The Tarn
THE TARN
Image by Darron Franta @ www.frantaphotography.com
The Tarn lies in a steep valley between two peaks — Mt. Dorr, the third tallest peak on the island, lies to the west and the knob of Huguenot Head to the east. The Tarn is probably one of Acadia’s more under-appreciated ponds due to its smaller stature.
Many people overlook it because it’s not as well-known as some of Acadia’s larger bodies of water, such as Jordan Pond, Long Pond, and Eagle Lake. Yet, I believe it is one of its most picturesque. If you arrive at the right time, when the sun is providing picturesque reflections, you'll be rewarded with a beautiful view and likely agree with my assessment.
Photos and location summary by Darron Franta
Trail Difficulty - Easy
This trail is a 1 on a scale of 1-5 (with 5 being the most difficult). The shooting location is a walk of 100 yards or less after a six-minute drive from downtown Bar Harbor.
GPS Coordinates & Elevation
101 Ft. Elevation
View In Google earth
Directions
CLICK HERE to get driving directions to The Tarn
From Bar Harbor - take Route 3 south out of town for 2.5 miles. On your right, you will see the shallow pond known as The Tarn. There is no parking area so you will need to pull off and park on the side of the road. There is room to do this on the south end of The Tarn. Make sure you are completely pulled off the road and not in a position to slow or hamper traffic. I’ve seen other photographers not do this, and I think it is bad press for our kind. We want to make sure we are not causing issues for others.
Photography Tips
As mentioned, this is a morning shot, but not necessarily sunrise. The best approach, in my estimation, is to wait for the sun's direct light to clear Huguenot Knob and light the side of Dorr Mt., which is covered with beautiful color-bearing trees. Depending upon the time of year, this will usually occur mid-morning. Shooting westward, Mt. Dorr's trees will provide beautiful reflections amidst the lily pads and water grasses that dance on the shallow body of water.
EXIF Data
Focal Length – 150 mm
Exposure – 60th sec @ f 8.0
ISO – 100
Date – Oct 14
Time – 8:52 am
Best Time of Day to Shoot
This is not a sunrise shoot, however, it should be taken in the morning hours.
Best Time of Year
Photographers shoot on Mt. Desert Island (Acadia National Park) year-round. However, I like shooting there when the fall colors are at their peak, which is usually in mid-October.
The above image was taken on Oct 14th.
Lens(es) Needed
When photographing The Tarn Short - you can use lenses ranging from wide-angle to telephoto (24-70 and 70-200).
The image above was shot @ 150mm
Birds-Eye View
Permits
There are no permits required.
Direction of the Shot
The direction of the shot is west around 270°.
Equipment Needed
Other than a sturdy tripod, there is no need for special equipment. A polarizing filter is also helpful to reduce the glare off of the pond.
Number of Other Photographers to Expect
Depending on the season - the number of photographers can range from dozens to a very few. In October, when this image was taken (during peak leaf season) there were dozens of photographers - including two separate workshop groups. Other times of the year there would be only a few photographers shooting at this location.
Weather
The weather in Acadia is often pleasant in the fall and spring. Mild in the summer and brutally cold in the winter. This October morning was slightly chilly with no breeze.
Cell Service
I have Verizon and cell service in Bar Harbor is strong.
Lodging & Camping
There is no shortage of lodging opportunities in the Bar Harbor and Acadia areas at all price points. As far as I know, there is only one campground in Acadia National Park (Blackwoods). There are also many VRBO and Airbnb locations in this area.
Nearby camping and lodging
Camping - click on the campground below for directions
Blackwoods Campgrounds (Acadia)
Nearby Restaurants
Bar Harbor and the surrounding areas are great places to visit and relax and there are tons of very good food choices and brewpubs; like the Thirsty Whale Tavern. I enjoyed dinner at Cafe This Way and Havana. If you are looking for a well-to-do seafood house, try the Bar Harbor Lobster Company. A great spot for breakfast after you finish shooting sunrise is Jordans. They are known for large breakfasts and their Maine blueberry pancakes and muffins.
Nearby Restaurants - click on the restaurant below for yelp review
Thirsty Whale Tavern
(207) 288-9335
40 Cottage St, Bar Harbor, ME
Bar Harbor Lobster Company
(207) 288-2529
297 Main St, Bar Harbor, ME
Cafe This Way
(207) 288-4483
14 Mt Desert St, Bar Harbor, ME
Area Guides and Workshops
None