Maine: Bar Harbor & Acadia National Park

VBT Pre-Tour Extension Guests:
Please enjoy an included breakfast at your inn. Lunch is on your own before the tour begins.

VBT Tour-Only Guests:
Make your own independent arrangements for travel to Bar Harbor, the charming coastal town that will serve as your hub for exploring Acadia National Park by bike. If you’re flying to Maine, Bangor International Airport is the closest option. For detailed guidance on reaching Bar Harbor, please refer to your Vacation Preparation Handbook.

Your accommodations for the duration of the tour are at the iconic Bar Harbor Inn, perfectly situated on the waterfront in the heart of town. This historic property offers sweeping views of Frenchman Bay, beautifully landscaped grounds, and easy access to both the town center and Acadia National Park. Whether you’re relaxing on the verandah, enjoying spa and wellness services, or strolling the scenic Shore Path, the inn provides an exceptional base for your self-guided biking adventure.

The vibrant seaside town of Bar Harbor is known for its walkable streets, boutique shops, galleries, and exceptional dining scene—from casual lobster shacks to upscale restaurants with ocean views. VBT provides city information with restaurant recommendations, suggested activities, and local highlights to help you make the most of your time here.

Guests driving to the tour may leave their vehicle in the Bar Harbor Inn’s parking lot for the duration of the tour at no charge.

All Guests:
As you begin your Acadia National Park biking adventure, you’ll meet your VBT Local Host and any other arriving guests in the lobby of the Bar Harbor Inn at 1:00 p.m.

Join your Local Host for a Welcome Orientation, followed by your first ride to Schooner Head, with optional walks to Sand Beach and Great Head Trail. Your official Acadia National Park entry pass will be provided during this meeting.

Dinner is on your own tonight. Choose from one of Bar Harbor’s many excellent restaurants.

Today's Ride Choices

Bar Harbor to Schooner Head — 9.8 miles

Sand Beach and Great Head Hikes — 2.5 miles

What to Expect:

Ride to Schooner Head Scenic Overlook along paved roads and enjoy sweeping ocean views before returning the way you came. You may choose to lock your bike at the parking area overlooking Sand Beach and Great Head, where you can enjoy one or both short walks. Stroll down to Sand Beach, a striking crescent of white sand nestled between rocky cliffs and lapped by the waters of Newport Cove, or hike the Great Head Trail—a moderately easy loop with some rocky footing and uneven terrain, offering dramatic coastal views from atop the headland.

Today’s biking routes in Acadia National Park offer a variety of scenic options and flexible mileage, allowing you to tailor the day to your interests. One popular route begins with a ride from your hotel through Bar Harbor and onto the Park Loop Road. Your first optional stop is the Sieur de Monts Spring and Wild Gardens of Acadia, home to cultivated native plant gardens, a nature center, and the original Abbe Museum—an ideal spot to get a deeper sense of the park’s natural and cultural heritage. As you continue along the Park Loop, you’ll pass some of Acadia’s most iconic coastal landmarks—starting with Sand Beach, a dramatic shoreline nestled between steep granite cliffs. From there, the road continues past Thunder Hole, where crashing waves produce a natural, echoing roar; Boulder Beach, Otter Cliffs, and the Otter Point Overlook, each offering sweeping ocean views and opportunities to pause and take it all in. The Fabbri Memorial Picnic Area, tucked into a quiet wooded setting, makes an ideal stop for a break or snack.

Your ride then brings you to Jordan Pond, a glacial lake famed for its still waters and views of the rounded twin peaks known as the Bubbles. Here, you might stop at the historic Jordan Pond House for lunch or tea—this classic spot is known for its house-made popovers served with jam—or take a peaceful walk along the Jordan Pond Path, a flat, 3.3-mile shoreline loop offering beautiful scenery at every turn. Afterward, continue onto the Aunt Betty Pond Carriage Road, a tranquil forested route that leads past Aunt Betty Pond and along the northwestern shore of Eagle Lake—one of the park’s largest and most scenic lakes, surrounded by forested hills and frequented by loons and paddlers—before returning to your hotel.

As an alternative—or addition—to the Park Loop ride, you might choose a route that loops fully around Eagle Lake on the carriage roads, then continues north to Witch Hole Pond, a serene, wildlife-rich area in the Paradise Hill section of the park. From there, you’ll cross the stone bridge at Duck Brook Falls, a cascading three-tiered waterfall, before making your way back to your hotel.

This evening, choose from one of Bar Harbor’s many acclaimed restaurants, or enjoy a relaxed, oceanfront meal at the Bar Harbor Inn, where the views of Frenchman Bay provide the perfect backdrop for your dinner.

Today's Ride Choices

Park Loop Road to Jordan Pond House — 14.2 miles

Jordan Pond House to Aunt Betty Pond to Bar Harbor — 10.7 miles

Eagle Lake & Paradise Hill Loop — 15.3 miles

What to Expect:

Park Loop Road to Jordan Pond House Loop
Depart Bar Harbor on the paved Park Loop Road for approximately 14 miles, circling the base of Day Mountain to reach the Jordan Pond House. After your visit, join the carriage roads for about 8 miles, passing Aunt Betty Pond and tracing the edge of Eagle Lake. Continue onto the Witch Hole Pond Carriage Road, passing Breakneck Ponds and Halfmoon Pond, then cross Duck Brook Falls, a cascading three-tiered waterfall. From there, return to your hotel via approximately 2 miles of paved roads.

Eagle Lake & Paradise Hill Loop
This loop departs Bar Harbor on paved roads for just under 4 miles before joining approximately 9.5 miles of carriage roads near Eagle Lake. Enjoy a gentle ascent as you circumnavigate the lake, then continue north along the Witch Hole Pond Carriage Road through the Paradise Hill area, with its quiet wetlands and reflective ponds. From there, cross Duck Brook Falls before completing your ride with a 2-mile return on paved roads back to your hotel.

Included Meals: Breakfast

Today’s route through Acadia National Park connects you with some of the most iconic and scenic stretches of the park’s historic carriage road system. Begin by joining the carriage roads at Eagle Lake, riding along its eastern shore before crossing over Park Loop Road to follow a tranquil route along Bubble Pond and through Bubble Valley, flanked by the twin rounded peaks of North and South Bubble Mountains. After crossing Park Loop Road once again, the ride continues with a gradual ascent of Day Mountain, offering a unique inland perspective of the park and sweeping views through the trees.

Looping back on the Day Mountain Carriage Road, you’ll merge onto the Jordan Pond/Wildwood Carriage Road, passing over the picturesque Cobblestone Bridge, one of the first and most beloved bridges in the park, before reaching Jordan Pond House—a perfect place to pause for lunch or tea on the lawn overlooking the still waters of the pond.

From here, your return to Bar Harbor follows the Around the Mountain Loop, widely considered one of the most spectacular rides in the carriage road network. This route ascends through dense forest and open ridgelines, offering stunning summit views over the Western Mountains of Mount Desert Island, including Sargent, Cedar Swamp, and Penobscot Mountains. Along the way, you’ll pass a series of remarkable Rockefeller-era bridges and waterfalls, including Cliffside Bridge, Amphitheater Bridge, Hadlock Brook Bridge and Falls, and Maple Spring Bridge—each seamlessly integrated into the surrounding landscape.

The loop includes a sustained three-mile climb, with some stretches reaching a 6% grade, and passes the scenic Somes Sound Viewpoint before cresting at approximately 790 feet—the highest elevation in the carriage road system. From this high point, you’ll enjoy a winding descent along the western edge of Eagle Lake, eventually leading you back to Bar Harbor.

This afternoon, you may wish to continue exploring with an optional activity (at your own expense). Popular options include sea kayaking in Frenchman Bay, a sunset sail aboard the schooner Margaret Todd, or simply browsing Bar Harbor’s charming gift shops and boutiques. Whether you’re out on the water or relaxing in town, it’s a perfect way to unwind after a day of unforgettable riding.

Today's Ride Choices

Carriage Roads via Eagle Lake to Day Mountain and Jordan Pond House — 17.3 miles

Jordan Pond House to Around Mountain Loop to Bar Harbor — 15.6 miles

What to Expect:

Depart your hotel and join the carriage roads of Acadia National Park, descending along the east side of Eagle Lake and past Bubble Pond to Day Mountain. A gradual ascent winds up this modest peak, rewarding you with unique views across the park and a fun, flowing descent to the Jordan Pond House. From there, return to Bar Harbor on the Around Mountain Loop, following rolling terrain along the west side of Eagle Lake and past the Breakneck Ponds, completing a scenic and satisfying loop through the heart of the park.

Included Meals: Breakfast

This morning, you may choose to ride the carriage roads of Acadia National Park one last time. Several scenic loops are available, including an easy route around Witch Hole Pond that departs directly from your hotel in Bar Harbor. For a more challenging finale, consider a ride up the Cadillac Mountain Summit Road. This iconic ascent climbs approximately 1,000 feet over 3.5 miles along a paved roadway with wide, sweeping turns. The steady grade makes it a manageable climb for strong riders, and the reward at the top is well worth the effort: panoramic views of Frenchman Bay, Bar Harbor, and the surrounding islands—plus the satisfaction of reaching the highest point on the U.S. Atlantic coast at 1,530 feet.

You may depart at your leisure today. Hotel check-out is at 11:00 a.m. If you need a later check-out time, please confirm with the hotel’s front desk.

For travel options from Bar Harbor, please refer to your Vacation Preparation Handbook. If you’re arranging private transportation to Bangor International Airport, travel time is approximately 1 hour and 15 minutes. We recommend allowing at least three hours between your hotel departure and your flight time.

Today's Ride Choices

Witch Hole Pond Loop — 8.8 miles

Cadillac Mountain Loop — 14.4 miles

What to Expect:

Witch Hole Pond Loop:
Depart your horel, skirting the edge of town before joining the carriage roads at the Duck Brook Carriage Road trailhead. This counterclockwise loop offers peaceful views of Witch Hole Pond and its surrounding wetlands, with an optional stop at the Hulls Cove Visitor Center before returning to Bar Harbor.

Cadillac Mountain Loop:
For those who love to climb, depart the hotel and ride approximately 3 miles on paved roads to the base of the Cadillac Mountain Summit Road. From here, begin the 3.5-mile ascent to the summit, gaining around 1,500 feet total in elevation. Enjoy sweeping panoramic views at the top before a thrilling descent back the way you came. An early morning departure is highly recommended to avoid vehicle traffic and make the most of the experience.

Included Meals: Breakfast