ABANDONED TRAILS OF ACADIA NATIONAL PARK: caves

SPOUTING HORN CAVE
Schooner Head - Acadia National Park

Located far below the towering cliffs of Schooner Head is a cave known by the name of Spouting Horn. When the ocean is rough in Spring and Autumn or when foul weather makes its way up along the coast of Maine, that is when the Spouting Horn really comes to life, much as is the case with nearby Thunder Hole. For the best of shows it is important to time one's visit to these locations. I am not sure if this cave can be entered at low tide but I have read old newspaper accounts of people going out by it in boats when the sea was calm. It is said that as waves crash into the cave, the shape of the cave along with the rocks by the mouth of the cave cause huge sprays of water to shoot high into the air. Looking at maps it appears access to the land and cliffs above the cave are on private property which means access to the cave would have to be by boat, though on that I am not certain. At least one old map has the word PARK written on a section of land close to the area where the cliff at Schooner Head peers downward in the direction of the cave and back in the 1800's and early 1900's these cliffs were a very popular spot to go to in order to watch the high sprays of water from the Spouting Horn. The cave can be entered at low tide, but this is a dangerous cave that is deep and slants downward not far in.

THE SPOUTING HORN CAVE
SCHOONER HEAD
ACADIA NATIONAL PARK

SPOUTING HORN CAVE AT SCHOONER HEAD
ACADIA NATIONAL PARK

PEOPLE ALONG CLIFF LOOKING DOWN AT SPOUTING HORN CAVE
ACADIA NATIONAL PARK

As for step by step instructions on how to reach the Spouting horn Cave, i would direct you to the book, "The Acadia You Haven't Seen,: by Matthew Marchon. On page 75, is a write up on Meadow Brook Sea Cave - which is also known as The Spouting Horn Cave, his instructions will lead you right to the cave.

You can also contact Matt through his website - link below

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SPOUTING HORN CAVE - SCHOONER HEAD
ACADIA NATIONAL PARK

TRAGIC ACCIDENT AT SPOUTING HORN

Acadia National Park
Spouting Horn Death
Bar Harbor Times
July 6, 1918

DROWNING ACCIDENT AT SCHOONER HEAD

Camera Man For Moving Picture Company Meets Tragic Death

John Von den Brock, camera man for the Maurice Tourneue Production Company of Fort Lee, N.J., was accidentally drowned at Schooner Head on last Saturday.
At the time the accident occurred the company was in the vicinity of the Spouting Horn making a picture and Mr. Von den Brock was on a ledge close to the sea with his back to the water using his camera. The sea was rough and a heavy swell was running and the director of the company urged Mr. Von den Brock not to stand so close to the water, but the latter said there was no danger and stuck to his position.
The place is a very exposed one and the sea sweeps in from the ocean with nothing to break its force. When the sea is rough and the tide coming in, it is an exceedingly dangerous place for a person not acquainted with the spot. One may stand there in perfect safety for half an hour when all at once a big wave will come in with irresistible force.
That is just what happened Saturday. The picture company had been at work there all the forenoon when at about 12;30 a high wave came in with over-whelming power and took Mr. Von den Brock off his feet and carried him and his camera out to sea. It happened so quickly that the other members of the company were powerless to render their companion any aid and he was drown before their eyes.
Mr. Von den Brock is said to have been the highest paid camera man in the business and was most popular young man among his associates. He was 23 years of age, unmarried and resided at 156 Riverside Drive, New York City.