As the warmth of late spring envelops Acadia National Park in Maine, visitors are greeted by the delightful crunch of crushed stone beneath their feet, bike tires, and horse hooves. With winter's snow finally melted away, the parks beloved carriage roads are now open for exploration. Enthusiasts inhale the fresh, spruce-scented air as they meander along the scenic 8.6-mile Jordan Pond Loop. According to MacKenzie Bowker, a guide for Summer Feet Cycling & Walking and a lifelong Maine resident, My first experience on the carriage roads was when I was growing up in Maine. I loved cycling with my dad on the roads because it was a quiet place to be and the chances to see wildlife were plentiful.

Having traversed hundreds of miles on various national park trails across the United States, I have found that biking opportunities often leave much to be desired, typically relegating cyclists to crowded roads shared with vehicles. However, Acadia presents a unique experience: cyclists can revel in nature's tranquility, free from the cacophony of traffic, while also soaking in the park's rich historical tapestry.

Acadia National Park boasts an extensive network of 57 miles of rustic carriage roads, with 45 miles situated within the park's boundaries and the remaining 12 miles extending into the Land & Garden Preserve. Constructed between 1913 and 1940, these roads were a generous gift from philanthropist John D. Rockefeller Jr. and his family. Today, the carriage roads represent the finest example of broken-stone roads in the United States, attracting an impressive 3.96 million visitors annually who walk, bike, ski, snowshoe, and ride in horse-drawn carriages along the various interconnected loops.

Rockefeller envisioned the carriage roads as 16-foot-wide pathways that would meander through the park's forests, alongside tranquil ponds, and up the slopes of majestic mountains, ensuring they seamlessly blended into the natural surroundings. The roads feature three layers of rock, stone culverts, wide ditches, and a gentle crown of 6 to 8 inches to facilitate effective drainage. Coping stoneslarge blocks of graniteline the edges of the roads, serving both functional and aesthetic purposes as guardrails.

Notably, landscape architect Beatrix Ferrand, who once called Bar Harbor home, collaborated with Rockefeller on the vistas and planting designs along the carriage roads. An early advocate for native vegetation, including blueberry bushes and sweet fern, Ferrand curated the selection and placement of shrubs and trees to frame picturesque views and restore the landscape following the park's development.

In addition to the roads, Rockefeller financed 16 of the 17 unique bridges that span the carriage roads, which cross cliffs, roads, streams, and waterfalls. Constructed from steel-reinforced concrete, these bridges are adorned with native stone on their surfaces, and each one features a distinctive design. To mark the entrance to the carriage road network, two gate lodges were also built: the now-closed Jordan Pond Gatehouse and the Brown Mountain Gatehouse.

Visitors will find eight delightful carriage road loops to explore, catering to various interests and fitness levels. The shortest loop, the 4.2-mile Hadlock Loop, includes three charming bridges along its path. For those looking for a more challenging adventure, the 11.3-mile Around the Mountain Loop boasts seven bridges. Park maps provide essential details regarding mileage and numbered intersection signposts, making it easy for visitors to navigate the expansive carriage road network without losing their way.

Maintaining these historic carriage roads presents a significant challenge, particularly in light of Maine's notoriously wet weather. Heavy rains can wash away surface materials, while vegetation growth contributes to the erosion of the roads, ditches, and drainage systems. Perrin Doniger, FOA vice president of communications and marketing, notes, An extensive rehabilitation of the roads took place 30 years ago, from 1992 to 1995, combining federal construction funds with matching contributions from Friends of Acadia. This nonprofit organization, established in 1986, plays a vital role in preserving and protecting the national park. It created an endowment to safeguard the carriage roads indefinitely, marking the first endowed trail system in the United States.

This endowment provides more than $200,000 annually for carriage road maintenance, supplemented by park user fees and additional federal funding. Ongoing projects include managing the 182 historic vistas throughout the carriage road network, ensuring they remain as close as possible to their original scale and beauty.

Each year, Friends of Acadia volunteers dedicate thousands of hours to maintaining and restoring the carriage roads. This includes tasks such as clearing leaves from culverts and ditches to ensure proper drainage and removing invasive vegetation that grows between the coping stones. Because the stones are nicknamed Rockefellers teeth, we call it flossing instead of weeding, says Nikki Burtis, the FOA stewardship coordinator.

For those who wish to get involved, visitors can participate in the half-day Drop-in Stewardship Volunteer Program, which offers maintenance projects every Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday from June through the end of October. On Take Pride in Acadia Day, held on the first Saturday of November, up to 400 volunteers come together to put the carriage roads to bed in preparation for winter.

The carriage roads are not only a haven for cyclists but also cater to a variety of outdoor enthusiasts, including hikers, individuals exploring via motorized wheelchairs, horseback riders, and those who enjoy cross-country skiing or snowshoeing during the winter months. Pets are welcome as long as they are on leashes no longer than 6 feet.

Its important that visitors have a plan before heading to the park to experience the carriage roads, emphasizes Amanda Pollock, a public affairs officer for Acadia National Park. Many of our parking lots and access roads can fill up early in the day, especially during the peak summer season. Additionally, the roads are closed during mud season, when soft conditions can exacerbate erosion.

Visitors can either bring their own bikes or rent from local outfitters. The fare-free Island Explorer offers a seasonal van service equipped with a bike trailer, transporting passengers between Bar Harbor and the Eagle Lake Carriage Road Entrance. MDI Wheelers provides rides on specialized electric-assist trikes for those in need of assistance. Furthermore, guided cycling trips are available through various outfitters, such as Summer Feet, which offers a range of itineraries that cater to both weekend adventurers and those seeking week-long excursions.

Norman Patry, affectionately known as the Big Toe at Summer Feet, has integrated Acadias carriage roads into his tours since founding the company 25 years ago. They are a wonderful meeting of design and the natural landscape, he reflects. Theres so much richness between the rocks, trees, lichen, and moss that Im always dazzled whenever Im riding.

With such a captivating blend of history, nature, and recreational opportunities, Acadia National Parks carriage roads remain an essential destination for outdoor enthusiasts and a cherished legacy of thoughtful design intertwined with the beauty of the Maine landscape.