Acadia's Historic Carriage Roads: An Online Guide

 

Historic carriage road system in Acadia National Park

 

An interpretive wayside about experiences on Acadia's historic carriage roads.

Carriage Roads Are Open To Multiple Recreational Uses

FORTY-FIVE MILES of historic carriage roads, a gift of philanthropist John D. Rockefeller Jr. and family, weave around the mountains and valleys of Acadia National Park. Construction efforts from 1913 to 1940 resulted in a state-of-the-art system with sweeping vistas and close-up views of the landscape. Today it is regarded as the best and most extensive network of broken stone carriage roads that were common across the United States at the turn of the 20th century.

Learn much more about the
history, composition and stewardship
of Acadia's historic carriage roads.

 

Visitor use signs are posted at carriage road entrances in summer (left) and winter.

Rules & Safety Advisories

Carriage roads serve multiple user groups. Exercise courtesy and caution, and avoid surprise encounters.

• Cyclists must yield to all other users. Pedestrians must yield to horses.
• Carriage roads are open to Class-1 e-bikes, which provide powered assistance only while pedaling at speeds up to 20 mph. Class 2 & 3 e-bikes are prohibited.
• The speed limit for all users is 20 mph.
• Be prepared to stop. Sudden stops are dangerous on loose gravel.
• Stay to the right. Give a clear warning before passing on the left.
• Move to the side when stopped.
• Maine state law requires that helmets be worn by all bicyclists under age 16.
• Bicycles are prohibited on private carriage roads that extend beyond park boundaries.
• Horse and pack animal use is prohibited from Intersections 1 through 8. This includes a steep access road from the Visitor Center to Intersections 1 and 3, the Witch Hole Pond Loop, and part of the Eagle Lake Loop, except for a connector segment along the south end of the lake between Intersections 7 and 8.

Winter

In winter, permitted recreational uses on carriage roads include walking, running, bicycling, snowshoeing, and skiing.There are no designated lanes prioritized for particular activities.

Volunteers set tracks and groom sections of the carriage roads for cross-country skiing when snowfall depth exceeds six inches, and the roadbed is frozen. Check out the latest carriage road grooming status reports on a Ski Acadia page hosted by Friends of Acadia. Learn more about FOA's Winter Trails Association.

• Please be respectful of other users
• Avoid trampling groomed ski tracks
• Federal law requires that all pets must be kept on a leash no longer than 6 feet.

 

 

Duration:

38.071 seconds

Wheelchair accessible carriage funded by the Diana Davis Spencer Foundation at Wildwood Stables in Acadia National Park on May 20, 2024. Videography by Julia Walker Thomas, Friends of Acadia. (No audio)

 

Inclusive Experiences

Wheelchair Accessible Carriage

In 2022, the operator of the Wildwood Stables in Acadia National Park, and the park received a custom-built wheelchair accessible carriage. The carriage has a ramp on the back that should be accessible to most types of wheelchairs. Several additional passengers may join on the bench seats. The carriage was made possible through the generosity of the Diana Davis Spencer Foundation.

For information about the tours offered at Wildwood Stables, email [e-mail], call 207-600-7204, or visit the website and online reservation system at acadiabycarriage.com

Prices for tours vary depending on the length of tour and number of people. It is recommended that you call well in advance of the date you would like to reserve as spaces are limited.