Physical / Mobility

 

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)

 

Wheelchair Accessible Carriage

In 2022, through the generosity of the Diana Davis Spencer Foundation, 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.

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.

 

A bus pauses at a trailhead along the Park Loop Road.

Photo courtesy of Evie Linantud, Friends of Acadia

Island Explorer

All fare-free Island Explorer buses are accessible for wheelchair users. (Bicycle Express are not.) Regularly scheduled buses stop at destinations throughout the park, including campgrounds, carriage road entrances, and many trailheads.

People with disabilities may call 207-667-5797 to request a pickup at a location up to three-quarters of a mile off a regular bus route.

• Buses are equipped with wheelchair lifts. Please see bus driver for assistance.
• Well-behaved and leashed or crated pets are allowed on buses and must remain on the floor.
• Island Explorer shuttles are powered by propane fuel. By leaving your car behind, you help reduce air pollution while avoiding parking and traffic congestion.
• Download myStop® Mobile and select Acadia National Park to access real-time interactive location and schedule information for buses on the Island Explorer shuttle system.
  • myStop® Mobile on the App Store (apple.com)
  • myStop® Mobile - Apps on Google Play

 

Photo courtesy of Friends of Acadia

.
.Carriage Road Online User's Guide

Find maps, elevation profiles, rules, safety advisories and activities
for Acadia's historic carriage roads in this online user's guide.

NOTE: All visitors are welcome to make use of human-powered mobility devices that do not exceed 20 mph on the carriage roads. Special use permits for Other Power-Driven Mobility Devices (OPDMD) may be requested in-person at Dispatch offices at park headquarters, located at 20 McFarland Hill Drive, Bar Harbor, ME 04609.

 

AdobeStock licensed image

Other Power-Driven Mobility Devices

In accordance with National Park Service policy, individuals with mobility challenges may request a special use permit to utilize Other Power-Driven Mobility Devices (OPDMD) in Acadia National Park. These can include e-bikes, tracked chairs, golf carts, scooters and other non-traditional wheelchairs and micro-mobility devices.

Limitations apply, particularly with regard to device size, weight, speed, safety and potential harm to the environment and natural or cultural resources. Speeds for OPDMD will mimic the speeds for pedestrians on trails or the 20 mph limit on carriage and service roads.

By the nature of their design and condition, most hiking trails in Acadia are not suitable to OPDMD use due to narrow width, stone steps, and iron ladder rungs. Areas that may be suitable for OPDMD use include –

• Trails, such as Compass Harbor, Wonderland, Ocean Path, Cadillac Summit and Loop Trail, Jesup Path, Hemlock Road, the first loop of Ship Harbor Trail, Schooner Head Path (along Schooner Head Road) and short trails surrounding Jordan Pond House.
• Carriage Roads within Acadia National Park and Schoodic bike paths are suitable for OPDMD use along with service roads that function as hiking trails including Marshall Brook Fire Road, Valley Cove Road, Man O’War Brook, Hio Road, and motor roads closed during the winter.
• Other suitable locations may be identified depending on which OPDMD the individual is utilizing. Questions about specific locations not covered in the Superintendent's Compendium or other guidance documents should be directed to the Chief Ranger for consideration.

Special use permits for an OPDMD may be requested at Dispatch offices at park headquarters.

Park staff issuing this permit may establish “credible assurance” in the following two ways –

• An individual can provide a State-issued disability parking placard/card or State or federally issued proof of disability.
• An individual verbally stating that he or she is a person with a disability and the OPDMD is being used because of his or her disability.

For more information, please email.

 

NPS Photo by Aislinn Gara Grady

Beach Chair at Echo Lake

An accessible chair with large inflatable tires is available for public use at Echo Lake Beach during the summer visitor season. Please email us at least five days in advance to arrange for staff to meet you there.

• For a listing of national parks across the United States that offer mobility devices available for loan for use on beaches and trails, please visit this page about Wheelchairs and Mobility Aids.

 

In the Eagle Lake boat ramp parking lot, a woman transitions from a wheelchair to the driver seat of an automobile.

NPS Photo by Robyn Smyth

Accessible Parking

All striped and paved parking lots have at least one parking space that is designated accessible, including van parking with access aisles. Unmarked spaces are generally paved and even. Some, however, include slopes or limited space.

Videos of Select Parking Areas

Assessed winter 2024-2025
.

• Brown Mountain Parking Lot

• Compass Harbor Parking Lot

• Duck Brook Parking Lot

• Eagle Lake Boat Ramp Parking Lot

• Eagle Lake Carriage Road Parking Area

• Gorham Mountain Parking Loop

• Gorham Mountain Parking Lot

• Great Head Parking Loop

• Hulls Cove Visitor Center Parking Areas

• Jordan Pond House Parking Areas

• Keyhole (Ocean Drive) Parking Lot

• Ocean Drive (Old Soaker) Parking Loop

• Otter Cliff Parking Lot

• Otter Creek Parking Lot

• Otter Point Parking Lot

• Parkman Mountain Parking Lot

• Sand Beach Parking Lot

• Schooner Head Overlook Parking Lot

• Sieur de Monts Parking Lot

• Ship Harbor Parking Lot

• The Tarn Parking Lot

• Thunder Hole Parking Lot and Access Pathways

• Wildwood Stables Parking Lot

 

Park Loop Road

Assessed September 2026

Location	Van Accessible	Standard Accessible	Total Spaces	RV/Horse Trailer	Surface Type	Angled or Straight	Additional Notes
Hulls Cove Visitor Center, main parking lot	4	2	271	8	paved	angled
Hulls Cove Visitor Center, accessible entrance	2	2	4	0	paved	straight
Sieur de Monts Nature Center	2	0	45	0	paved	angled
Sand Beach	2	3	95	0	paved	angled
Old Soaker	1	1	35	0	paved	angled
Keyhole	0	1	6	0	paved	straight
Thunder Hole	3	1	35	0	paved	angled
Gorham Mountain	0	1	23	0	paved	straight
Last Chance	1	0	19	0	paved	both	access space is angled
Otter Cliffs	1	0	17	0	paved	straight
Otter Point	1	1	32	0	paved	angled
Fabbri	2	1	31	0	paved	straight	divided by Park Loop Road
Wildwood Stables	2	0	15	0	paved	straight	Horse trailer spaces undefined
Jordan Pond House	3	3	66	0	paved	angled	four parallel spaces
Jordan Pond	1	1	170	0	paved	straight	14 parallel spaces
Bubble Rock	0	1	21	0	paved	straight
Bubble Pond	1	0	11	0	paved	straight
Blue Hill Overlook (West Lot)	1	1	37	0	paved	straight
Cadillac Summit	1	3	104	0	paved	straight

East Side of Mount Desert Island

Assessed September 2026

Location	Van Accessible	Standard Accessible	Total Spaces	RV/Horse Trailer	Surface Type	Angled or Straight	Additional Notes
Eagle Lake Carriage Road	1	0	24	0	paved	straight
Eagle Lake Boat Launch	1	1	8	0	paved	straight
Tarn	1	0	8	1	paved	straight	bus parking
Schooner Head Overlook	1	1	43	1	paved	straight	one spot for a bus or RV
Great Head	1	0	19	0	paved	angled
Blackwoods Campground Amphitheater	1	1	38	0	paved	angled
Brown Mountain Carriage Road	1	0	18	1	paved	straight	bus parking
Parkman Mountain Carriage Road	1	0	13	0	paved	straight

West Side of Mount Desert Island

Assessed September 2026

Location	Van Accessible	Standard Accessible	Total Spaces	RV/Horse Trailer	Surface Type	Angled or Straight	Additional Notes
Thompson Island Picnic Area	2	1	30	0	paved	angled
Pretty Marsh Picnic Area	0	0	8	0	paved	angled
Beech Mountain	1	0	26	0	paved	straight	three parallel spaces
Ikes Point Boat Launch	0	1	13	0	paved	straight
Acadia Mountain	1	0	16	0	paved	straight
Echo Lake	4	0	86	0	paved	straight
Seawall Picnic Area	1	1	19	0	paved	angled
Seawall Ranger Station	0	0	8	0	paved	straight
Seawall Campground Amphitheater	1	1	32	0	paved	both	access space is angled
Wonderland	1	0	7	0	gravel	straight
Ship Harbor	2	0	20	0	paved	straight
Bass Harbor Head Lighthouse	1	2	26	0	paved	straight