Tag: #maine
Carriage Roads Bike Tour (Acadia NP)

Carriage Roads Bike Tour (Acadia NP)

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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!
Beach Mountain Loop (Acadia NP)

Beach Mountain Loop (Acadia NP)

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Beach Mountain Loop (Acadia NP)

The Beach Mountain Loop is a short hike, yet it offers unparalleled views of the unspoiled landscape of New England, especially at sunset. The total length of this loop is 1.3 miles and takes you up Beach mountain at 839 ft in an hour.

The access to the trailhead is not via the Park Loop Road, but you’ve to enter the park via road 233 and drive on Beach Hill Road till you reach the parking lot (click to request info).

The trailhead is right across the parking lot and the trail itself starts in the forest on the trademark rocky terrain of Acadia NP.

After 0.1mi, the trail will fork to form the loop, so it is recommended to take the south trail (on your left) while ascending as it is less steep. After 0.8mi, around 30 minutes, you’ll get above treeline and the panoramic 360 views will unfold all around you! Try to time your ascent to the summit around the sunset for unforgettable experience. So, sit back and enjoy the views and take lots of pictures and try to capture the perfect sunset.

Don’t forget yourself in this serene beautiful landscape as you still want to hike down before dark. This time, take the north trail and it’ll be only 0.5mi till the parking lot.
Acadia National Park

Acadia National Park

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Acadia National Park

Acadia National Park is the only national park in Maine and entire the New England region. Although it is one of the smallest parks in the US, Acadia NP boasts stunning natural beauty of the highest rocky headlands along the US Atlantic coastline.

With 158 miles of hiking trails and 45 miles of carriage roads, Acadia NP offers an abundance of adventure opportunities that will take you to stunning coastlines and picturesque lakes through some of the toughest hiking trails in the country.

You can spend months here without getting enough of this amazing park; however, during my adventure, I did two day hike loops and a bike tour, On My Own, that captivated me and made me fall in love with this park. So get ready and explore with me these amazing adventures.

 

Hike 1: The Bowl loop via Beehive trail

Hike 2: Beach Mountain loop

Biking the Carriage Roads
The Bowl Loop via Beehive Trail (Acadia NP)

The Bowl Loop via Beehive Trail (Acadia NP)

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The Bowl Loop via Beehive Trail (Acadia NP)

Before I visited Acadia NP I read about how scary and tough the Beehive trail is and how some hikers are not able to do it, not because it is tough as much as it is scary, but I said to myself…how scary can it be…it is not a high elevation park! Guess what…It is absolutely scary!

This loop is one of the must-do hikes in Acadia NP as it combines beautiful coastline hiking with forests, cliffs and mountain hiking; and rewards you with stunning views and picturesque lakes. The hike, as most in the US, can be easily done On Your Own, but before venturing into this adventure, you’ve to be armed with a good map, not necessarily a topographic one though (click to request info).

To make this a loop hike, drive on the Park Loop Road and park your car at (click to request info) as you’ll return back to the same spot. This loop combines sections of several trails in an amazing adventure, so let us begin!

In the first part of this loop you’ll hike on the Ocean Path Trail from the parking lot. The trailhead itself is 0.3mi from the parking lot and you’ll walk a bit along the road so be careful. The Ocean Path Trail is a flat rocky trail that hugs the rugged Main coastline. It’ll be a nice introduction to this park as it gives you a glimpse of the views here and an idea about the terrain. Part of the path is shaded in the forests while on some sections you’ll rock scramble along the coast.

After 2.1 miles you’ll reach Sand Beach. At this point, to continue your loop, you’ll have to cross the road again and walk 0.2 miles till you reach The Bowl Trail trailhead. Starting from this point you’ll be hiking up the cliffs and the stunning views will start unveiling themselves to you.

You can take this trail all the way to The Bowl pond, but this isn’t the adventurous way! After only 0.2 miles you’ll find a junction with the Beehive Trail on your right, so follow this trail & be ready for what is coming next:)

For me the Beehive Trail isn’t a hiking trail, it is almost a climbing one! There are even ladders and iron rings installed in some sections to help you to navigate your way up.

From here, my advice to you… “Don’t Look Down” because it is scary! The trail becomes really physically challenging and it’ll take its toll on you, but you’ve to stay strong and take your time because any slip could be fatal.

I’ve to admit, I hiked a lot of trails across the country and some are famous for their difficulty, but the Beehive Trail is a different animal!! It is tough, narrow, high, slippery, and scary; and the views around you will not do you any favors as they’ll continuously distract you. At some sections I couldn’t believe that I’ve to hike that path!! It becomes very narrow and right on the edge with nothing to hold on to!! Yes, it is scary but doable and, believe me, fun. I tried my best to take a picture of myself on this section, but as you can see, I failed because the trail is so narrow and my body is hiding it.

After this hair-rising adventure, the trail will start to widen and in 0.4mi you’ll reach the Beehive rock and be rewarded with amazing views.

 

So time for a well-deserved rest, recharge and take lots of amazing pictures.

After taking your rest continue of the Beehive Trail for 0.2mi till you reach The Bowl pond. This is a very picturesque little pond on the top of the hills and in the middle of the lush green forest…Stunning! 

What tops these stunning views is that you can swim in the pond; however, beware that the water might be very cold; I was there in May and it was freezing, but honestly the adrenaline from the Beehive Trail was still pumping so I had a blast:) Yes, I did feel cold after I was done swimming and you can tell from the next picture as I started layering up:)

When you are ready to continue, take the Bowl South Ridge Trail for 0.2mi after which you’ll connect with the Gorham Mountain Trail. This is a rocky trail (all of the are actually) that will take you to the summit of Gorham mountain at 525ft. It is an easy climb with stunning views in a very peaceful environment.

From here, the rest of the loop will be downhill and start descending via the Gorham Mountain trail for 0.4mi. At this point there is a detour to Cadillac Cliffs Trail. This trail venture away from the Gorham Mountain Trail cutting into the rocks; and then rejoins it after 0.3mi. I highly recommend taking this detour as this trail is an adventure in itself and doesn’t add mileage to the loop. The Cadillac Cliffs Trail will take you through rock tunnels and high cliffs and it is a nice last adrenaline kick before you finish your hike.

 

After rejoining Gorham Mountain trail, it’ll only be 0.2mi till you reach your car…so Congrats, You Made It!!!

This has been one of my most memorable hikes and is a must-do in Acadia NP; and in total it is 5.4mi and should take you around 3-4 hours with stops.

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