Though the federal shutdown could soon end, operations at Acadia National Park are expected to continue winding down for the winter.
The U.S. House of Representatives was expected to meet Wednesday to vote on ending the 43-day-long shutdown, but winter weather has taken precedence over the potential reopening of Maine’s only national park. On Veterans Day, snow led the park to close Summit Road on Cadillac Mountain, according to the park’s website.
Acadia does not require reservations for driving up the summit starting in November, but how late in the season the road remains open depends on weather conditions. The road may reopen before the end of the month if warmer weather melts away the ice and snow; however, it is typically closed for the winter each December 1.
Despite the shutdown, Acadia was busy in early October when the tourist season was still in full swing. Some facilities were closed due to reduced staffing caused by the shutdown, but popular attractions such as the summit of Cadillac Mountain, Sand Beach, Thunder Hole, and the Jordan Pond House remained open.
The fare-free Island Explorer Bus System, which is operated by the nonprofit group Downeast Transportation, also continued to operate during the shutdown.
Visitation to Acadia has been high this year and was on pace to exceed four million visits for only the second time ever, after first surpassing four million in 2021. The park recorded its highest number of visits for any month in July 2023, then broke that record in August.
However, the park has not released monthly visit estimates for September (before the shutdown went into effect on October 1) and has not been collecting visitation data since that date. As a result, visitation estimates for October are not expected.
Typically, visitation drops sharply in November, although the park never fully closes for the winter. The Ocean Drive section of Park Loop Road usually remains open to vehicles year-round, as do the park’s hiking trails. Additionally, the Schoodic Loop Road in the Schoodic section of the park, located on the east side of Frenchman Bay, is open throughout the winter.
The Visitors’ Center in Hulls Cove will remain closed regardless of shutdown developments, as it normally closes at the end of October. The Sieur de Monts Nature Center and the Rockefeller Welcome Center at Schoodic Point are also not expected to reopen until next spring.
Park campgrounds shut down each October, and facilities run by concession companies—including the Jordan Pond House, the Thunder Hole Gift Shop, and Wildwoods Stables—have also closed for the winter season.
https://www.bangordailynews.com/2025/11/12/hancock/hancock-government/acadia-winter-operations-wind-down-n6hjn1me0n/