Active Pursuits

Carriage Rides

Several types of carriage rides are offered by the park-managed Wildwood Stables (tel. 207/276-3622; www.acadia.net/wildwood), about a half-mile south of the Jordan Pond House. The tours depart daily in season and take in sweeping ocean views from a local mountaintop, ramble over the Rockefeller bridges, or drop by the Jordan Pond House for (optional) tea and popovers (extra charge). The tours cost from $16 to $22 per adult, or $4.50 to $9 per child ages 2 to 12. There's a special carriage designed for passengers with disabilities, and you can even charter your own carriage for a private group. Reservations are recommended.

Golf

There are 2 good golf courses on Mount Desert Island. The Kebo Valley Golf Club (tel. 207/288-3000) is one of the oldest in America, open since 1888. The Northeast Harbor Golf Club (tel. 207/276-5335) is another good choice. Greens fees at both range from about $40 to $80 per person for 18 holes in season.

Hiking

Hiking is the quintessential Acadia activity, and it should be experienced by everyone at least one. The park has 120 miles of hiking trails in all, plus 57 miles of carriage roads which are great for easier walking. Some traverse the sides or faces of low "mountains" (which would be called hills anywhere else), and almost all summits have superb views of the Atlantic. Many of these pathways were crafted by stonemasons or others with aesthetic intent, so the routes aren't always the most direct -- but they're often incredibly scenic, taking advantage of natural fractures in the rocks, picturesque ledges, and sudden, sweeping vistas.

The Hulls Cove Visitor Center has a brief chart summarizing area hikes; combined with the park map, this is all you need to find one of the well-maintained, well-marked trails and start exploring. Cobble together different loop hikes to make your trips more varied, and be sure to plan your hiking according to the weather; if it's damp or foggy, you'll stay drier and warmer strolling the carriage roads. If it's clear and dry, head for the highest peaks (Cadillac, the Bubbles) with the best views.

Mountain Biking

The 57 miles of carriage roads built by Rockefeller are among this park's hidden treasures. These were maintained by Rockefeller until his death in 1960, after which they became shaggy and overgrown. A major restoration effort was launched in 1990, though, and today the roads are superbly restored and maintained. With their wide, hard-packed surfaces, gentle grades, and good signage, they make for very smooth biking. Note that bikes are also allowed onto the island's free shuttle buses.

A useful map of the carriage roads is available free at any visitor center; more detailed guides can be purchased at area bookshops, but they really aren't necessary. Remember that anywhere carriage roads cross private land (mostly between Seal Harbor and Northeast Harbor), they're closed to mountain bikes, which are also banned from hiking trails.

Mountain bikes can be rented along Cottage Street in Bar Harbor, with rates usually $20 or less for a full day, $12 to $15 for a half-day (which is 4 hr. in the bike-rental universe). Most bike shops include locks and helmets as basic equipment, but ask what's included before you rent. Also ask about closing times, since you'll be able to get in a couple of extra hours with a late-closing shop. The Bar Harbor Bicycle Shop (tel. 207/288-3886), at 141 Cottage St., gets many people's vote for most convenient and friendliest. You could also try Acadia Bike (tel. 800/526-8615; www.acadiabike.com), at 48 Cottage St., which is very good.

Sea Kayaking

Sea kayaking has boomed around Mount Desert Island during the past decade. Experienced kayakers arrive in droves with their own boats. Novices sign up for guided tours that are offered by several outfitters. Many new paddlers have found their inaugural experiences gratifying; others have complained that the quantity of paddlers on quick tours in peak season makes the experience a little too much like a cattle drive to truly enjoy. A variety of options can be found on the island, ranging from a 2 1/2-hour harbor tour to a 7-hour excursion; there are plenty of outfitters in Bar Harbor and the other towns offering guided excursions.