The carriage roads of Acadia National Park are perfect for spending a pleasant day bicycling. |
Different Routes |
Mount Desert Island, home to Bar Harbor and Acadia
National Park, provides some of the most beautiful bicycling routes
anywhere in the United States. From gently rolling terrain bordering the
rugged coastline to hard-cranking mountain slopes, there's a route for
every biking enthusiast.
Most people choose the island's lovely carriage
trails, which are closed to all motorized traffic. Upset by a decision to
allow automobiles onto the island in the early part of the 20th century,
John D. Rockefeller Jr. set out to build a 57-mile-long series of roads on
which all cars would be banned. The resulting trails took years to
complete, and they have recently undergone a multi-million-dollar
refurbishing. The hard-packed gravel surfaces are ideal for mountain
biking, and at Acadia Bike we provide complimentary maps of the
trails.
You can choose the gently sloping Eagle Lake or Jordan
Pond trails; the rugged Around The Mountain loop, which will leave you
gasping for breath; or any one of several others. Many people like to bike
the famous Park Loop Road, a 21-mile-long paved section that includes
several miles along Ocean Drive, where the crashing Atlantic meets the
granite coast of Acadia. Because this road is heavily traveled by cars and
recreational vehicles, we recommend that only experienced cyclists use it
-- and then only with caution.
Our bike shop professionals, all of whom are avid
riders themselves, can also recommend other off-island routes for you.
They're always happy to talk mountain biking with our customers.
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