I’m not sure why Thunder Hole wasn’t on our original “must see” list, but a conversation with my older, wiser brother, Steve, caused us to add on this stop. Steve remembers its splendor well from a childhood visit ... ages ago ... many ages ago.😉
There are some stairs with a railing leading down to Thunder Hole. This makes it an easier way to feel as if you are “on the rocks“ without the uneven terrain. Most people walk off the stairs near the top to access the rocks.
Depending on your route, the rocks were easy to moderate to walk across. There was a tall natural rock wall to the right which we leaned against when the sun’s rays became too intense and we needed a shady refuge. Climbing atop this natural wall provides access to a small cave-like structure. The girls enjoyed poking in and out of the ground like gophers. Riley really wanted me to climb in, but I was afraid I might get stuck as it was more child-sized.
Thunder Hole is known for the sound emitted from the cave as water rushes in and out at high tide. We visited Thunder Hole twice and only heard an interesting slapping noise when directly next to it, focusing on the sound. The true experience is impacted by weather and tidal patterns. In its glory, the merging of beauty and power can be felt throughout your body.
Waiting to see if we could capture the orchestra of the ocean, we sat on the rocks soaking in the sun and fresh air for several hours. The kids ran back and forth, collecting an impressive colony of small crabs and other sea creatures from the tidal pools. Staying in a place marked by tidal changes for several hours afforded us the spectacular observation of the tidal pools, once filled with tiny treasures, engulfed by the waves until they could no longer be found.
From this vantage point, one can see the cliffs facing the rocks near the beginning of the Ocean Path to the right and Sand beach to the left.
Perched upon the rocks at Thunder Hole, there was no denying this was one of the best views in Acadia. Tourist boats puttered by, and the wake of the boats provided waves with greater height and force, but we still didn’t get to capture the magic of Thunder Hole.
There was a blur from the side of our eyes. Splash! The sound clearly differed from the rhythmic slurping and slapping oceanic noises. A man dove off the cliff above Thunder Hole into the narrow waters beneath, surrounding by rocks on all sides. The kids thought this was really cool and Riley had difficulty understanding the danger. Aside from the precision of his dive, it would be far too easy to be swept inside the cave and held too long in the underwater cavern. I’m not sure if this is a normal occurrence, but the immediate area buzzed with chatter and incredulity of what we had just witnessed.
(Riley looks like she’s ready to dive off this spot; this is very low in comparison to the cliff the man dove off ... and Riley wasn’t allowed to dive in much to her chagrin)
While I won’t recommend cliff diving, the views from Thunder Hole are breathtaking. This is a must-see, even without the natural theatrics. I guess I’m getting wiser with age, learning from my older brother.
