Cycling the Schoodic Peninsula, a part of Acadia National Park offers visitors a peaceful introduction to Maine’s most popular recreation area.
In 2021 and 2022, approximately 4 million visitors entered Acadia National Park, located midway up the coast of Maine.
The park is nearly 50,000 acres and includes half Mount Desert Island, the southern part of the Schoodic Peninsula, and some outlying islands.
Most of those visitors spend their time on Mt. Desert Island’s roads and hiking trails.
On the other hand, the Schoodic Peninsula is part of the U.S. mainland. It’s a bit further north of Mt. Desert Island and is easily accessible via car or ferry from Bar Harbor.
It offers a more serene setting with rugged cliffs, dramatic granite shorelines, and pristine forests. With its diverse ecosystems and abundant wildlife, the peninsula is a haven for nature enthusiasts and outdoor adventurers.
Visitors can cycle the six-mile Schoodic Loop Road, explore scenic hiking trails, observe seabirds and marine life, and immerse themselves in the tranquility of the natural environment.
Cycling Tour
As a part of my attendance at Adventure ELEVATE North America, a conference organized by the Adventure Travel Trade Association, I had the chance to go on a three-day cycling tour of Maine.
On our first day with Summer Feet Cycling, we departed the Old Port in Portland for the three-hour scenic drive to Acadia National Park.
Along the way, we stopped in Belfast for coffee and Chase’s Restaurant in the town of Winter Harbor for lunch.
The guides for our Maine bike tour were Norman Patry, owner of Summer Feet Cycling, and Mackenzie. They were both knowledgeable and good-natured, which made for an enjoyable experience.
Each day we cycled in Acadia National Park; one would cycle with us while the other drove a support van full of snacks and drinking water.
Every participant in our group had a choice of bikes: hybrid, gravel, or e-bike. I chose the e-bike by Trek, which was easy to use and a lot of fun.
Summer Feet provided helmets and either flat or clip-in pedals. All bikes were equipped with trunk packs for carrying items while cycling. I used the storage bag for my iPhone, which I didn’t want to slip out of my pocket accidentally.
Schoodic Peninsula Attractions
We began our cycling tour of Schoodic Peninsula from the parking lot of Chase’s…
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