(Keywords: Hiking, Paddling, Sightseeing - Maine)

Acadia National Park

Featuring:
Mount Desert Island

As wonderful as this place sounds, you'll have a less than optimum experience if go car camping in Acadia during late May or early  June.  That's when the black fly population achieves a swarm density of biblical proportions.  Best to keep a sea breeze on your face and paddle your way around Mount Desert Island.  Download this GPS Map for an awesome kayaking route and points of interest along the coast.

If you're determined to drive your winnie' on the park loop road on Memorial Weekend, use this GPS Map so you won't have to roll down the windows to ask directions.  Not only will you keep more flies out of the cab, but you won't breath in as much exhaust from everyone else jamming the road.

Hikers:  Once you get some altitude, you'll escape the hordes of flies and folks less inclined.  Use this GPS to guide you on inland treks to eye-popping vistas.

Click on the binoculars to see Google Earth displaying the map data for the paddling route from Seal Harbor to Somes Sound.
GoogleEarth_Image.jpg (Approx. 81 KB) opens in a new window.

GPS Map

• Download the free GPS Map in GPS eXchange (.gpx) file format, which can be read and transferred to your GPS using free software. (The .gpx file will appear in a new window where you can File > Save as...  on your computer)

GPS Map Details

File Name acadia.gpx
File Size: 28 KB
Revised: September 11, 2002
Datum: WGS84
Class B1 Data
Waypoints: 32 (Including: Points of Interest, Trailheads, Coastal Landmarks, Swimming Holes, ect.)
Routes and Tracks

1. Acadia Mt Trail looped with Valley Peak Trail and St Saveur Trail
2. Great Long Pond Trail (Loop) Mansell Mountain Summit
3. Penobscot Mountain Trail looped with South Ridge Trail and
4. Asticou Trail
5. Kayaking Route: Seal Harbor to Somes Sound

Adventure Travel Tip

Did I mention Black Flies? They are especially bad on years when there is a lot of rain in the Spring. If that's the case, you'll go insane without a toxic slathering of DEET insect repellant. Better yet, wear a baja shirt* and use bug netting*.

Getting there and around Park Loop Road

From the metro areas in the northeast: take I-95 north to Augusta, Maine, then take Route 3 east to Ellsworth and on to Mount Desert Island.

The Park Loop tour is 27 miles.  Start by visiting Hulls Cove Visitor Center.  The GPS data file includes several points of interest along the tour route.  Use the data in concert with the audio tape of the self-drive tour that you can rent or purchase from the Visitors Center.

Kayaking

I could put a lot of words here about what you should, or should not do, while kayaking in and around Acadia, but it wouldn't be as laugh-out-loud funny as the trip report I read at:
http://www.paddlewise.net/stories/clyde.html
Clyde's story gives lots of good reasons to own, and use, a GPS.

The route included in the GPS data file is from Seal Harbor to Somes Sound - "The East Coasts Only Fjord." 

For more info, an a link to a local outfitter, check out: National Park Sea Kayak Tours (http://www.acadiakayak.com/) for rentals and guided tours.  They don't pay me a commission for this link, but if you make a reservation, please say you heard about them through the Travel by GPS web site anyway.

Hiking

Trail data comes from the .tpo file submitted by the Park Service at http://maps.nationalgeographic.com/topo/file.cfm?fileid=430  

I edited the data to come up with three of the more difficult loops around some of the park's more scenic areas of the island's interior.   I've also thrown in some waypoints for popular swimming holes.

For more information: See the Acadia National Park Web Site
http://www.nps.gov/acad/