Otter Point
Beautiful coastline views and close proximity to iconic sites make this is a wonderful place to explore.
Guide Sections
Use Otter Point's guide sections to understand how this stop fits into the larger park plan.
Otter Point Details
Difficulty
Low
Distance
N/A
Estimated time
N/A
Region
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If you like geology, you'll love Otter Point. This section of coastline marks the spot where hot magma and bedrock met during the formation of Acadia's mountains 420 million years ago. Known as the shatter zone, this area of fractured, tumbling chunks of rock and boulder-strewn beaches -- up to a mile wide in spots -- is evidence of this violent encounter. You can explore this disjointed landscape by hiking the Ocean Trail, which begins at Otter Point. Be sure to check out the tidal pools that form in rock depressions along the shoreline which serve as a transitory home for a variety of plants and animals which have adapted to living with the rising and falling tides. Inhabitants of this unique ecosystem include barnacles, blue mussels, green crabs hiding in forests of rockweeds, and bottom-dwelling sea stars, sea cucumbers, and sea urchins. However, make sure not to remove any living creatures from the tidal pools and only collect empty seashells if you wish to take something home. Facilities: Restrooms, Parking
