Outdoor Activities in Acadia

Hiking:
  • Mountain Climbing
Choose among 24 mountains and over a hundred trails, with the climbs ranging from short to long, and easy to difficult.

Once we know the hiking preferences and physical capabilities of each member of your party, we’ll suggest the trails we think you’ll find most rewarding.
Our own favorite trail is relatively easy, and you get to the tree line (and panoramic ocean views) in about 25 minutes! It’s all view from there to the top. Just an hour after beginning your descent, you can skip and jump and stroll on the unbelievably beautiful rocks and ledges alongside the heart-achingly blue ocean.
  • Ocean Trails
You can walk (easy hiking) for miles on the Ocean Path that borders the spectacular shoreline of Acadia, parking your car or bike within a few minutes of the Trail. And you can walk/climb down the pink granite ledges to enjoy the water’s edge. What’s unique about Acadia is that you can climb a mountain, and then, when you reach the bottom, walk five minutes to the Ocean Path!
Or, at low tide, you and your dogs can walk across the sand bar to Bar Island (hence Bar Harbor’s name), with Frenchman’s Bay lapping the sand on either side of you.
  • Carriage Roads
Built and donated by John D. Rockefeller, the 57 miles of trails designed for horse-drawn carriages (he wanted to protect Mount Desert Island from intrusion by the new “horseless carriages”).

As was his intention, the carriage roads provide easy walking, biking or horse-back riding to visitors of all ages, with views of lakes, forest and mountains along the entire way.
  • Dog Walks
Dogs love walking through Town, because so many people will stop and pet them!
 
Wherever you go, they’ll be so thrilled when you bring them along; they’ll not only love the hikes, the swims, the treats, but they’re sure to meet and greet many new canine friends.

But best of all is Little Long Pond, a Rockefeller-donated preserve of about two square miles. 
With a beautiful lake, gorgeous easy trails, and spectacular views of meadows, forest, mountains and ocean, Little Long Pond is a wonderful walk where dogs are allowed off-leash. Yours will love to meet, greet and romp with many others who gather in the fields by the boathouse. The miles of trails also provide the best horseback riding on Mount Desert Island.
Biking:
  • Bring or Rent Your Bikes
Enjoy riding along our beautiful, private wooded road to Main Street. From there, you can be in the Park or Town in five minutes.
 
The most beautiful vistas are along Ocean Drive, a section of the Park Loop Road, and you can pull over to enjoy the view anywhere. If you’d rather not bike all of Park Loop (mostly one way), you can ride back to Town on the free Island Explorer bus; it services the area frequently and has ample space for bikes.
 
There are dozens of other gorgeous rides, flat or up and down, short or long, throughout Mount Desert Island.  Renting high quality bikes in Town is probably preferable to lugging your own.
On The Water:
  • Kayaking
Mount Desert is an island, with waters ranging from tranquil to rough. Our own favorite kayak route is in and around the islands of Frenchman’s Bay.

Easiest and safest is to join one of the kayak tours that we recommend. They’re only ten minutes from the house.
Even if you’ve never kayaked before, they’ll have you on the water, safely under their supervision, in no time at all. You’ll paddle past the Porcupine Islands, observing eagles, osprey, seals, and other fascinating wild life.

We recommend that you kayak sooner rather than later, because we have no doubt you’ll be back at least once more during the week so long as you do your first trip early in the week!
  • Sailing
You can enjoy the gorgeous waters of Frenchman’s Bay, Blue Hill Bay, or the Gulf of Maine in many ways.

You can rent various size boats. You can sail it yourself, or hire a well-qualified skipper along with the boat. You can take lessons. Or you can join a day cruise.
  • Canoeing
Choose among many sparkling lakes, large and small. Bring your own canoe or rent one. Either way, what’s special is the complete serenity you’ll find on Acadia’s lakes.
  • Stand-Up Paddle Boarding
Join a group either in the calmer areas of Frenchman’s Bay or in one of the pristine lakes.

Most of those who enjoy this activity are first-timers, then they come back for more.
  • Swimming
Swim in the ocean at Sand Beach if you’re a polar bear. Or a kid!

For warmer waters, we’ll recommend one of the crystal-clear lakes, where you’ll never find a crowd.
  • Fishing
Whether you join one of the deep-sea fishing parties in the Gulf of Maine, or take advantage of the surf fishing on our own shoreline, you’ll find many locations in which to indulge your love of fishing. Our water is 30 feet deep within casting distance, with strong currents. Our resident cormorants will show you exactly where you should be casting! They fish here year round! And for the first time in years, we had stripers in the neighborhood in August.
Popular Land Activities:
  • Rock Climbing
The certified instructors specialize in safely guiding people ranging in experience from first-timers to experts. They do a number of locations, but the most exciting of them all is Otter Cliffs, which rise straight up out of the ocean! You’ll not find anything like this on the Cape, Nantucket, Martha’s Vineyard, Long Island, or the Jersey Shore.
  • Running
If you like long runs on the flat, you’ll love the shaded Carriage Roads with their forest and lake and mountain views. If you like long runs with lots of ups and downs, you’ll never do better than Ocean Drive, right alongside the ocean with mountains rising up on the other side. If you want to run just in one direction, you can take the Island Explorer bus back to a stop that’s about a mile from Zephyr Shore.
 
And if you’d like a short, early morning (or whenever) run, then our own very private road is akin to the Carriage Roads… just as beautiful!
  • Tennis
Well-maintained, readily available public courts are just a 15 minute walk from Zephyr Shore.
  • Golf
Kebo Valley Golf Course is the third-oldest club in the country.

With spectacular views of the nearby mountains and a challenging course, and located five minutes from Zephyr Shore, the serious golfer will want to play at least one round here.
  • Equestrian
Trailer your horse, with well-run stabling available twenty minutes away that includes parking for your trailer.

The stable is beautiful and very well maintained. I’m quite impressed with them! The horses have plenty of excellent turnout during the day. You can leave your trailer there and just drive over (15 minutes from our homes), hitch up, load your horse, and be off to the trails!
Enjoy easy, well-maintained trails on carriage roads or at Little Long Pond (donated by the Rockefellers) and other large nature retreats.  Interested in something new? Take driving lessons with the local Shire horses; no prior riding or driving experience required.
  • Skate Boarding
The Town just completed a challenging skate park, which is only a 15 minute walk from Zephyr Shore.

Bring your kids’ skate boards, scooters, in-line skates or BMX bikes, and leave the rest to them!
  • Outdoor Yoga Classes
You also may enjoy combining yoga with the breathtaking views from Cadillac Mountain, Sand Beach and other glorious vistas unique to Acadia National Park!

Particularly inspiring are the Sunrise and Moonlight classes.
If you're staying at Rising Sun, and you're qualified, you'll enjoy using our yoga wall!