Destinations in Maine haven’t featured as much in my entries as they should. So I’m taking this opportunity as we enter our New England fall season to put in a “plug” for Acadia National Park.

Acadia is the only National Park in New England, and in the summer months it attracts visitors like a magnet.

But by fall quiet space is easier to find, especially if you’re backpacking.

It’s a special place on America’s Atlantic coast and home to more than 500 species of plants and 300 species of birds. Famous for its rocky and scenic coastal terrain – 500 million years in the making – Acadia was the first national park east of the Mississippi River.

The park is largely located on Mount Desert Island, which is south of Ellsworth. Acadia covers 35,000 acres and includes 120 miles of hiking trails and an extensive 45-mile network of carriage paths popular for mountain biking. The paths were created during 1913 and 1940 by John Rockefeller, Jr.

Peak foliage in the area is generally around mid-October and backpacking is restricted to Blackwoods campground after September. But the park has many trails and a number can be combined to create longer excursions and climbs for hikers of all ability. Just allow enough time to return to Blackwoods campground before dark.

Three of the more popular trails for strenuous hikes are the Precipice Trail, Cadillac Mountain South Ridge Trail, and Acadia Mountain Trail.

The Precipice Trail is very steep as it ascends 1,000 feet almost vertically, and includes climbing ladders on exposed cliffs. It’s the most challenging of all the trails in the park but an exhilarating climb.

The Cadillac Mountain South Ridge Trail starts close to the campground and is a 7.4 mile roundtrip hike through forests and to the highest point on the east coast with marvelous scenic views at the top. The Acadia Mountain Trail is on the opposite side of Sommes Sound and offers stunning views of the Sound and Southwest Harbor.

Mountain cyclists can marvel and enjoy the impressive broken-stone carriage roads located east of Sommes Sound in the Jordan’s Pond and Eagle Lake areas in the vicinity of the Blackwoods Campground. These roads are also a wonderful way of seeing the park for hikers.

Allow a week to experience the varied hikes and terrain of the park.

For more information on Acadia National Park and reservations at the campgrounds visit www.nps.gov/acad

Stay tuned in the coming days for more destinations and attractions that celebrate New England’s fall season.

Cliff Calderwood
Executive Director
New England Vacations Online Guide