Bass Harbor Head Light - what a great view!

lrich (58)in #photography • 7 years ago (edited)

On a recent vacation to New England we had the opportunity to visit the only light house accessible by car on the Bar Harbor island of Mount Desert in Maine - the Bass Harbor Head Light.

Per the website, the lighthouse is located at the southwestern reach of Acadia National Park in Bass Harbor, the light guards the southern entrance of Blue Hill Bay and warns against Bass Harbor Bar. The light is still fully operational, signaling an occulting red four seconds—three red flashes, one second of darkness. We were able to see the red light flashing.

Built in 1858, the lighthouse sits high atop a rugged granite shoreline, making it one of the most scenic in New England and it is listed on the National Historic Register.

We weren't able to enter the lighthouse as it is staffed by the Coast Guard and family, who actually live in the lighthouse. The best way to get a glimpse of the water facing portion, is to climb down the cliffs, a bunch of boulder scrambling was needed. It was fun but a bit scary on the cliffs high above the water.

This one taken on solid ground

Walking along path before climbing down the steep stairs to the boulders, some pretty plants, I think its rose hips.

Now we're perched on a bunch of granite boulders, good thing I have a decent lens to capture these as getting much closer wasn't in the cards for me (I'm not that brave). The Maine coastline is very rocky and very beautiful.