20 on '20: Science-informed decisions becoming key at Acadia National Park

Photo / Courtesy of National Park Service, Friends of Acadia, Ashley Conti Acadia National Park Superintendent Kevin Schneider

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By Laurie Schreiber

Moving into 2020, Acadia National Park faces several challenges, says Superintendent Kevin Schneider.

From a long-term perspective, he says, the biggest driver of change is climate, as seen in longer visitor seasons. As they say locally, November is the new October and May is nice, too.

For 2020, the park is trying to ensure increased numbers of visitors have safe and memorable experiences. Key to that mission is the park’s transportation plan, approved in 2019.

“To manage increasing numbers of visitors and the congested roadways that sometimes go along with that,” Schneider says, “we are going to use a multi-faceted approach of expanding the Island Explorer bus system, enlarging two critical park-and- ride locations, requiring private vehicles to have a reservation to drive to the most congested locations of Cadillac Mountain, Ocean Drive and Jordan Pond, and moving to smaller-sized commercial tour buses that better fit Acadia’s narrow roadways.”

Much of the work in 2020 will be behind the scenes to get parts of the plan in place in future years.

“Our team will be hard at work trying to get the contracts in place to support these changes,” Schneider says.

As someone who lives near the park, Schneider has his own ways to find solitude in Acadia, even on the busiest summer days.

“Learn how to avoid the crowds and visit like a local by checking in with a park ranger before your visit,” he advises. “Find a memorable sunset or sunrise in one of many other spots besides Cadillac Mountain, which becomes especially congested at these times. Ride the Island Explorer right from your hotel, campground or the Hulls Cove Visitor Center to Jordan Pond House or Sand Beach. Or try bicycling on the carriage roads from Bar Harbor or Northeast Harbor to the Jordan Pond House.”