Carriage Roads Bike Tour (Acadia NP)
Carriage Roads Bike Tour (Acadia NP)
Acadia NP has an extensive network of carriage roads that was constructed between 1913 and 1940. In total there are 45 miles of carriage roads and 16 stone bridges; and exploring these roads will take you to unchartered areas of the park. Of course, no motor vehicles are allowed on these roads so the best way to explore them is by bike On Your Own. You can either take your bike or rent one from one of the bike shops in Bal Harbor (click to request info).
However, no tour can be done on these roads without a good map; and the nps website has a pretty handy one which I added here and you can download it for free from their website.
As you see from the map, these roads have no names, but each junction is numbered and you can use these numbers as your navigation guide; and they are well signposted in all the roads. Sure thing you can combine any number of roads as you desire according to your time, but in this blog, I designed a particular combination that allowed me to explore the majestic lakes of Acadia NP. This tour is, in total, a 16.4-mile loop and takes around 4-5 hours to complete depending on how many stops you’ll make, which I assure you will be many:) So lets begin!
I rented the bike from Bal Harbor and parked my car there and drove the bike on Duck Brook road till I reached junction #5 which was my starting point.
I first wanted to explore Witch Hole pond so rode my bike from junction #5 to junctions #3, #2 & #4; a total of 2.3 miles. Witch Hole pond is a nice small pond in very peaceful surroundings that will give you a hint of what to come!
During this first part, I passed under some of the stone bridges, and if you are an engineer like me, you’ll truly admire them:)
I was almost alone the entire time which gave me an extra feeling of being a true explorer:)
From junction #4, ride 1.1mi to junction #6 and start the Eagle Lake loop. The start of this loop is from junction #9 which is right after #6 and I rode till junction #7. Eagle lake is out-of-this-world! The serenity in the area, the views, the crystal clear waters, and the pure sunlight makes you feel in heaven…so take your time, get off your bike, and enjoy it to the max.
Along the road there will be small beaches at which you can stop and relax.
Now the adrenaline will be kicking; and the beauty of these carriage roads will make you want to explore further; so gather your stamina and paddle 3.1mi to junction #17. On this leg you’ll bike more on a trail in the forest rather than a carriage road which is a fun experience.
Now it is time to go to another magnificent pond which is Jordan pond. From junction #17 bike towards junction #16 for 1.3 miles then onto junctions #15 & #14 which are right after #16. From junction #14, you’ll paddle 2 miles to junction #10 which is the toughest part of the tour as it is an uphill road.
Unlike Eagle Lake, you’ll not be riding next to Jordan Pond, instead the road will give you stunning views of its pure blue water from above.
Take your time, have a picnic, and enjoy the views as after reaching junction #10 you’ll start heading back to your exit. From junction #10, bike 1.9 miles to junction #9 which will take you on the other side of Eagle Lake; and yet more amazing views and absolute serenity.
From here, the end of the tour will be looming, so bike to junction #4 for 1.1mi, then back to your starting point at junction #5 after 1 mile.
I hope you’ll enjoy this tour as I did as these carriage roads are a unique feature of Acadia NP that you’ll not find in any other park around the country…Enjoy!
