Top Things to do in DownEast and Acadia Maine
Things to do in DownEast and Acadia Maine, DownEast and Acadia Maine: The Best Scenic Walking Areas
Discover the best top things to do in DownEast and Acadia Maine, United States including Harriman Point, The Gorge Path, Razorback Trail, Compass Harbor Trail, Ocean Path, McClellan Park, Calais Waterfront Walkway, Cooper Farm at Caterpillar Hill.
Restaurants in DownEast and Acadia Maine
1. Harriman Point
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 4 reviews
Reviewed By MockSwede - Brewer, United States
Great trail hike for kids. Tote roads, for the most part, which are old woods/logging roads wide enough for vehicle back when. Good periwinkle shell beach combing both on Allen's Cove and the small island reachable at lower tides and this area has some rare sea lavender plants. LOOK only. Good beachcombing and great views on Eastern Beach. This trail system is basically a 'lollipop' where the sucker is a loop, which includes walking on the rocky beach at the north end, between Allen's Cove and Eastern Beach, with the 'stick' being the almost straight entry and exit trail/road. This NEW section, from 10 to 3 on the clock, making the Y into a circle, is NOT YET marked online and on their PDF maps as of this date. There is a boggy single-file access trail that winds from the small parking lot across the Harriman Point Road to the nexus of the private properties driveways which branch off the end of Tinkers Lane. I suppose you could walk the Lane, to access, too. This is a boggy and wet area off to the left of the lollipop stick for almost all its length. In September, we were still running the gauntlet with mosquitos; cannot imagine May and June....! Bug repellant is a MUST. Trails are well marked, except that you get only one sign on the beach at the ends of the trails as they dump out onto the rocky beach. But, you won't miss them, unless there is dense fog... or you are in a fog. They have trash barrels at the ends of the currently mapped arms of the Y on the map, so be sure to pick up any plastic trash that washes up and deposit there, please. Like most of these kinds of Preserves in Maine, they DO allow hunting, so be sure to wear blaze orange when it is hunting season - rabbit, deer, turkey, duck, etc.
2. The Gorge Path
3. Razorback Trail
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 4 reviews
Reviewed By mynameispaulie - Shelton, United States
First off I have never been to the main Acadia island, my wife and I stayed on the quiet side during our first visit as the Island shuttle bus was not running which hindered our plans. However, we covered pretty much all the trails on the quiet side during our 3 day stay (with the exception of Bernard Mountain). For this hike we started at the long pond parking area. We started along the Long Pond Trail before ascending up the Perpendicular Trail to Mansell Mountain, then came down the Mansell Mountain Trail. Next, we went along the Gilley Trail and up the Razorback Trail before a slight descent to Great Notch. Then we took a detour up to Knight Nubble and back to Great Notch before returning on the Great Notch Trail and the Gilley Trail. All the trails were great and had their own distinct features, the only one I didn't really enjoy was coming down the Great Notch Trail, perhaps I was just tired at this point but it was mostly rocks and roots and felt like being in a river bed with nothing really exciting to see, I just wanted it to be over. I think if I were to do it again I would continue from Knight Nubble to Little Notch and try coming down the Sluiceway Trail instead. The whole trip took about 5 hours. Anyway, the Razorback Trail was a slow ascent that was enjoyable without being too difficult. Towards the top it turns into a series of domes that you sometimes have to climb over, hence the name. My wife enjoyed it a lot. I have a crippling fear of heights but I survived. Throughout the whole hike the only part that I struggled was some of those higher sections of the Razorback Trail and going up to Knight Nubble and back has some hairy sections where you need to use roots and careful stepping and maneuvers, so I would say maybe skip that part (another reason to push on to Little Notch so not having to climb back down). Overall the Razorback Trail was a great hike and different from anything else we had done. One of the better trails on the quiet side and I would definitely recommend it. Probably better going up. Note: Ignore the other review about biking, you certainly cannot bike this trail.
4. Compass Harbor Trail
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 11 reviews
Reviewed By directorfantasies - Tampa, United States
If you are interested in the history of Acadia National Park, a visit to Compass Harbor is a must. Tucked in a shady wooded area are the stone & brick remains of the Old Farm house foundation. This was the home of George Dorr, whose preservation efforts during most of his adult life & inheritance made Acadia National Park possible. It is a bit hard to find as there is little signage along Route 3 less than a mile south of downtown Bar Harbor, just north of the intersection of Route 3 and Schooner Head Road and the parking lot is small enough it can be easily missed. If you are leaving Bar Harbor, the parking lot will be on the left hand side of the road. Once parked, there is an informational sign at the beginning of the trail. Make your way into the the woods & follow the signs. Better yet, download the OldFarm app from the App store and the videos will help you as you follow the numbered posts to learn about Dorr. When we visited, we did not the app and went a round about way ending up at the beach first. It was here that Dorr used to swim in the frigid water. The beach is very secluded and at least two private residences border the beach cove. Walking along the beach is nice & would be fun for kids to explore. At one end of beach is Dorr Point, a granite outcropping. It looked difficult to climb it so we didn't. We turned back into the woods and followed the trail back to find steps leading up to the old foundation. Having spent 4 years of my childhood in Maine, I find old ruins to be fascinating. It is fun to image what the house must have looked like. I figured out correctly where the main entrance to the house is. Take note of the patterned brick patio, once a covered open porch. The plans are available to view at the Bar Harbor Historical Society. This trail is fairly level so safe & doable for kids & dog friendly (even met a man walking his dog). Except for the beach, kids may become easily bored, In the fall when we visited, we had the extra bonus of beautiful fall foliage & it was very quiet & peaceful.
5. Ocean Path
6. McClellan Park
7. Calais Waterfront Walkway
8. Cooper Farm at Caterpillar Hill
Overall Ratings
4.0 based on 1 reviews
