Why a Wonder: Otter Cove is one of the best landscape features on the one-way Park Loop Road in Acadia National Park. Looking to the south from the tree lined cove you see the Atlantic Ocean. Turn around and look inland to the north and you see Cadillac Mountain and Dorr Mountain rising above the cove in the distance. The landscape foreground will vary depending on the tidal flow that passes under the causeway, from which you can explore various angles and compositions.
Where: Otter Cove is located on Mount Desert Island inside Acadia National Park, a few miles from Bar Harbor, Maine. The cove can also be seen from a higher viewpoint at a roadside pullout just past Otter Point and the Fabbri picnic area. However, the best view is from the 215-foot triple-arched causeway bridge that curves across the cove. Parking is allowed in the right-hand lane, giving easy access to the view. This area is great for photographers with limited mobility that may not be able to reach the park’s more remote features.
When: You can get to this location any time the Park Loop Road is open. Early morning during high tide is good if you prefer to photograph the cove full of water. Dramatic clouds help in creating a great image at Otter Cove. Mid-October offers fall colors to add even more interest to the view.
Photography: The photo challenge here is catching all the right elements that come together to help make a great photograph. Find a spot facing north with some interesting foreground elements on the grassy side of the causeway. There will be no people in front of you if the water is up, so you only have to deal with light and composition for this landscape. Try to incorporate plants and trees in the foreground if possible. Morning fog might offer another interesting element to work with.
Learn More about Acadia at: www.nps.gov/acad/index.htm
Copyright Notice: © Jerry Whaley