harbor Story is generously sponsored by Restaurant Barn. MOUNT DESERT ISLAND REGION—Even before the sun had burned the chill off the shoulders of Eagle Lake Road, the ditches were already confessing and spilling their small, sorry secrets into giant trash bags: cigarette butts, Fireball nips, … Continue reading Why Hundreds of Volunteers Keep Returning to Pick Up Other People’s Trash.

From Rare Visitors to Regular Sightings, The Bears in Acadia National Park. Trash, Trail Cameras, and DNA: Inside the Effort to Count Acadia’s Bears.

From Rare Visitors to Regular Sightings, The Bears in Acadia National Park.

Trash, Trail Cameras, and DNA: Inside the Effort to Count Acadia’s Bears. Apr 18, 2026 by Sabrina Martin/BDN Acadia National Park has drawn visitors for more than 100 years who come to enjoy the rocky shorelines and cool summer breezes. Local residents have mostly grown to accept the presence of millions of tourists who descend on MDI each summer and fall, but in the past couple … Continue reading From Rare Visitors to Regular Sightings, The Bears in Acadia National Park.

Acadia Building New Path to Protect Pedestrians at Cadillac Mountain Summit

Acadia Building New Path to Protect Pedestrians at Cadillac Mountain Summit

Mar 19, 2026 by Sabrina Martin/Bangor Daily News ACADIA NATIONAL PARK—Acadia officials are starting construction on a new trail that will prevent pedestrians from needing to walk on a busy roadway at the park’s highest peak. The trail will give visitors a dedicated walkway between the east and west parking lots along Cadillac Summit Road, one of the Acadia National Park’s busiest roads. That road to … Continue reading Acadia Building New Path to Protect Pedestrians at Cadillac Mountain Summit

On Acadia’s Winter Roads, the Groomers Go First. Why Mark Fernald Spends His Winters Grooming Acadia.

On Acadia’s Winter Roads, the Groomers Go First.

Why Mark Fernald Spends His Winters Grooming Acadia. Carrie Jones Mar 14, 2026 ACADIA NATIONAL PARK—On the morning he turned 73, Mark Fernald sat in the Friends of Acadia office wearing a gray beanie and his signature blue fleece, looking like a man who had already spent a good portion of his life outdoors and was in no hurry to stop. All winter long, before … Continue reading On Acadia’s Winter Roads, the Groomers Go First.

All Buses Head to Bar Harbor . . . League of Towns Talks Island Explorer and Transportation

Consultant Says Bar Harbor Sees 15,000 Visitors a Day in Summer Peaks. Fewer Than 500 in Winter.

Bar Harbor’s Tourism Economy Faces Big Swings and Big Planning Implications. Carrie Jones Feb 21, 2026 BAR HARBOR—Bar Harbor may feel crowded in July, but to much of the world it barely exists. It can host fifteen thousand people a day at the waterfront in July and fewer than 500 in winter. Those extremes, outlined in a new tourism analysis presented by Australian data consultant … Continue reading Consultant Says Bar Harbor Sees 15,000 Visitors a Day in Summer Peaks. Fewer Than 500 in Winter.

Park Officials Urge Bear Awareness as Sightings Rise on MDI

Living With Bears on Mount Desert Island:

Prevention and Planning Starts Now. Carrie Jones and Shaun Farrar Feb 17, 2026 The Bar Harbor Story is generously sponsored by The Witham Family Hotels Charitable Fund. MOUNT DESERT ISLAND—A plethora of bear sightings last year and a bear accused of killing two goats and some rabbits in May and was then later accused of killing baby rabbits at the same property and not eating them means that it’s not … Continue reading Living With Bears on Mount Desert Island: