Things to do nearSomes Sound

Somes Sound formed roughly 18,000 years ago as glaciers retreated from the region, carving a deep cleft into the pink granite of Mount Desert Island. Reaching depths of around 175 feet in places, it displays the classic U-shaped profile of a glacially sculpted valley, and geologists and naturalists have long regarded it as one of the most striking landforms on the Eastern Seaboard.

The surrounding shores fall largely within Acadia National Park, protecting the hemlock and spruce forests that line the steep slopes. Visitors can access the water at several points, and sea kayaking remains the most intimate way to experience the fjord, allowing you to drift close to the cliff faces and watch osprey circle overhead.

The village of Somesville sits at the northern head of the sound, offering a glimpse of 18th-century Maine settlement life with its white clapboard buildings and arched footbridge. Local seafood shacks and restaurants in nearby Southwest Harbor and Northeast Harbor serve fresh lobster and chowder a short drive away.

Somes Sound rewards patience and quiet attention, offering a landscape shaped by deep geological time that feels genuinely apart from the busier parts of coastal Maine.