One of the highlights of the Maine coast is Acadia National Park. Centered on Mount Desert Island but extending to the Schoodic Peninsula on the mainland, Isle au Haut to the west and the Cranberry Islands to the south, Acadia is a non-stop series of rocky coves, peaks with jaw-dropping views, and opportunities to enjoy and appreciate native Maine forest.
One of the smallest national parks at only ~45,000 acres, Acadia’s proximity to the large population center of the northeast makes it one of the busiest with over 3.5 million visitors each year. But just like our experience at other busy parks, near solitude at Acadia is possible after hiking no more than a quarter mile (400m) away from any parking lot or road – most visitors don’t stray far from their cars.
Nearly a quarter of the Acadia’s land was donated to the National Park Service in the early 1900s by John D. Rockefeller, with subsequent gifts by the Rockefeller family. In addition to the land, a network of ~45 miles (~65km) of carriage roads were designed, built, and subsequently donated to the park. The carriage roads were originally envisioned as a way to ensure the park wasn’t inundated with car traffic, and they are still limited to hikers, bikers, and horses today.
After enjoying a bike trip on the carriage roads during our first visit, this time we focused on hiking. Acadia is a gem.
