About 50 miles of carriage roads, crisscrossing through woods and fields are open to bikes. Eagle Lake Loop, going around Eagle Lake, the park’s largest lake, is very popular among families. Trails from Eagle Lake wind to Jordan Pond, home of the Jordan Pond House and its famous tea. A more challenging trail is the 11-mile loop ‘Around the Mountain Trail’, with an extended climb up the northwest side of Parkman Mountain.
Located on Mount Desert Island, Acadia National Park is one of Maine’s highlights and a paradise for outdoor sports and nature lovers. Explore miles and miles of trails for biking or walking, and stunning peaks to climb. The park is home to many plants and animals, lush forest, quiet ponds and the tallest mountain on the U.S. Atlantic coast.
Any boat visiting Mount Desert Island should cruise up the 6 mile long Somes Sound – the only natural Fjord on the U.S. East Coast – to enjoy unforgettable scenery. The entrance is only 1.2 miles from Dysart’s Marina and it is well protected with very deep water. John Williams Boat Company rents moorings for transient boats.
About 50 miles of carriage roads, crisscrossing through woods and fields are open to bikes. Eagle Lake Loop, going around Eagle Lake, the park’s largest lake, is very popular among families. Trails from Eagle Lake wind to Jordan Pond, home of the Jordan Pond House and its famous tea. A more challenging trail is the 11-mile loop ‘Around the Mountain Trail’, with an extended climb up the northwest side of Parkman Mountain.
Bikes can be rented or bought in:
Southwest Harbor
Another fun activity in the island is rock climbing – with climbing terrain accessible to all levels- and the park is famous for its spectacular seaside cliffs of pristine granite.
Two climbing schools are located in Bar Harbor and provide half day and full day tailored courses for everyone from first timers to advanced climbers.
Acadia Mountain Guides Climbing School
98 Main St,
Bar Harbor
Tel: (207) 288 8186
There are many exciting paddling options around the island, both in the ocean and lakes. Depending of the weather conditions, popular spots are Eagle Lake, offering views on Cadillac Mountain, Somes Sound, or a tour from Bartlett Narrows up into Western Bay to Clark Cove, where harbor seals, porpoises, ospreys or even bald eagles can be spotted. Several companies offer rentals and/or guided tours.
Several companies offer rentals including:
Maine State Sea Kayak
254 Maine St,
Park Loop Road
Drive the 27 mile Acadia’s Park Loop Road for an excellent overview of the island. On a stormy day, don’t forget to stop at the Thunder Hole, a natural stone crevasse into which waves surge, compress and burst out in a thrilling and deafening sound.
Bass Harbor Lighthouse
Picturesque lighthouse, one of the most photographed in the country. Well worth a stop.
Cadillac Mountain
The park has two nice beaches - Sand Beach and Echo Lake Beach, with changing rooms, rest rooms, and lifeguards on duty during the season. Sand Beach is along Park Loop Road. Note that the water temperature rarely reaches above 55°F! Echo Lake Beach, on the western side of the island just north of Southwest Harbor, has much warmer water.
Acadia National Park maintains more than 120 mi of hiking paths, from easy strolls around lakes and ponds – don’t miss the Jordan Pond Nature Trail – to challenging treks with climbs up rock faces and scrambles along cliffs. It is also famous for its 45 miles of scenic carriage trails, built at the beginning of the 20th century by John D. Rockefeller Jr. Open only to hikers, bikers, horse riders and carriage drivers, the carriage roads feature several beautiful granite stone bridges to cross and spectacular vistas.