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Reported: Sept. 2014

Acadia National Park, Mount Desert Island...

Where the Mountains Meet the Sea

The rocky coastline of Mount Desert Island (2nd largest island on the U.S. east coast) arguably offers the most spectacular views on the U.S. East Coast. While Acadia National Park is the best-known feature of the island, it has a life of its own with the towns of Bar Harbor, Mount Desert, Southwest Harbor, and Tremont, and a year-round population of around 10,000 (those numbers swell when summer residents arrive, and the Park hosts over 3 million visitors annually). The park road offers paved biking, and carriage roads are bikeable on crushed stone, but biking here mostly consists of mountain biking. The Island Explorer runs during the summer offering a free shuttle around the park (bike racks provided). Horse-drawn carriage rides May-October are a fun option. (Detailed map and photos below.)

Biking Map...
Acadia National Park

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Location: Acadia National Park, ME (See map)
Distance: Various
Surface: Paved, unpaved

Bike Shops/Rentals:
Acadia Bike (Bar Harbor; rentals, sales)
Bar Harbor Bicycle Shop (Bar Harbor; rentals, sales, service)
Southwest Cycle (Southwest Harbor; rentals, sales, service)

Biking Mount Desert Island

Mount Desert Island

The Park Loop Road on Mount Desert Island is a must-do when in the area. Biking is allowed but be aware the 30-mile road is winding, narrow and can be crowded with cars. Parking is available along the way at several trailheads and scenic overlooks. Additionally, there are 45 miles of crushed stone carriage roads - originally built by John D. Rockefeller, Jr. to limit automobile traffic on the island, these have been incorporated into the National Park and are bikeable, shared by pedestrians and horses.

Bass Harbor Head Lighthouse

We just had to see a lighthouse, and visited the village of Bass Harbor in Tremont at the southwest tip of Mount Desert Island. Located within Acadia National Park, Bass Harbor Head Lighthouse is the only one on the island, built in 1858 and automated in 1974. Two hiking trails provide scenic views of the ocean, cliffs and lighthouse.

The Lighthouse

Bass Harbor Head Lighthouse

 

Original bell

"A Steadfast Light"

Views

 

Lighthouse Trail

Bass Harbor Head Lighthouse Trail

 

 

 

 

 

More Information and Resources

History:

Shell heaps date Native American occupation back 6000 years. The first Europeans to arrive on Mount Desert Island were a French expedition led by Samuel de Champlain in 1604 and it remained a French settlement until 1759 when the British prevailed. Maine was part of Massachusetts after the American Revolutionary War, and became a separate State in 1820. In the 1880's the island became a popular retreat for the wealthy (Rockefellers, Morgans, Fords, Vanderbilts, Astors and others) - some maintain residences and their summer "cottages" can be seen today, though many were destroyed in a huge 1947 fire. Lafayette (now Acadia) National Park was established in 1919.