Hi everyone. I will be visiting Acadia one day on a cruise just after Labor Day. I would like to rent a bike and enjoy the carriage trails. Is there much elevation change on the carraige trails? I could bicycle up to 20+ miles a day in the Netherlands. which is pretty flat.

Any advice?

Good question - I haven't biked there but I can tell you that the carriage roads are crushed stone, not paved. Don't know if that makes a difference to you or not. I also know that my brother in law and 10 yo niece biked there without difficulty and neither are regular bikers. I did my biking on the Schoodic Pennisula portion of Acadia where you bike on regular roads. I did 13 miles with some difficulty because of the hills and because I am horribly out of shape.

Have a great time.

The surface of the carriage roads doesn't bother me. I bike regularly on rail trails in the northeast US - built on old abandoned railroad beds. I can bike long distance, but rail trails are generally flat. I'm still hoping to get more information about the grades on the carraige roads.

Wish I could have been of more help but I was successful in topping your post so maybe something will come of it. I will be in Acadia the first week of August so I will check it out for you and repost. But hopefully you will get a real answer before then.

The carriage roads are beautiful, often quite under-utilized (so, very peaceful), but quite hilly. I don't think there are many flat areas, with the exception of the one around Eagle Lake, which is nice, but not as beautiful and scenic as others.

~Liz

We biked on the carriage roads a few years ago. First time biking since I was a kid (many, many years ago). I don't remember the hills being a problem (I think I walked my bike up part of one, but DH had no problem). If I can do it, you can -- there's no way I could ride a bike for 20 miles.

One thing I do remember is watching someone bike up a road from the rental shop in town and thinking that there was no way I could do that. (very steep hill to me) They lent us a bike rack for our car and helped us put the bikes on it and we drove to one of the entrances to the carriage roads. I think they will also bring the bikes to you there if you want.

We really enjoyed it.

Same here, I recall that the few rolling hills a low grade - easy riding. As said, it's a beautiful path. If possible, have tea at the (can't remember the name - sorry)

Depends on the trail, obviously. The loops around Eagle Lake and the Witch Hole Trail are relatively flat. Around the Jordan Pond area is quite hilly, a lot of grades, but not overly difficult.