Last updated: June 25, 2025
Thing to Do
Oldfarm Video Tour
NPS photo
Early Inspiration for Acadia
George B. Dorr worked tirelessly through the early 1900s to found what we know today as Acadia National Park. His former family estate, known as Oldfarm, is situated along the Compass Harbor Trail, less than a mile from downtown Bar Harbor on Route 3. The short walk beneath forest canopies leads to foundation remnants of his former cottage, demolished in 1949, and ends at Dorr Point with views of Compass Harbor and the Porcupine Islands.
While there is one introductory wayside at the parking area on Route 3, no other permanent interpretation is available at Oldfarm. This virtual tour, produced in collaboration with Northern Arizona University, offers visitors an opportunity to explore the site further through a sequence of 11 online videos. (An original version of the Oldfarm tour for iOS devices is also available for free download through iTunes.)
- Learn lots more in a Cultural Landscape Inventory and Assessment for Oldfarm (159 pages, 112 MB PDF), 2016.
Details
Activity
Self-Guided Tours - Walking
This pleasant stroll explores the story of Acadia's early history. It's roughly a mile roundtrip on level, non-maintained trails, and can be considered an easy walk that can be completed in less than an hour by families with children, and pets on leash. Exploration of granite formations at Dorr Point along the coastline may require a bit of recreational scrambling.
Pets Allowed
Yes
Activity Fee
No
Entrance fees may apply, see Fees & Passes information.
Location
Compass Harbor Trail
A small, unmarked parking lot is located just north of the intersection of Route 3 and Schooner Road, about a mile from downtown Bar Harbor.
Reservations
No
Season
Year Round
Time of Day
Any Time
Accessibility Information
Accessibility limitations are currently being accessed. Stay tuned for a future update.