Echo Lake
- Road
- Paved
- Permit
- Not required
- Dogs
- Not allowed
Entry fee: Acadia entrance fee / America the Beautiful pass. Echo Lake is a lake cove in Hancock County, Maine.
Closures and warnings
NPS: swimming in natural areas poses risks; your safety depends on your own good judgement. Lifeguards are not present at Sand Beach; follow current beach status postings. Many other park lakes are drinking-water supplies where swimming is prohibited. As of September 28, 2026.
Sand Beach, Echo Lake Beach, and Lake Wood are monitored weekly for bacteria June through August. Check current freshwater beach status before swimming. As of September 28, 2026.
Before you swim
| Swimming allowed | Yes |
|---|---|
| Water type | Lake cove |
| Entry | Walk in |
| Current | None |
Access
| Road | Paved |
|---|---|
| Road note | Echo Lake Beach on Mount Desert Island within Acadia National Park (southwest side). |
| Parking | Echo Lake Beach parking area |
| Fee | Acadia entrance fee / America the Beautiful pass |
| Hours | Echo Lake Beach open April 15 through December 1 (NPS operating hours table). |
| Reservation or permit | Not required |
| Managed by | National Park Service (Acadia National Park) |
| Restrooms | Yes |
|---|---|
| Note | One of Acadia's two primary summer swim beaches along with Sand Beach; Lake Wood is a smaller third option |
Rules
| Dogs | Not allowed |
|---|
Common questions
Common questions
Is Echo Lake open?
NPS: swimming in natural areas poses risks; your safety depends on your own good judgement. Lifeguards are not present at Sand Beach; follow current beach status postings. Many other park lakes are drinking-water supplies where swimming is prohibited. As of September 28, 2026. Sand Beach, Echo Lake Beach, and Lake Wood are monitored weekly for bacteria June through August. Check current freshwater beach status before swimming. As of September 28, 2026. Hours: Echo Lake Beach open April 15 through December 1 (NPS operating hours table).
Can you swim at Echo Lake?
Yes, swimming is allowed at Echo Lake. No current is reported here. Sand Beach, Echo Lake Beach, and Lake Wood are monitored weekly for bacteria June through August. Check current freshwater beach status before swimming. As of September 28, 2026.
How do you get to Echo Lake?
The road in is paved. Echo Lake Beach on Mount Desert Island within Acadia National Park (southwest side). Parking: Echo Lake Beach parking area.
Do you need a reservation for Echo Lake?
No reservation or permit is required.
Is there a fee at Echo Lake?
The fee is Acadia entrance fee / America the Beautiful pass.
What facilities are at Echo Lake?
Restrooms. One of Acadia's two primary summer swim beaches along with Sand Beach; Lake Wood is a smaller third option.
What are the rules at Echo Lake?
Dogs are not allowed.
Nearby
Camping nearby
Public land
Echo Lake is inside Acadia National Park .
Sources
5
- https://www.nps.gov/acad/planyourvisit/swimming.htm (accessed September 28, 2026; backs manager / swimmerNotes.swimmingAllowed / access.amenities.note / hazardNote / healthNote, waterbodyName / access.roadNote / access.parking, swimmerNotes.waterType / current / entryType, access.roadSurface)
- https://www.nps.gov/acad/planyourvisit/fees.htm (accessed September 28, 2026; backs access.fee / access.permitRequired)
- https://www.nps.gov/acad/index.htm (accessed September 28, 2026; backs manager)
- https://www.nps.gov/acad/planyourvisit/hours.htm (accessed September 30, 2026; backs access.hours)
- https://www.nps.gov/acad/planyourvisit/pets.htm (accessed September 30, 2026; backs rules.dogs)
More: Maine swimming holes