Bass Harbor Head Lighthouse

Bass Harbor Head Lighthouse clings to a granite headland at the southwestern tip of Mount Desert Island, its white tower and red-roofed keeper’s house framed by dark spruce and the blue Atlantic beyond. It is, by most reckonings, the most photographed lighthouse in Maine—not despite its modest size but because of the extraordinary way it occupies its landscape.

Unlike lighthouses that stand on flat ground or sandy points, Bass Harbor Head seems to grow from the rock itself. To photograph it properly, you descend wooden stairs to the boulders below and look up at the tower rising above the surf-carved granite. The composition is natural, inevitable, iconic.

The lighthouse sits within Acadia National Park, on the island’s “quiet side”—away from Bar Harbor’s bustle, in a working fishing village that feels closer to the Maine that existed before tourism transformed the coast.

The Lighthouse

History

Bass Harbor Head Light was established in 1858 to guide ships through the treacherous waters at the entrance to Bass Harbor and Blue Hill Bay. The station’s position on a 56-foot cliff amplifies its modest 32-foot tower, giving the light an effective height of 88 feet above sea level.

Key dates:

1858: Lighthouse commissioned by Congress
1858: Original tower and keeper’s house constructed
1876: Current fifth-order Fresnel lens installed
1902: Bell tower added for fog signals
1974: Light automated
Present: Active Coast Guard navigation aid

The Tower and Buildings

The white cylindrical tower rises 32 feet from the rocky point. Attached to it is the original keeper’s house, now painted white with a distinctive red roof. A covered walkway connects the buildings, sheltering keepers who once made nighttime trips to tend the light in all weather.

The light: The 1876 Fresnel lens remains operational, displaying a red-and-white characteristic visible for 13 miles. The red sector warns mariners away from dangerous ledges.

Note: The tower and keeper’s house are not open to the public. The keeper’s quarters serve as housing for Coast Guard personnel.

Viewing the Lighthouse

The lighthouse is best viewed from below—from the rocks at the base of the cliff. A wooden staircase descends from the parking area to viewing platforms and the boulder-strewn shore.

The classic view: Looking up at the lighthouse from the rocky beach, with surf in the foreground and spruce trees framing the tower.

Alternative views: The parking lot offers views of the lighthouse from above and from the side. A short walk along the road provides additional angles.

Visiting Bass Harbor Head

Location

Bass Harbor Head Lighthouse is located at the southern tip of Mount Desert Island, in the village of Bass Harbor.

Address: 134 Lighthouse Road, Bass Harbor, ME 04653

From Bar Harbor: About 18 miles via Route 102. Allow 30-40 minutes.

From Southwest Harbor: About 4 miles via Route 102A.

Access and Parking

Parking lot: A small lot at the end of Lighthouse Road. This lot fills quickly during peak season, often by mid-morning in summer. Arrive early.

If the lot is full: Do not park on the road (strictly enforced). Return at a less busy time or visit during off-peak hours.

National Park Pass: Required for all Acadia National Park locations during fee season. Display your pass on your dashboard.

Getting to the View

From the parking lot, a paved path leads to an overlook near the lighthouse. Wooden stairs then descend to viewing platforms and ultimately to the boulders at the water’s edge.

Stairs: About 100 steps down (and back up). The stairs are well-maintained but can be slippery when wet.

Rocks at base: Large granite boulders. Natural, uneven surface. Use caution, especially when wet from spray.

Accessibility: The upper viewpoint near the parking lot is accessible. The stairs and rocks below are not.

Hours

The site is open year-round, dawn to dusk. No admission fee beyond the Acadia park pass.

Photography

The Iconic Shot

The most famous view of Bass Harbor Head Light is captured from the rocks below and to the east of the lighthouse. The composition includes:

The lighthouse and keeper’s house above
Granite cliff and spruce trees
Boulders in the foreground
Ocean/sky behind

Best Conditions

Sunset: The lighthouse faces southwest, perfect for sunset photography. The warm light illuminates the tower while the sky colors behind it.

Blue hour: The minutes after sunset (or before sunrise) create atmospheric images with balanced light.

Stormy weather: Dramatic skies and crashing surf add power to the image. Use caution in these conditions.

Low tide: Exposes more of the rocks in the foreground.

Technical Tips

Tripod essential for sunset/blue hour shots
Wide-angle lens (24-35mm) for the classic composition
Telephoto lens for details and different perspectives
Polarizing filter reduces glare on wet rocks
Arrive early to claim your spot—photographers line up for prime position at sunset

Crowding

At sunset during peak season, the rocks below the lighthouse can be crowded with photographers jostling for position. This is not an exaggeration—Bass Harbor Head is a known photography destination.

Strategies:

Arrive at least an hour before sunset to claim a spot
Visit on weekdays rather than weekends
Come in shoulder season (May, September, October)
Consider sunrise (east-facing view, fewer crowds)
Explore alternative angles rather than competing for the classic spot

The Quiet Side

Bass Harbor and Tremont

Bass Harbor Head sits on Mount Desert Island’s “quiet side”—the western portion of the island that sees fewer visitors than Bar Harbor and the Park Loop Road. The character here is different: working harbors, year-round communities, lobster boats rather than tourist boats.

Bass Harbor: A genuine fishing village with a working waterfront. Not curated for visitors; authentic because of it.

Tremont: The township that includes Bass Harbor, Bernard, and Seal Cove. Small museums, nature preserves, and backroad exploring.

Nearby Attractions

Wonderland Trail A 1.4-mile (round trip) easy walk through coastal forest to a pink granite shoreline. Views of offshore islands. One of Acadia’s gentlest trails.

Ship Harbor Trail A 1.3-mile loop through forest and along a sheltered cove. Interpretive signs explain coastal ecology. Easy walking.

Seawall Picnic Area Rocky coastline with picnic facilities. Dramatic surf when conditions are right.

Bernard The next village north, with a boatyard, lobster dealer, and the Seal Cove Auto Museum (antique car collection).

Dining

Thurston’s Lobster Pound (Bernard): Outdoor dining on the wharf, steaming lobsters, harbor views. A local institution.

Seafood Ketch (Bass Harbor): Casual restaurant near the ferry terminal.

Common Good Kitchen Café (Southwest Harbor): Farm-to-table breakfast and lunch.

Seasonal Considerations

Summer (June-August)

Peak season. Longest days mean more flexible timing for sunset. Parking lot fills early. Expect crowds at prime photography times.

Fall (September-October)

Thinning crowds. Beautiful light. Foliage frames the lighthouse. Water temperature discourages splash from wave spray.

Spring (April-May)

Variable weather. Fewer visitors. Light can be extraordinary. Some services may not yet be open.

Winter (December-March)

The lighthouse is beautiful in snow. Stairs may be icy or uncleared. Very few visitors, but conditions require caution.

Practical Information

What to Bring

Camera and tripod (if photographing)
Acadia National Park pass
Comfortable shoes with good grip
Layers (ocean air is cool even in summer)
Patience (especially at sunset)

What to Know

Lighthouse is not open for tours (Coast Guard housing)
Parking is limited—arrive early
Stairs are required for the best views
Rocks can be slippery—watch your step
Tides matter—low tide exposes more foreground

Combining with Other Acadia Sites

Bass Harbor Head is about 30-40 minutes from Bar Harbor and the main Acadia attractions. A full day on the quiet side might include:

Morning: Bass Harbor Head (beat the crowds), Wonderland Trail Lunch: Thurston’s Lobster Pound Afternoon: Ship Harbor Trail, Seawall Evening: Return to Bass Harbor Head for sunset

The Experience

The stairs descend through spruce and the lighthouse disappears above the trees. You hear the ocean before you see it—the rhythmic wash against granite, the occasional heavier crash when a larger wave arrives.

You emerge onto the boulders. The rocks are round, massive, tumbled by centuries of surf into smooth forms. You pick your way across them, angling for position. Other visitors do the same, everyone seeking their version of the view.

And then you look up. The lighthouse rises from the cliff as if it had always been there—as if the rock grew the tower the way it grew the spruce. The keeper’s house with its red roof. The covered walkway. The light that has warned sailors away from these rocks for over 160 years.

The sun drops toward the horizon. The tower glows. The water turns gold. You take the photograph that everyone takes, from roughly the same angle as everyone else, and yet it feels like your own discovery. That’s the magic of Bass Harbor Head—a view so perfect it survives being shared by millions.

Bass Harbor Head Lighthouse rewards the effort. The drive to the quiet side, the competition for parking, the stairs down to the rocks—none of it matters when you stand on that boulder beach and look up at one of the most beautiful lighthouse settings on the Atlantic coast.