Where the beauty of the sea and mountains collide.

Right next to Bar Harbor, Maine, Acadia National Park is home to 47,000 acres of woodland, granite peaks, and rocky shores. You can hike, bike, or drive around the park. You can even rent a bike in town and ride right into the park. There are certain areas that are only open to bikes, pedestrians, and snowmobiles with various terrains from the rocky coast to mountain climbs. You can also take a scenic drive around the park and visit several viewing spots. The best time to visit Acadia is from April to November but summer offers perfect weather and long days. Bar Harbor offers lodging, local eats, and shopping for everyone in the family. This destination is one to add to your bucket list. 

Biking

The Carriage roads are a great way to bike around Acadia to many viewpoints. You can access this straight from Bar Harbor. There are many shops in town that offer rentals from bikes with optional attachments, hybrid electric bikes, and scooters. Acadia Outfitters was a great option with friendly, knowledgeable staff. Note that carriage roads are closed to all motorized vehicles with the exception of certain types of electric bikes. 

Follow the Acadia Carriage trail (25 miles) which takes you around the Witch Hole Pond, Eagle Lake, and Jordan Pond. Take West Street in Bar Harbor to Duck Brook Road putting you on the Witch Hole Pond. This will take you most of the day so get started early. 

You could also just do each of these carriage roads separately. Eagle Lake Carriage loop trail is 6 miles and easy terrain for anyone. You can hike, bike, or use hybrid scooters. This is a great trail and easily done with a stroller or biking stroller. 

Hiking

Hiking at Acadia National Park is endless. With 150 miles of trails, you can immerse yourself in forest, coastlines, or on top of mountains, and sometimes all in one hike. If climbing the sea to mountain summits is your thing, go for it. If you want a more leisurely stroll along the lake or coast, there are plenty of easy hikes as well. Always check the website for trail closures before heading out. 

Jordan Pond Loop Trail is a 3.4-mile easy hike that goes around the lake. This loop can get crowded at spots where the trail narrows. Spots on the trail get a bit rocky so it's not stroller-friendly. You can use the Around Mountain Carriage Trail if you wanted views of the lake while pushing a stroller. Overall this is a fun trail for the whole family. There are bathrooms and even a restaurant called Jordan Pond House at the Jordan Lake parking area - a great place to have lunch and enjoy the views. You can also drive, bike or scooter there using roads or carriage trails.  

A popular trail is the Beehive Loop Trail (1.4 miles, difficult). This unique trail has a portion along the cliffs where hikers use iron rungs.  It’s very steep so if you are afraid of heights this would not be the climb for you. This is also not great for wearing a young one. The entrance to the trail begins just north of the Sand Beach parking area. Climbing some steps and through the forest to some exposed rocks, you will find the light blue trail markers. Don’t miss this in your enthusiasm to climb the rocks. Stay on the trail as the iron rungs, bridges, and handholds are strategically placed for you. Once you get to the top, there are wonderful views of Sand Beach. You can either go back the way you came or go down the backside to make it a loop. If you want to see the views but not climb the cliffs, you can use this backside loop to get to the top. This trail is very popular so getting there early is helpful with parking issues and crowding on the trail. 

From the Beehive Trail, you can connect to the Bowl Trail to the Gorham Mountain Trail. This route is around 2.5 miles and moderate hiking. This will bring you to the top of Gorham Mountain for another beautiful view of the Acadia Mountains and the sea. You can continue the Gorham Mountain trail for another mile back to the road or go back the way you came to the loop of the Beehive Trail. If you continue on the Gorham trail, once you reach the road you will have to walk against traffic. They do have trails along the road so you don’t have to walk on the road itself. 

Popular viewing sites

Thunder Hole is a site to see. This natural rock inlet creates a thunderous boom and high-flying foam when the waves crash in during high tide. The water can crash up to 40 feet into the air. Timing this location is key and you want to arrive right before high tide. This place can get crowded so stake out a place and just listen to the sounds of the ocean. It's just north of Sand Beach while traveling south on the Park Loop Road. Bring a snack, sit back, and enjoy the show. 

Getting up for sunsets or sunrises is a very popular activity. Cadillac Mountain is a good location to get views of Bar Harbor and the surrounding area. The parking at the top can get full quickly on good weather evenings. Even in the summer bring a light jacket as the wind can be chilly. Watch the sunrise or sunset on your day at Acadia National Park. 

Lodging and Eats 

There are plenty of places in Bar Harbor to stay or you can camp right in Acadia. There are four campgrounds in and around Acadia:  Blackwoods, Seawall, Schoodic Woods, and Duck Harbor. They offer various tent and RV sites plus restrooms, water, picnic tables, and a fire ring. All campsites are by reservations only and can be booked up to three months in advance. If camping isn’t your thing, then staying in the walkable town of Bar Harbor is the way to go. They have everything from motels to bed and breakfast to hotels on the water. The Inn on Mount Desert is a cute bed and breakfast and just a short walk away from the heart of town. Delicious breakfast is served every morning and there is a friendly, helpful staff. 

There are many locally owned and operated restaurants in town. Want a quick easy meal try Adelmann's Deli, serving freshly made to order sandwiches. For dinner, go for Leary’s Landing or Geddy’s for a delicious meal. Don't forget to get the staple of any Maine local, the lobster roll.  Everyone has their preference on whose is the best so pick any place and you're sure to be satisfied.  

The Island Explorer bus tour drives around Bar Harbor, Northeast Harbor, Southwest Harbor, and various locations around the park. This is a great option for a quick tour of the area if you don't want to drive.

Stay a few days or stay a week, you won’t get enough of the enchanting Acadia National Park.