The carriage roads are Acadia's best-kept secret and one of its most distinctive achievements. Between 1913 and 1940 John D. Rockefeller Jr. financed and personally helped design a network of about 45 miles of gently graded, crushed-stone roads for horses, carriages and walkers, and he insisted that they blend into the land, with granite curbstones called coping stones, elegant stone bridges and carefully framed views. Today the roads are closed to cars and open to hikers, cyclists and, in some sections, horse-drawn carriages and skiers. Most of the network lies on Mount Desert Island, and the most popular loops pass Eagle Lake, Witch Hole Pond, Jordan Pond and Aunt Betty Pond, crossing bridges such as Cobblestone, Duck Brook and Hemlock. A bicycle is the perfect way to see them, because the grades are gentle and the surface is firm, though the hills are real and the distances add up. E-bikes have made the roads accessible to families and older riders, and rental shops and guided tours are plentiful in Bar Harbor. A ranger-led bicycle tour, a guided e-bike tour of the carriage roads and self-guided rental options all give a different pace to the park and lets you leave the traffic of the Park Loop Road behind.
Choosing your ride
For a classic outing, start at Eagle Lake or Hulls Cove and ride the Witch Hole Pond Loop, about 6 miles, which has Hemlock Bridge, quiet woods and few hills. For more adventure, ride a longer circuit around Jordan Pond, Bubble Pond and Eagle Lake, which includes several stone bridges and big views of the mountains. Guided tours remove the navigation worries, cover history and ecology along the way and are good for people who want company and commentary.
Self-guided rentals let you move at your own speed, with maps and a suggested route from the shop. Whatever you choose, pick up a carriage road map and note which sections are closed to e-bikes, because the park rules on e-bike class and use are specific and change.
Practicalities
Park rules allow Class 1 e-bikes on carriage roads and other designated routes, but not on hiking trails, and the shuttle buses carry limited bikes on exterior racks and do not take e-bikes or fat-tire bikes. A seasonal bicycle van runs between downtown Bar Harbor and the Eagle Lake carriage road entrance, which can make a one-way ride easier.
Wear a helmet, carry water and a snack, bring a light layer, and expect a bit of mud in spring and after rain. Stay on the right, yield to walkers and horses, and slow down on blind corners. Some sections close in winter or during mud season, and sections may close for maintenance, so check the park news before you go.
Why it is worth the effort
The roads have an unhurried grace that is unlike any other park experience. You glide beneath old-growth hemlocks, cross arched bridges above waterfalls, see views of Somes Sound from Day Mountain and stop for popovers at Jordan Pond House, all without a single engine in earshot.
In autumn the maples and birches turn red and gold, and in winter the same roads become cross-country ski trails. If you can only do one active thing in Acadia, a carriage road ride, whether on a regular bike, an e-bike or on foot, is a strong candidate.
What to expect
The experience
A guided or self-guided bike or e-bike ride on gently graded crushed-stone roads built by the Rockefeller family, closed to cars and linking ponds, bridges and mountain viewpoints.
Best time
Morning on a dry day; September and early October for foliage; avoid mud season in early spring.
How long
Two to four hours depending on the loop.
Tips
Wear a helmet, take water and a layer, stick to roads open to e-bikes, yield to walkers and horses and check current closures.
Quick picks
- Best for
- Active travelers who want quiet scenery and light exercise.
- Families
- Good for children who can ride on gravel; e-bikes help parents with trailers.
- Couples
- A peaceful ride with bridges, lakes and a popover stop.
- Pair with
- Jordan Pond House or Eagle Lake picnic.
- Time needed
- Half a day.
Good questions
How long are the carriage roads?+
The network totals about 45 miles of crushed-stone roads on Mount Desert Island, with 16 stone bridges.
Are e-bikes allowed on the carriage roads?+
Class 1 e-bikes are allowed on the carriage roads, but not on hiking trails. The park updates rules, so check before you go.
Can I take my bike on the free shuttle?+
Buses carry a limited number of regular bikes on exterior racks, but not e-bikes or fat-tire bikes.
Are there guided options?+
Yes. Guided e-bike tours and ranger-led bicycle tours both operate from Bar Harbor in season.
Do I need a park pass?+
Yes. Acadia requires an entrance pass year-round, including for people arriving on bikes or on foot.