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Posted by jin (70.33.141.95) on 02:53:56 08/01/06
In Reply to: kayaking rental/tours - other info posted by jlk
Number one recommendation would be to take the free Island Explorer shuttle bus. They serve every part of Mount Desert Island except the summit of Cadillac Mountain. Traffic and Parking are horrible in August. You cannot enjoy the scenery if you are stuck behind a huge RV or breathing fumes from a big tour bus. Your hike or bike ride is less enjoyable if you have to park on the side of a narrow but busy highway because the parking lot is full. The best way to get to Cadillac's summit is a moderate 2.1 mile hike from an Island Explorer bus stop. Routes and schedules are available at www.exploreacadia.com
Easy hikes/walks: Bar Harbor Shore Path; Ocean Path from Sand Beach to Otter Point; Jordan Pond Shore Path; Ship Harbor; Wonderland.
Moderate hikes: Cadillac Mountain (warning, crowds and traffic at summit) via either North Ridge or South Ridge best way to do it is to take Sand Beach bus to North Ridge Trail, hike up the North Ridge about 2.1 miles, then take the South Ridge Trail down about 3.5 miles and pick up the Blackwoods bus for your return to Bar Harbor; Gorham Mountain from Sand Beach to the parking lot near Monument Cove; St. Sauveur Mountain to Valley Peak. Pemetic Mountain is scenic, relatively uncrowded, and reachable from Jordan Pond. If you must hike up to Bubble Rock, prepare for crowds and hike over to North Bubble, which attracts few people and has gorgeous scenery.
More difficult hikes: the ever-popular Precipice and Beehive Trails; the Jordan Cliffs Trail to Sargent Mountain and return via Penobscot Mountain. Sargent is reachable by a long hike from several locations and is well worth the effort because it is roadless and is the second-highest mountain.
Take a couple of bike rides on Carriage Roads. The Island Explorer runs a free bike trailer to the Eagle Lake area. The Witch Hole Pond loop north of Eagle Lake is easy and very scenic. A ride around Eagle Lake is easy except for one tough hill at the south end of the lake. The Around the Mountain loop reachable from Jordan Pond House or the Parkman Mountain parking lot on route 198, both served by the Island Explorer, is long, strenuous, and has outstanding scenery.
If you have time, visit Isle au Haut for good hiking on a remote island (a two-hour drive to the ferry in Stonington), or take a ferry from Bar Harbor to Winter Harbor and explore Schoodic Point's coastline via island Explorer bus.
For kayaking try Ardea Ecoexpeditions in the Schoodic Point area. 207-460-9731 www.ardea-ecoexpeditions.com. I highly recommend them.
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