Carriage Road Bridge in Acadia National Park at Duck Brook

Carriage Roads & Bridges

The Carriage Roads and stone bridges in Acadia National Park were financed and overseen by philanthropist John D. Rockefeller, Jr. between 1913 and 1940. Designed for hikers, bikers, horseback riders, and carriages, the network comprises 57 miles of woodland roads free from motor vehicles, with 45 miles located within the park and 12 on private land. These roads also support seasonal activities such as cross-country skiing and limited snowmobiling.

As an experienced horseman, John D. Rockefeller, Jr., sought to travel Mount Desert Island by horse and carriage without encountering motor vehicles. Inspired by his father, John D. Rockefeller, Sr., who had previously constructed carriage roads on his private estates in Ohio and New York, John Jr. developed a passion for building similar roads. His family’s significant wealth enabled him to realize this vision. Throughout the project, John Jr. demonstrated a keen sense of landscape design, ensuring that the roads harmonized with the natural environment rather than altering the terrain. The choice to use stone culverts, wide ditches, three layers of crushed rock, and a 6- to 8-inch crown showcased his understanding of Maine’s wet coastal climate and the importance of effective water drainage. This approach reflected his deep respect for the landscape and an awareness of making the right design choices.

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Stone Carriage Road Bridge at Bubble Pond

Project Management

John D. Rockefeller, Jr. paid close attention to the smallest details during the construction of the Carriage Roads as well as the landscaping. Granite from Hall Quarry on Mount Desert Island was extracted and transported by construction crews for use in road building and bridge facings. Native plants, such as ferns and wild blueberries, were tastefully placed to enhance the roadside landscape. Throughout this entire process, Rockefeller even learned and kept track of the laborers' names. By the time the project was completed, he had not only financed and overseen the roads but also constructed 16 of the 17 stone-faced bridges on the island. These bridges can be seen spanning streams, roads, and waterfalls, and even clinging to a cliffside.

Keep the Dream Alive

Today, the Carriage Roads in Acadia National Park remain the best example of turn-of-the-century “broken stone” roads in America. But this system still needs to be maintained and this is time consuming. The National Park Service, especially with funding cutbacks, cannot do it alone. Federal construction funds, combined with matching funds from the nonprofit organization “Friends of Acadia,” allowed for an extensive carriage road rehabilitation from 1992 through 1995. However, this needs to continue. As a result, a partnership was formed between the park and Friends of Acadia. An endowment was setup by Friends of Acadia in 1995 to aid in the protection of the carriage roads in perpetuity. In addition, volunteers contribute thousands of hours each year.

Access Locations

Mount Desert Island has many access points including Jordan Pond, Eagle Lake and the Hulls Cove Visitor Center. Select Carriage Roads Map to see the network of roads (furnished by USNP). Accessibility: The most accessible wheelchair location with restrooms and parking location has been at Eagle Lake.

The park has about 158 miles of trails that often connect with or cross carriage roads. Trails range from short, level surf walks to the steep and challenging Precipice Trail. Connecting trails enable the skilled and hardy hiker to scale several Acadia peaks in one trip. Settings vary widely from deep wooded forests to high mountain summits and shorelines with views of the ocean and outer islands.

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Exceptional Landscapes

You can never truly appreciate the beauty and amount of work that went into creating the park’s carriage road system until you actually walk the distance. I do not mean walk every mile, but walk, jog, or ride a bike on at least one of them. This is much better than any theme park ride could ever be. This stuff is real - real nature in an intimate way. It gives you a feeling like you have actually been invited into the forest by the creatures that live there. If, and when you do, I recommend that you go through a checklist of things to do - things like making sure that your cell phone is fully charged. But beware. Mount Desert Island is notorious for having lots of cell phone dead spots. Make sure to tell someone where you are planning on going. Take water with you. Bikes are prohibited on privately owned carriage roads and on hiking trails. And always remember to “Leave no trace.” Carry out what you carry in.

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