Arcadia Carriage Paths
- vvbfree0
- Jul 8
- 2 min read
We spent the morning exploring Acadia's famous carriage roads on our Lectric bikes, looping around Jordan Pond and Eagle Lake. The ride offered spectacular views of both lakes and made for an almost perfect day on the trails.
For RV travelers and anyone visiting during the busy summer season, arriving early is highly recommended. We arrived before 8:00 am and found plenty of parking available in the overflow lot near Jordan Pond House. By mid-morning, parking areas throughout Acadia can fill quickly, especially around the more popular attractions.
The carriage roads were one of the biggest surprises of the day. Built by John D. Rockefeller Jr. over 100 years ago, these vehicle-free gravel roads are exceptionally well-maintained, remarkably smooth, and wide enough to comfortably accommodate cyclists, walkers, runners, and horse-drawn carriages. The gentle grades make them ideal for riders of all abilities and especially enjoyable on e-bikes.
Our route covered 10.7 miles and took just under two hours, including plenty of stops to enjoy the scenery and take photos. The ride included 384 feet of climbing and 438 feet of descending, with an average speed of 5.9 mph and a maximum speed of 10 mph. Most of the elevation changes were gradual and never felt overly challenging, making this loop an excellent introduction to Acadia's carriage road network.
Starting near Jordan Pond House, we followed the carriage roads north along Jordan Pond before crossing toward Eagle Lake and completing a scenic loop around both lakes. The route provides frequent lake views, beautiful stone bridges, forested sections, and several opportunities to stop for pictures or simply enjoy the quiet surroundings.
One of the more memorable moments came when we both caught the scent of what we thought had to be a large animal nearby. Sure enough, a short distance later, we rode past a fresh pile of bear scat along the path — a good reminder that we were sharing the woods with some of Acadia's wild residents. 🐻🚴♂️🌲
After completing the ride, we stopped at the Jordan Pond House for a well-earned snack. The Lobster Puff Pastry, while market-priced, was a perfect item for the two of us to share. The blueberry bread pudding was excellent and easy to recommend. The outdoor seating behind the Jordan Pond House offers stunning views across Jordan Pond toward The Bubbles, making it one of the most scenic dining spots in Acadia.
One piece of gear that proved especially useful was Gaia GPS. Cell service can be s
potty or disappear completely in parts of Acadia, but because Gaia allows maps to be downloaded for offline use, we always had accurate location information and route tracking available throughout the ride. For anyone exploring Acadia by bike, hiking trail, or back road, having offline maps downloaded ahead of time is highly recommended.
For cyclists and RV travelers alike, this route checks all the boxes: easy parking if you arrive early, smooth and enjoyable riding, incredible scenery, manageable elevation, and a fantastic place to relax with food and a view when the ride is over.
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