Bass Harbor Head Light stands on a rocky headland at the southern tip of Mount Desert Island, a short, stout white tower with a red-roofed lantern and a keeper house, perched above pink and gray granite ledges that fall to the sea. It was built in 1858 to guide fishing and trading vessels into Bass Harbor and Blue Hill Bay and is the only lighthouse on the island within the national park. The light itself is still an active aid to navigation, so the tower is not open for climbing, but visitors come for the scene rather than the interior. A short path and stairs lead from the small parking area to a viewing platform and then to ledges where photographers set up tripods for the classic composition, the tower above the rocks with the water below. Sunset is the favorite time, when the light turns the granite golden, but it is also the most crowded, so arrive an hour early to claim a spot. The surrounding area is quiet and rural, with fishing villages such as Bass Harbor and Southwest Harbor nearby, lobster pounds, small galleries and a more local pace than Bar Harbor. Many visitors combine the lighthouse with dinner at a lobster shack and a drive back around Somes Sound.
Getting there and parking
The lighthouse is about forty minutes by car from downtown Bar Harbor, along Route 102 and 102A through Southwest Harbor and Bass Harbor. The parking lot is small and fills quickly in summer and at sunset, and on busy days cars queue along the road or visitors circle until a space opens.
The free Island Explorer shuttle serves the area in season, which is a good way around the parking limit. Check the shuttle schedule for the Southwest Harbor and Bass Harbor loops. The walk from the lot takes just a few minutes, but stairs and uneven rock make it unsuitable for wheelchairs and tricky for anyone unsteady.
Photographing and staying safe
For the classic view, descend the stairs and use the ledges to the left of the tower, take a wide-angle lens and a tripod, and bracket exposures at dusk. Please stay behind the barriers and off the wet algae-slick rocks, because waves and slippery stone have caused serious falls. The best light often comes in the twenty minutes before and after sunset, and clear evenings in late summer and early fall have a golden glow.
On foggy days the light can still be atmospheric, and a foghorn or the sound of a bell buoy adds mood. Binoculars help you pick out seabirds, and the shoreline trail beside the lighthouse provides a gentler walk if you want to avoid the crowds.
Making an evening of it
Pair the lighthouse with a sunset drive and an early dinner at a lobster pound in Bass Harbor, Southwest Harbor or Bernard, where the menu is usually boiled lobster, steamers and blueberry pie. The southwestern side of the island is called the quiet side for a reason, and it pairs well with a visit to Seawall, Wonderland and Ship Harbor trails for short, easy coastal walks.
A self-guided driving audio tour of Mount Desert Island covers the lighthouse and the quiet side for a few dollars; the lighthouse grounds themselves are free with a park pass. Allow an hour at the site and extra time for the winding roads home.
What to expect
The experience
A scenic overlook of an active 1858 lighthouse on granite ledges, reached by a short path and stairs from a small lot; the tower is not open to climb.
Best time
The hour before sunset for golden light; foggy dawn for mood; weekdays to avoid crowds.
How long
About an hour at the site.
Tips
Arrive early for parking and a good viewpoint, bring a tripod and layers, stay on marked paths and stay off wet rocks.
Quick picks
- Best for
- Photographers and sunset chasers.
- Families
- Fine for older children; stairs and slippery rocks need supervision.
- Couples
- A romantic sunset spot followed by a lobster dinner.
- Pair with
- A lobster pound dinner in Southwest Harbor or Bass Harbor.
- Time needed
- Two hours including the drive from the park.
Good questions
Can you go inside Bass Harbor Head Light?+
No. The light is an active aid to navigation and the tower is not open to visitors, but you can view it from the platform and ledges.
How far is it from Bar Harbor?+
About forty minutes by car, depending on traffic, via the southwest side of Mount Desert Island.
When is the best time to photograph it?+
Sunset is the favorite, but it is crowded. Arrive an hour early, or try soft light at dawn or on foggy days.
Is parking easy?+
No. The lot is small and fills quickly, so arrive early or use the Island Explorer shuttle if it serves your date.
Is it safe to climb the rocks?+
Stay behind the barriers and avoid wet, slippery ledges. Waves and algae make the rocks hazardous.