Some 125 miles of hiking trails reach every mountain summit and valley; detailed hiking trail maps are available for purchase. There also are 45 miles of graded carriage roads suitable for walking, bicycling, cross-country skiing and jogging.
Park ranger programs are usually offered mid-May to mid-October. Programs include mountain hikes, campground programs and natural history walks, all fun things to do with friends. Check the park's program schedule for details. Park rangers also explain the area's geology, history, marine life and wildlife on three cruises around Frenchman Bay and the Cranberry Islands. Check at the visitor center for a current listing of programs.
Park information may be obtained at Hulls Cove Visitor Center, open mid-April through October. From November to mid-April, park information may be obtained at park headquarters (which serves as the winter visitor center).
Private operators are available during the season to conduct daily sightseeing, deep-sea fishing, whale-watching and lobster-fishing cruises from Bar Harbor as well as from Northeast, Southwest and Bass harbors.
Audio tours, available at the Hulls Cove Visitor Center through Eastern National Bookstore, describe the geological origin, ecology and history of the park and contain instructions for making the drive around Acadia, beginning at Hulls Cove; phone (207) 288-4988 for the bookstore.
PETS
PETS are permitted in the park if they are attended and physically restricted at all times; leashes may be up to 6 feet in length. Pets are not permitted on the swimming beaches in season or on the ladder hiking trails on mountain cliffs; they also are not permitted in public buildings, some campgrounds and most lakes.