Land of Liberty Explorers

John D. Rockefeller, Jr. and his family built Acadia’s 45 miles of carriage roads and gifted them to the National Park Service. The roads allowed Rockefeller to drive his carriage from his summer home, the Eyrie in Seal Harbor, around and through Acadia National Park. Rockefeller designed the carriage roads to fit their natural surroundings, but doing so required creativity to navigate around or over obstacles like Acadia’s many brooks and streams. To that end, Rockefeller hired Italian stone masons to build a series of sixteen bridges around the park. Rockefeller’s bridges are one of Acadia’s unique features that help set it apart from America’s other national parks.

Today the carriage roads are still used by horses and horse drawn carriages, but hikers, bikers, and even cross country skiers also make use of Rockefeller’s roads. Here are some of our favorite ways to enjoy Acadia’s Carriage Roads…

Exploring the Carriage Road Bridges

Before heading out to find the bridges, grab a Carriage Road Map at the visitor center or Jordan Pond House. Bridges are marked with a star on the park’s official Carriage Road Map. Our favorite bridge is Cobblestone Bridge, so let’s start there…

Cobblestone Bridge

Cobblestone Bridge is Rockefeller’s first bridge. It was built in 1917. It is unique in that it is the only bridge decorated with cobblestones like those found on Acadia’s beaches. Cobblestone Bridge crosses Jordan Stream south of Jordan Pond House.

To get to Cobblestone Bridge, take the Carriage Road south from Jordan Pond to intersection 15, then to 23, and on to 24. Alternatively, you can hike the Jordan Stream Path to the bridge. Another fun way to see Cobblestone Bridge is on the Mr. Rockefeller’s Bridges Tour offered by Carriages of Acadia. **Note that Cobblestone Bridge is on a private carriage road, so biking to it is prohibited.

Hemlock Bridge

One of Rockefeller’s most impressive (and expensive) bridges is 200 feet long. Its majestic single arch is flanked on each side by decorative stone work. It was completed in 1924 and is named for the surrounding Hemlock trees. It crosses lovely Hadlock Brook.

Our favorite way to visit Hemlock Bridge is by hiking the Maple Spring Trail or Hadlock Brook Trail. This section of forest is beautiful! The bridge is conveniently located near Parkman Mountain, Bald Peak, and Sargent Mountain, so it is an easy addition to any hike involving one of those peaks. Make sure to explore under this bridge. Nearby Waterfall Bridge serves as a great companion to Hemlock Bridge.

Waterfall Bridge

The best way to view Waterfall Bridge is from its base where the arch frames the narrow waterfall running down Sargent Mountain. Waterfall Bridge was completed in 1925. It is located near Hemlock Bridge on the Hadlock Brook Trail. As with Hemlock Bridge, it can easily be added to a hike to or from Parkman or Sargent Mountains. You can easily explore below this bridge as well!

Deer Brook Bridge

Deer Brook Bridge is another favorite for its unique coloration. It is Rockefeller’s only 2-arch bridge. The 1925 medallion between the arches adds a fun detail to this bridge.

The quickest way to Deer Brook Bridge is to hike the Jordan Pond Path from Jordan Pond House to the Deer Brook Trail. While Jordan Pond Path is largely flat, the trail up to Deer Brook Bridge is fairly steep. An easier alternative is to take the Around the Mountain Carriage Road north from Jordan Pond House to Deer Brook. For an even more rugged path to this bridge hike down the East Cliffs Trail from the top of Sargent Mountain.

Duck Brook Bridge

Duck Brook Bridge may be the most ornate bridge in the Park. It may also be one of the easiest to visit! It was built in 1929 and features two viewing turrets and three large archways over Duck Brook.

Although parking is limited, Duck Brook Road travels near the bridge, so a long hike or bike ride isn’t necessary to visit Duck Brook Bridge. The bridge is on the Witch Hold Pond Loop, which is popular with bikers. Duck Brook Bridge is the first major landmark that most bikers who begin their ride in Bar Harbor will encounter. The bridge is easily accessible from Hulls Cover Visitor Center as well.

Cliffside Bridge

Built in 1932, Cliffside Bridge does not cross a brook or steam, but it does bridge a gap under Penobscot Mountain’s steep cliffs. The bridge’s ramparts are reminiscent of an English castle. While this bridge is beautiful, its 250 foot length and Penobscot’s steep cliffs make it difficult to photograph.

Cliffside Bridge is located on the Around the Mountain Carriage Road. It offers bikers a chance to take a rest and enjoy its viewing turrets. Penobscot Mountain hikers can access the bridge by taking a short jaunt off the Penobscot Mountain Trail or Spring Trail.

Eagle Lake Bridge

Arguably the easiest bridge to get to, Route 233 pass over Eagle Lake Bridge. To access the bridge, park in the Eagle Lake parking area on Route 233 and proceed south on the Carriage Road. This bridge was built in 1923 and is one of only two Rockefeller bridges built to accommodate cars.

Amphitheater Bridge

Aptly named, Amphitheater Bridge sits in the amphitheater between Penobscot and Cedar Swamp Mountains. It features ornately laid pink granite slabs and one of the largest arches of any of Rockefeller’s bridges at 245 feet. It connects the carriage road above Little Harbor Brook on the Around-the-Mountain Loop. For a more rugged trip to Amphitheater Bridge, hike the Amphitheater Trail. We enjoyed taking the Amphitheater Trail down from the top of Cedar Swamp Mountain.

West Branch Bridge

Located near Jordan Pond House, just past intersection 14, West Branch Bridge is part of the Around-the-Mountain Loop. It was built in 1931. Its unique narrow arch sets it apart from the rest Rockefeller’s bridges. It is also accessible to hikers on the Spring Trail.

Chasm Brook Bridge

Chasm Brook Bridge spans Chasm Brook Gorge below the north face of Sargent Mountain. It was completed in 1926. Its location makes it one of the most challenging bridges to get to. This bridge is best accessed on bike from the Eagle Lake Carriage Road. We bagged it on an extra long hike from Jordan Pond House.

Bubble Pond Bridge

Completed in 1928, Bubble Pond Bridge looks like it is straight out of a fairy tale. It is easily accessible from the Bubble Pond parking lot. The Island Explorer bus service makes a stop nearby as well.

Little Harbor Brook Bridge

This small bridge is located downstream from Amphitheater Bridge on Little Harbor Brook. The easiest way to access it is by taking the Amphitheater Trail because the carriage roads in this area are restricted.

Jordan Pond Bridge

Built in 1920, the Jordan Pond Bridge is located at the south end of Jordan Pond near the beginning of the Jordan Pond Path. It is located between intersections 14 and 15 on the Carriage Road.

Jordan Pond Road Bridge

Just east of Stanley Brook Bridge, Jordan Pond Road Bridge allows Jordan Pond Road to travel above the carriage road. It is one of three Rockefeller Bridges included on the Carriages of Acadia Mr. Rockefeller’s Bridges Tour.

Hadlock Brook Bridge

Similar in design to the Jordan Pond Bridge and Little Harbor Brook Bridge, Hadlock Brook Bridge is located on the Hadlock Brook Trail. It can be connected to a hike to Hemlock and Waterfall Bridges. It is also easy to access from the Brown Mountain Gatehouse parking lot.

Stanley Brook Bridge

Built in 1933, it is the last of Rockefeller’s bridges. It marks the entrance to the park from Seal Harbor. Although it is easily accessible from the road, be careful here because parking is limited and cars are accelerating out of the park. The bridge’s center arch was designed to span the road, while the arch on its right was designed with hikers in mind. The Carriages of Acadia Mr. Rockefeller’s Bridges Tour crosses this bridge.

Biking Acadia’s Carriage Roads

Biking the carriage roads is one of the most popular activities in Acadia National Park. Several companies in Bar Harbor and Southwest Harbor rent bicycles. Recently, the Park Service began allowing Class 1 e-bikes on the carriage roads, which opens the possibility of riding to more park visitors. If you are interested in renting an e-bike, check out our post all about our e-bike experience! Be aware that bikes are prohibited on some carriage roads. Most carriage roads where bikes are prohibited are on private property and are heavily trafficked by horse drawn carriages. Bikes may scare the horses and cause accidents. Please respect the regulations, so that private carriage roads don’t become closed to hikers.

Our favorite biking excursion on Acadia’s Carriage Roads began at Bike Acadia in Bar Harbor on a perfect October day. The bike shop provided us with a marked map that recommended taking the Witch Hole Pond Loop to Eagle Lake, then peddling around Eagle Lake, before returning to Bar Harbor the way we came. We rode our rented bikes into the park near Duck Brook Bridge.

From Duck Brook Bridge, we peddled through wetlands to Witch Hole Pond which was highlighted in fall color. The carriage roads to Witch Hole Pond were generally flat and manageable and the ride was very enjoyable.

From Witch Hole Pond, we rode under Eagle Lake Bridge and to Eagle Lake. We followed to Carriage Road up the hill along the west shore of Eagle Lake. Here, the carriage road climbs steadily as we approached Sargent Mountain. The good news is the road back on the eastern shore of Eagle Lake is downhill. The route was beautiful. We rode under lovely red maples and yellow birch all morning long. We returned our bikes to Bike Acadia in time to receive the half day rate. It was a great ride and a fun way to experience Acadia.