Acadia National Park Service, Maine

The Trip

Acadia, the only national park in the Northeast, combines mountains, cliffs, and the wild, rocky Maine coast at its very best. Indigenous peoples have inhabited the land we call Maine for over 10,000 years. Today the Wabanaki, or “People of the Dawnland," are the stewards of this area. Their ancestors traveled to Pemetic Island, which we call Mount Desert Island (MDI), in seaworthy birchbark canoes. They hunted, fished, gathered berries, harvested clams, and traded with other Wabanaki. The Wabanaki have a unique and spiritual relationship with this place, as their ancestors did for thousands of years. Acadia National Park is located on parts of Mount Desert Island, several smaller islands, and the Schoodic Peninsula. Samuel Champlain “discovered” Mount Desert Island in 1604, sailing into Frenchman Bay. After observing the bald and rocky mountain summits, Champlain named it “l’Isle des Monts-déserts” (Island of Bald Mountains). The French colonized the region but unsuccessfully defended it against the British during the French and Indian Wars. In 1759, the British defeated the French and opened the Maine coast to English settlement until the American Revolution. During the British period, the Governor of Massachusetts tried to lay claim to the area by offering free land to European settlers. That is how a man by the name of Abraham Somes came to move there. He settled his family in what is now known as Somesville. Artists arrived in the late 1840s and, because of their paintings of the area, it became a popular summer colony for the wealthy around the turn of the 20th century. Gifts of land and money from these early seasonal residents made Acadia National Park possible. Today, the park encompasses more than 49,000 acres of ocean coastline, forests, meadows, lakes, and mountains. The paradise that first attracted the Wabanaki tribe remains today. An extensive system of rugged, and sometimes challenging, foot trails will lead the hiker up any of the 20+ bare-topped “mountains,” all of which stand at altitudes of less than 1,600 feet. At the top, hikers are rewarded with incredible views of the surrounding islands, valley lakes, Frenchman Bay, and the Atlantic Ocean. Additionally, flora and fauna are abundant at Acadia, with approximately 165 species of native plants, 60 species of mammals, and more than 150 species of breeding birds. Another impressive feature of Acadia is the park’s 45-mile network of carriage roads designed and constructed by John D. Rockefeller, Jr. between 1913 and 1940. Many of the roads were built on his land, which he later donated to the government; others were built on government land or land owned by private conservation organizations. The carriage road network is linked by 17 remarkable granite bridges spanning streams, waterfalls, cliffs, and roads. These roads are used exclusively for mountain biking, hiking, jogging, and horseback riding. No other comparable road system exists in America’s national parks. On our off day, we will be free to explore the park and the island. Acadia National Park and Mt. Desert Island abound with opportunities to hike, bike, sightsee, and explore. In addition, there are numerous picturesque villages to see, museums and galleries to visit, as well as places to shop in Bar Harbor and other nearby island towns. Visitors can take advantage of the free, propane-powered Island Explorer buses (http://www.exploreacadia.com/), which deliver passengers to all points of interest, including major trailheads. 

The Project

Four million people visited Acadia National Park in 2021. As you can imagine, there is much maintenance required to keep the park in good shape. Our group will be open to completing whatever work project(s) park personnel deem most appropriate during our four work days. Projects could include restoring the carriage roads, clearing culverts, installing log checks, bench cutting, or helping to control non-native, invasive flora, just to name a few. The work may be ordinary or it may be special. For several years, Sierra Club volunteers had participated in the park’s ongoing effort to rebuild the 100+-year-old retaining walls lining the carriage roads. These turned out to be very special projects that participants found rewarding and highly memorable. Please be advised that we are oftentimes asked to remove tree roots from trails to improve the integrity of the trail. Such roots may or may not be attached to living trees. If you have a strong objection to removing such roots, you may want to consider this when deciding on signing up for this trip.

Day 1, 9/8: We will meet at the campground before 4 p.m. to set up the campsite. Specific directions and other instructions will be sent to each participant before the start of the trip. Dinner at 6 p.m. will be our first meal together.

Days 2 and 3, 9/9 and 9/10: After breakfast and fixing our bag lunches we will carpool to the work location. We will receive our work assignments and training, and then begin our service project(s). Participants are encouraged to share rides, where appropriate, to reduce the number of vehicles in use; this includes during free time after work or on our day off. Dinners will be at the campsite, and everyone will take turns cooking and cleaning the equipment.

Day 4, 9/11: FREE DAY! This will be our free day to explore Acadia National Park/Mount Desert Island. We will offer a group activity, but you may enjoy the day on your own.

Days 5 and 6, 9/12 and 9/13: We will complete our park project(s). On Day 6 (Friday) we will have our farewell dinner in a local restaurant.

Day 7, 9/14: We will enjoy breakfast as our last group meal and break down camp before departing.

Getting There

Please do not make non-refundable travel arrangements until notified to do so by the trip leader. If flying a commercial airline, Bar Harbor Airport (BHB) is about 10 miles from the National Park. Free bus service is available between the Bar Harbor Airport and Acadia National Park. Bangor International Airport (BGR) is about 50 miles away. Bangor is also the nearest commercial bus and train/bus terminal. We will share fellow participants' contact information to encourage carpooling. 

Accommodations and Food

Our base camp for the week will be Blackwoods Campground, located within the park boundaries. Restrooms with flush toilets and fresh (cold only) water are available very near the campsites. Parking is available within walking distance, but the number of cars permitted at the campsite itself is strictly limited. Coin-operated hot showers are a short drive away, just outside the campground. Sierra Club trips and leaders are known for nutritious and delicious meals. All meals and general commissary equipment will be provided. You will need to bring your own plate/bowl, cup, eating utensils, and a container in which to pack your daily lunches. We also suggest a net bag to hang and drip dry your utensils. Participants will share in food preparation and clean up. Please disclose your dietary needs and preferences when completing your trip form. We can accommodate various diets, but may not be able to satisfy all of them. This outing involves group meals, and we have limited commissary equipment and rudimentary refrigeration. If we cannot accommodate your diet, you are welcome to bring some of your own supplies. 

Trip Difficulty

This trip is rated at a level 2 on a scale of 1-5. This trip will be moderately difficult. It is strongly suggested that you have camping and hiking experience and be in good physical condition. We will not be working with any heavy trail-building equipment, but we should expect our work to be physically and aerobically challenging. If you have any questions about your qualifications or any aspect of the trip, feel free to contact the trip leader.

Equipment and Clothing

Equipment necessary for this trip will include well-seasoned, sturdy boots; a daypack for carrying lunches, rain gear, work gloves, etc.; and your own sleeping equipment, including tent, sleeping bag, and pad. Average temperatures in mid-September range from highs in the upper 70s to lows in the upper 40s. That said, please bring clothing for layering that can be added or subtracted depending on temperature fluctuations. There is always the possibility of rain, so a waterproof jacket and pants are absolute musts. All gear previously mentioned should be good for three-season conditions. A more detailed equipment list will be sent out before the trip gets underway.

References

Maps: Topographic maps are not necessary for this trip. If you wish to purchase them, they are available from USGS (http://www.usgs.gov, or call toll-free 1-888-ASK-USGS). The National Park Service provides a really nice free map of the island, which is available at the visitor center. Books (please support your local bookstore if possible. Jeff Bezos doesn’t need any more of your money): To learn more about Acadia National Park, here are a few suggested titles: ● McBride, Bunny and Harald E. L. Prins, Indians in Eden -- Wabanakis and Rusticators on Maine’s Mount Desert Island, 1840s-1920s. Down East Books, 2011. ● Kaiser, James, Acadia: The Complete Guide: Acadia National Park & Mount Desert Island. Destination Press, 2018. ● Monkman, Jerry and Marcy, Discover Acadia National Park, 3rd AMC’s Guide to the Best Hiking, Biking and Paddling. Appalachian Mountain Club Books, 2010. ● Abrell, Diana F., A Pocket Guide to the Carriage Roads of Acadia National Park. Down East Books, 2011. ● Roberts, Anne R., Mr. Rockefeller’s Roads. Down East Press, 2012. Websites: Friends of Acadia Acadia National Park

Conservation

Although Acadia National Park is one of the smaller national parks in America, it ranks among the top 10 in the number of visitors, with four million visitors in 2021. Because Acadia National Park is so heavily traveled, its fragile ecosystem is at risk. The subalpine vegetation, low-lying heathers, shrubs, berries, and wildflowers are extremely vulnerable to tourists. The park staff is constantly looking for ways to balance its preservation efforts with the flood of nature lovers who come to enjoy the park and marvel at its beauty. Since its founding in 1892, The Sierra Club has worked to preserve and restore the natural environment we all share on this planet. Thousands of grassroots-level volunteers spearhead our efforts to conserve and sustain resources, both in our own backyards and on a global scale. Through direct experience in the outdoors, Sierra Club outings enable participants to better understand, advocate, and participate in the environmental conservation goals of the Club. Service outings, in particular, stand out as one of the Sierra Club’s most important “boots on the ground” conservation efforts. The work done by service trip participants in our nation’s public lands is a way of practicing conservation in the most direct way possible, whether it’s improving access while preserving wilderness values, restoring wildlife habitat, or repairing human-caused damage to a natural area. Service trips are a great way to pitch in and do something tangible to make the world a better place; they’re a way to go beyond just talking about conservation; a way to get out there and experience conservation with your whole being. Sierra Club National Outings is an equal-opportunity provider and when applicable will operate under permits obtained from U.S. federal land agencies.