elberko

I've spent many weeks on MDI, but usually in September, and the earliest is one trip in July.

An opportunity to visit last week of May, or first of June has come up, and I'm wondering if that will be as wonderful as September. I know some restaurants are seasonal, but will things be mostly open by then? We would be spending most of the time hiking. Would love to hear from people who have been there in spring.

dfrostnh

A Bar Harbor friend claims they don't have black flies. She does some easy hiking with her daughter. But I don't believe her about the black flies unless it's because of being on the ocean. We have spent a weekend in early June for a last family weekend before DS went away. He biked up Cadillac and I remember walking around a garden and don't recall bugs. We have also visited the Blue Hill peninsula area more towards mid-June when lupine are blooming. One town had a lupine festival (very small town type of festival) and gave out maps to the best lupine patches.

Check out some posts from 2014 that mention some trails might be closed due to nesting birds. https://www.tripadvisor.com/ShowTopi...and_Maine.html

There's a birding festival in early June and I know there's a popular artist retreat. I bet a lot of things are open that early with so much going on.

jubilada

There are indeed black flies in Acadia, worst mid May through mid June.
They could be a minor to a monumental annoyance, depending on weather.

I don’t think it’s nearly as good a time as September.

dfrostnh

here's brief reply from my local friend:
We don't have black flies in Hulls Cove...thank goodness! But I'll check with my daughter about the Park. June is usually a quiet month, restaurants should all be open, most by Memorial Day, it's not as crowded. June used to be the fog will roll in in the p.m. And roll out in the a.m. LAst couple of years, it just changes and We had the hottest days of the summer this past June.  However no climate change..haha
Will check on the bugs and let you know..

emalloy

If there are no black flies when you are in Acadia it will be because there is wind from the water which will be very cold in June.

That said, June can have those "what is so rare as a day in June" times that are wonderful. It also can be cold, damp, rainy, I've even seen some stubborn piles of snow in the shady spots.

September is more consistently nice, but be prepared for anything weatherize.