Bass Harbor Head Light
This charming cliffside lighthouse marks the entrance to Bass Harbor.
Guide Sections
Use Bass Harbor Head Light's guide sections to understand how this stop fits into the larger park plan.
Bass Harbor Head Light Details
Difficulty
Low
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Built in 1858, the lighthouse is located on the southwestern shore of Mount Desert Island. The fourth-order Fresnel lens atop the lighthouse's 32-foot tower, installed in 1902, can be seen 13 miles out to sea. For a panoramic ocean view, take the path to the right of the lighthouse. Follow the path on the left side to a stairway and a trail that leads to the bottom of the cliff. There you'll have a great view of the lighthouse on its shoreline perch. Be careful -- this trail is steep and rocky, and can be slippery when wet. The lighthouse building is not open to the public, but the grounds include a 1902 oil house, the former lightkeeper's home, and a fog signal building. Facilities: Restrooms, Parking
