Schoodic National Scenic Byway — Local services in Hancock

(5/5/24) what a beautiful Spring day! Car traffic was pretty much nonexistent on Route 186 and the Schoodic Loop Road (the Loop Road is inside Acadia National Park). During the winter of 2023/2024 we had multiple severe windstorms in Maine. Today was the first time I personally witnessed the storm aftermath in this region; hundreds of downed trees visible from the Schoodic Loop Road. These scenes must’ve been incredible prior to storm cleanup. Schoodic National Scenic Byway is about 28 miles by car. One of two available starting points begins at the Hancock-Sullivan bridge. Continue on Route 1, then take Route 186 to Winter Harbor. Then enter Acadia National Park by turning onto the Schoodic Loop Road. Exit the end of this loop road by reconnecting with Route 186. Scenic Byway ends at the junction of Routes 186 and 195 in Prospect Harbor. Lots of hiking opportunities in this region. Can’t wait to return here to explore...

A part of Acadia National Park, this annexed" section is separated from th Mt Desert Island section of Acadia by almost an hours drive (or shorter ferry ride from the Bar Harbor area.) Still, the Schoodic park loop road offers the quintessential roughness and beauty of the Maine coast. Although there are fewer trails, facilities and "attractions" here, it's well worth the trip for sightseeing, mountain bikering (a myriad of well groomed roads ant trails ideal for mountain bikes) and day hikers. Good for a day or even just a couple of hours for a great side trip. Definitely worth seeing this beautiful, more peaceful side of Acadia...

I grew up driving across the 'singing bridge', and I was SUPER disappointed to come back to visit and find it gone, although I knew it was a possibility, due to the age of the bridge. This lovely rest area and scenic lookout is a wonderful way to experience the past and dull some of the pain of realizing that you really can't...