Top Things to Do in Bar Harbor from October Through November

From fall foliage and gorgeous hikes to clear night skies, Bar Harbor looks its best when the temperatures begin to fall. Here’s the best of Bar Harbor to explore during your fall visit this fall through Thanksgiving (with us at Harborside Hotel!). 

US News Travel claims that September through October is the best time to visit Bar Harbor, and it’s no wonder. With the kids back to school and the nights getting chillier, tourism drops by almost half when the fall rolls in. That means no more crowds coveting popular Acadia National Park trails or the picturesque streets of downtown Bar Harbor. New England’s venerated fall season is also the best time to check out some “Downeast” foliage and take in the Milky Way in the crisp, clear night skies.

TOP BAR HARBOR ACTIVITIES & ATTRACTIONS

A Banner Year for Wildlife Sightings

The summer of 2024 has been a banner year for wildlife sightings in the waters of Frenchman Bay and beyond for Maine’s largest boating tour company, the Bar Harbor Whale Watch Co. That includes everything from a plethora of puffins, scores of humpback whales (their research interns have identified over 60 individuals), Atlantic white-sided dolphins, basking sharks, seals, harbor porpoises, eagles, and scores of other seabirds. But perhaps most exciting? Their Fin whale sightings, the second largest whale in the world and a species that had been on the decline in the Gulf of Maine. In fact, the operator is excited to announce that they’ve seen them on every trip!

All that said, the fun isn’t over yet. September and October are excellent months for being out on the water. Book your fall cruise before the season closes on October 26.

• Related Reading: A Q&A With Bar Harbor Whale Watch Co.’s Lead Naturalist

Take Advantage of Newly Opened Trails

While Acadia’s 155 miles of trails are beautiful regardless of the time of year, casual hikers tend to forget the benefits of hiking in cooler weather. For one, the amount of people sharing the trails plummets, and, secondly, you get access to some additional trails that close down in the spring and summer seasons on account of nesting and fledgling peregrine falcons. Since these birds start migrating in August (you can see them soaring overhead yourself during the annual HawkWatch program), you can expect the Precipice Trail and Jordan and the Valley Cove cliffs to open back up to hikers.

Climb the Cliffs of Acadia

Interested in learning rock climbing from an expert? Take a fall outdoor course at Acadia National park. Bar Harbor’s Atlantic Climbing School has been teaching climbers of all skill levers for over two decades. Learn a solid foundation of the basics of the sport at their Top Rope Competency courses that run through the end of October.

• Related Reading: Why Acadia is a Top Climbing Destination

Maximize Your Leaf-Peeping Opportunities

Bar Harbor’s window of peak fall colors falls from mid-September to mid-October each year. You can stay abreast of the conditions by keeping an eye tuned to Maine’s official foliage tracker. To come back with awe-inspiring Instagram photos of the foliage against Acadia’s rocky coast, sign up for one of the many photo tours in the area that takes place in October like Acadia Images’ day-long tours or John Paul Caponigro’s four-day fall foliage photography workshop from October 11 to 15.

Soak Up a Chilly Evening

There are few things better – especially after spending an afternoon checking out the foliage or hiking Acadia – than warming up in a private hot tub. Each of the oceanfront Boathouse Suites at the Harborside Hotel come equipped with a private rooftop hot tub that overlooks Frenchman Bay.

• Related Reading: 5 Top “Rooms with a View”

TOP 2024 BAR HARBOR FESTIVALS & EVENTS

Night Sky Talks, 9/11–9/29

Did you know that Acadia National Park is home to one of the largest expanses of entirely dark night sky east of the Mississippi? You will after attending one of these ranger-led hour-long night sky talks, held every Thursday and Sunday at 8 p.m. in Sand Beach in Acadia.

Island Arts Oktoberfest Craft Fair, 10/12 & 13 

Peruse the work of artists from in and around Bar Harbor and across New England on the sprawling lawn of the Atlantic Oceanside Event Center during the Island Arts Oktoberfest Craft Fair. Explore paintings and handcrafted woodwork, handmade quilts, and listen to local musicians while sipping a hot cup of locally made cider.   

Mount Desert Island Marathon, 10/20

Lauded by Runner’s World, Competitor Magazine, and Men’s Health Magazine, RunMDI is probably one of the most scenic marathons in the country. This race begins at Bar Harbor and snakes its way through 26.2 picturesque miles through Acadia Park and along Mount Desert Island’s rugged coast to Southwest Harbor. Along with the Marathon, there is a half-marathon, team relay, and kids run.

Pajamarama, 11/9

Pick up some new, high-quality pajamas at a discount at some of Bar Harbor’s finest retail locations during the Early Bird Pajama Sale and Bed Race. Cheer on area businesses and organizations as they race decorated beds down Cottage Street for a year’s worth of bragging rights. And remember: if you’re in pajamas, you can earn additional discounts with some participating stores!

A Harborside Thanksgiving, 11/25

Start new holiday traditions when you celebrate Thanksgiving at the Harborside Hotel, Spa, & Marina. Start your day with a leisurely turkey trot through Acadia National Park to work up an appetite! Then enjoy a chef-prepared prix-fixe meal along with a la carte offerings served in a spacious dining room overlooking stunning views of Frenchman Bay. You’ll be most thankful to have left the cooking to someone else this year… check out the menu that our La Bella Vida chefs have in store for guests this year!

Where to Stay Harborside Hotel, Spa, & Marina | West Street Hotel