Bass Harbor Head Light

The lighthouse was recently handed over to the National Park Service. The sunsets below the Lighthouse are so beautiful the Kodak Company conducts classes there from time to time during the summer months and it is not unusual to find an artist or two painting along the rocks. You can watch as the Swans Island Ferry enters and exits the harbor and on sunday's you might catch the ship Sunbeam as it passes heading to or from the otter islands to conduct church services.
The park service does not allow people in the area of the lighthouse after sunset. Best way to reach the Bass Harbor Lighthouse by way of the free Island Explorer buses, catch the bus at the Bar Harbor Village green, you want the Tremont/Southwest Harbor bus. Get off the bus at the Bass Harbor Campground stop and at the sharp curve just ahead is a street sign "Lighthouse road" - the lighthouse is about a twenty minute walk down a narrow country road.
The Bass Harbor Campground is a great camping option with affordable prices and a heated pool. They also have cabin rentals.
Not far down the road from the campground is the Ship Harbor Nature Trail and just beyond that is the Wonderland Trail, an old fire road that leads to a beach.
If you want to depart the lighthouse by bike or car, and take a ferry ride to Swans Island, head down the road into the town of bass harbor and look for signs just past the fire department for the turn to the Swans Island ferry. There is an extra charge for bikes or cars on the Ferry or you can park your car and take the trip.
RV's, trailers and buses are not allowed onto the Lighthouse Road because the lighthouse parking lot can not handle them. Also of note, there are two paths at the parking lot, the one to the far right leads to the side of the lighthouse with ocean views. The path by the restrooms to the far left of the parking lot leads to a set of steep wooden stairs to the rocks below. A path leads to some great views of the lighthouse from below.

Cute little place. Hard to get a good picture like the ones above unless you go at low tide and are prepared to hike a pretty rough shore of rocks.

Fun drive to get to the lighthouse, and a short hike. You can get close, but it is hard to get great photos because there not an easy spot from a distance.

Beatiful rocks, calm place. Loved it

Couldn't get anywhere near this lighthouse because of the crowds. Tried three times with no luck.

Extremely small parking lot. We were queued up down the entry road for quite a while to enter (and we went on a Thursday late afternoon). It is a private residence so you cannot enter the lighthouse. You can't even walk all the way around it. You have to go down 2 separate paths to see both sides.

Not a very big parking lot for this lighthouse. If it’s a busy day you have to wait in line for a vehicle to leave. I wouldn’t suggest any large van or camper. We went during the afternoon but I could see how the sunsets would be beautiful here.

At the right time of the day this place probably has some stunning views and photos to be had. During the rest of the day it is average and you'd be better off spending you time elsewhere in the park. Basically come for sunrise or sunset and hope it's not packed.