Acadia National Park, Maine, USA #2

I came home from work at 3 am, showered and fell asleep. Oliver had woke me up at 6 am (I honestly wanted to stay in bed and just sleep) and we headed to Acadia. I slept the entire way and arrived at around 8 am. Because we still did not have the Parks Pass, Oliver waited until 8:30 am when the Hulls Cove Visitors Center opens. We decided to get the year long National Parks Pass (also known as the America the Beautiful Pass) because we will be taking a trip to the west in about 2 months! It is only $80 for the year and the pass pays for itself after three visits to any national park around the USA (Acadia is $30 for a day use pass). 

I'm going to let Oliver write about his adventure. He started his trail run around 9 am and I slept in the back of the car a bit more (working 4 night shifts in a row... it was rough).

Oliver here! I had set out on my run planning for a long 22ish mile day. I'd later find out that due to some trail closures, I'd have to end up cutting my fun run short by a few miles. 

I started out from Hulls Cove on the carriage trails for about the first 7 miles of my run. This took me up around Witch Hole Pond, Eagle Lake, and heading towards the Giant Slide Rock Trail. Starting my run on the carriage trails was a great way to start the day. Kept a good 9 minute pace for the better part of it. Came across all kind of wildlife running around the ponds. Turtles, frogs, birds and even saw a beaver. 

I made a left off of the carriage trails on to Giant Slide Rock trail. Finally after about an hour, I was on some actual hiking trails. I figured that this trail wouldn't be very runnable judging by the name of it. I wasn't wrong. It takes you up a creek bed (literally up the creek) boulder hopping the ENTIRE way. It was a blast though! Crawling on all fours up, over, and even through large rocks the size of small cars. 

From Giant Slide trail, I took Grandgent Trail up and over Gilmore peak and Sargent Peak. The views were amazing looking down south along the Maine coast. This is where someone informed me that many of the trails I had planned to do were closed. Luckily, Acadia is just a giant web of hiking trails, so rerouting really wouldn't be a huge deal. I just wanted to get at least 20 miles in for the day.

The descent down Sargent to Jordan Pond was steep and rocky. Felt like I was just hopping from rock to rock and ledge to ledge. Jordan Pond is extremely popular for tourist, and for good reason. The calm waters tucked down in between the mountains really was beautiful. I didn't stay long though. From Jordan Pond, I began my climb up the Bubbles Divide Trail (Fun name, huh??) I certainly figured out how this trail gots its name! The rocks along this trail resembles bubbles floating on top of a bath tub! I don't think I stepped on one bit of dirt for almost half of this trail! 

I checked my running time once I reached the Bubbles Divide Trailhead. I was running a bit behind on time so I made the decision to take the road from there to the Bubble Pond Trailhead. Glad I did this cause it definitely helped out in the long run. Acadia is so rocky and Technical you can just kind of throw keeping any kind of running pace out the window. I filtered water at the trailhead before heading up the West Face Trail that goes up Cadillac mountain. This Trail was probably my favorite that I ran that day. you climb over 1,000ft in less than a mile. From my understanding, it's one of the more dangerous hikes in the park. You almost have to climb on all fours for the majority of it. Climbing and crossing steep, wet, and extremely slippery rock. The views did not disappoint though! Every time you turned around, you were met with a vista containing the mountains I had just climbed, ponds I had ran around, and the Atlantic Ocean. 

Once at the top of Western Face Trail, you head along the ridge of Cadillac Mountain to the summit. I opted to stay away from the very top of Cadillac. I could see the top from a view nearby and it was swarmed with tourists. I ate a CLIF bar and tried to get ahold of Sarah. Turned out she was out on a long bike ride, and was super close to the bottom of the trail I would take to get off of Cadillac. She was heading back to the car that was parked at the Beehive Trailhead and would be passing by the Blackwoods Campground. This would work out perfectly because I was running down the South Ridge Trail that actually ended in that campground!

We were hoping that from the campground, we could just head back to the car together along the Park Loop Rd (The campground backed right up to the road). Unfortunately though, we talked to some rangers and they said bikes wouldn't be allowed to go that way because the Loop road is one way, and we would be going against traffic. So, Sarah and I parted ways. She had to do about 8 miles of road biking, and I would have to take a few trails until I eventually hit the Ocean Path that goes along the coast line of Acadia. This part of the park is what you picture when you think of Acadia. Large rock cliffs with the Atlantic Ocean beating against it. Running with this right next to me for the last 3 or 4 miles of my run was great. I beat Sarah to the car by about 20 minutes (She says she didn't realize it was a race). We enjoyed our victory treat of kombucha and chocolate chip cookies. 

Sarah here! I woke up exactly at 11 am in the back of the car (well rested) and I came out to go to the bathroom before driving to where I needed to be... and the visitors center was PACKED! I mean I think it is nowhere near what will happen in July to September (high season in Acadia) but there are already long lines at the visitors center. 

I drove down to the Sand Beach Entrance Station, about 8 miles from the Hulls Cove Visitors Center and parked on the side of the road close to the Beehive Trail (again cars were parked on the side of the road for abut half a mile), unloaded my bike, packed some snacks, and started my bike ride! 

Really, I had no plan where to bike and when Oliver was going to be finished with his run, so I just started on the park loop road and just pedaled! The Park Loop Rd becomes a one-way traffic so it was pretty easy to bike on as the road is pretty wide for one car to drive and also stop along the road to get some beautiful pictures on the road. 

the Park Loop Rd

I passed Sand Beach, Thunder Hole, Otter Point, Fabbri, Little Hunters Beach, Wildwood Stables, and came out the Stanley Brook Entrance. My favorite places along the road was Thunder Hole and Otter Point. Beautiful place to just sit down and relax looking at the water. There were also plenty of places to just park and go off on a trail to hike or stop by and have a picnic!

the water

Oliver texted me and was close by so we decided to meet at the Blackwoods Campground. The campground is accessible both in and out of the park. Since I came out of the park, I biked in the neighborhood to get to the campground (thought I was lost for a hot minute). We finally met and this was at around 17 miles for me. We went into the campground to end our adventure together, however there was lots of oneway trails and roads in the national park so, unfortunately we couldn't end together. I had to go around the park for another 8.6 miles. 23 miles later..... done! Saw Oliver at the Sand Beach entrance and finished. He waited for me to run the last 50 meters together!

It was good for both of us to have our own 'Activity Day'. Each of us going at our own pace and time and seeing Acadia in a different perspective! We drove back home and even had time to get a climbing session in with some of our friends!

ended with a photo!