Jamie's Favorite Route

Amphitheater Loop

Acadia National Park in Maine

Challenge Level:
X X
Traffic Level:
x
Type Of Bike:
Mountain Bike, Hybrid
Distance:
5 miles
Terrain:
Easy-gradual uphills and downhills.
Traffic:
Carriage Road - no cars
Refreshments:
There are no Food Stores along this route.
Highlights:
Western Way, Little Harbor Brook, and Cranberry Islands.
Nearby Bike Shops:
Southwest Cycle, 370 Main St., Southwest Harbor, ME 04679, (207) 244-5856
Birgfeld’s Bicycle Shop, 184 E. Main St., Searsport, ME 04974, (207) 548-2916
Websites:
Acadia National Park, Bar Harbor

Commentary

The Amphitheater Loop offers nature's quiet solitude for a leisurely bike ride. Acoustics of the natural amphitheater gently carry bird calls and other sounds through the forest as you wind your way along the carriage road.

Directions to Start Ride

From Northeast Harbor, go north on Route 198 to the Brown Mountain Gatehouse parking lot.

Mile by Mile

To access the carriage road, follow a gentle hill to Post 18, and turn right.

The road continues gently up- hill, then levels off until you come to Post 19, at which point you turn right again.

As you follow the incline, you'll begin to see glimpses of Western Way and the Cranberry Islands off to the right.

After bearing left at Post 20, the road leads to the expansive Amphitheater Bridge where it crosses Little Harbor Brook. From here the road travels through evergreen forest to the south and winds down the hill.

At Post 21, stay to the right; a left would take you past Penobscot Mountain and eventually to the Jordan Pond House. Along this segment of the carriage road, there are large rocks on the surface. Keep your pace slow; the grade of the hill may make you want to go fast, but loose gravel and tight turns make quick stops almost impossible at higher speeds.

Travel around to the right again at Post 22. The carriage road follows a straight stretch along the picturesque Little Harbor Brook to the Little Harbor Brook Bridge.

Once you have crossed the bridge, you will need to begin down. shifting. The carriage road rises through the woods for more than .5 mile, with only a short respite of level riding. The views and wilderness experience throughout these woods are worth the climb.

At Post 20, turn left and follow the carriage road back toward Post 19, reversing your original direction.