In The Park (continued)

A glacier-formed lake between two steep cliffs, with a sandy beach at the southern end, this is the only "formal" beach on the island where you can swim without freezing your buns off. It's pretty, quiet, very family-oriented, with a lifeguard, restrooms, changing rooms, and no commercial establishments at all. Like everything else in the park, it's free.

Here's a little "secret" that you may have fun exploring, provided you're a good swimmer and have your own snorkeling equipment. Swim out past the lifeguard-protected area, about 100 yards from the shore. The depth remains about five to six feet for most of this area. You'll notice that the cliffs on the left are marked with a lot of large boulders (known as "breakdown"). The breakdown continues under the surface, and with your skorkling gear in place, you can swim to where there's a sudden, dramatic underwater cliff and the depth drops to eighty feet! It's very intense.

The Beech Cliffs Trail is a short, steep hike from the northern end of the Echo Lake parking lot to the top of the cliffs that tower over the beach. The climb includes four vertical ladders (acrophobes, very young children and dogs should not go on this trail) and is well worth the effort. Bring binoculars, a camera and water. Round trip will take about an hour.

There are about 55 miles of well-maintained, bucolic, endlessly beautiful carriage roads (thank you John Rockefeller) for hiking, horseback riding, and bicycling in the park (no motor vehicles allowed). You can rent bikes in town for a half or full day (or more), and pedal about on any of these trails. Some trails have moderate-to-steep grades, others are easier. You'll definitely want to consult a trailmap.

Acadia offers too many wonderful hiking trails to list here. Over the years, we've hiked almost every trail on the island; it's our favorite activity there and a primary reason for loving the park so much. Pick up a trail guide in town or at the Park Entrance Visitor Center, and plan a hike according to your skill level. There are well-marked trails that range from level, shoreline walks to outrageous near-vertical climbs, and everything in between. A sampling of our favorites: the Precipice for a highly challenging hike/climb (see below); the Beehive to the Bowl for a shorter version of a precipice-like vertical climb; the Perpendicular/Razorback loop for experienced hikers; Sargent Mountain via the Asticou Trail (including Sargent Mountain Pond) for a long but moderate hike; and Conner's Nubble for a relatively short and easy but rewarding hike. Always bring a detailed map, plenty to drink, good hiking boots, your camera, and a watch. If you're bringing your dog, stay off the trails with vertical climbs (unless you can carry the dog in your pack). After spending over a hundred dollars over the years on various hiking guides, I can heartily recommend one: A Walk In the Park, by Tom St. Germain. It sells for $10.95, comes with maps, and is the most succinct, informed, and well-written guide we've found. You'll find it anywhere they sell books on the island, or you may order it from Port In A Storm Bookstore. Don't forget to bring it when you go hiking!

At one spot on the Loop road, you'll see a lot of cars parked and people gawking through binoculars at what look like insects on the towering cliffs above. Actually, they're climbers on a 1,020 foot vertical climb to the top of Mount Champlain, above the ocean below. Although not for the faint of heart, it's not as difficult as it seems, and if you're bold enough to try it, make sure you have very good hiking boots, plenty of water, and go very early in the morning or in the late afternoon, since the midday sun on your back can be extremely discomforting as you climb. You no longer need technical equipment (pitons, ropes, etc.), since the Parks Dept. has installed permanent hand-holds, ladders, and rails at those points that need them. You should return around the back of the mountain, so bring a trail map. I strongly recommend not attempting to return by climbing down the Precipice Trail! This trail is usually closed July through mid-August because of a family of peregrine falcons that nests mid-trail every year. If you intend to bring children, they must be tall enough to reach six feet with their hands extended above their heads. There are two false summits before the real thing, but once you see that marker at the top you'll know you're there. The views from this summit are perhaps the best on the island.

Interestingly enough, the trail/climb up the The Beehive, a mountain just south of The Precipice, was constructed by the same person and is remarkably similar. While only about half as high as The Precipice, I feel that the Beehive climb is in some ways more intense, as it tends to be more exposed and more consistently vertical. The summit of The Beehive is not as dramatic as that of The Precipice (it's not even marked), but this trail is more rewarding because of The Bowl (see below) that sits only a ten-minute hike behind this mountain.

There are several ponds and lakes scattered throughout the island. Most hiking trails will come upon one or another at some point. Except for drinking water sources (like Long Pond, Jordan Pond, and the two Hadlock Ponds) and ecologically fragile waters, you can toss your clothes and jump in any of these. Be cautious about rocks that may not be visible. The Bowl, a large circular pond behind The Beehive, and Sargent Mountain Pond (also known as The Lake of the Clouds) are two of our favorites. Both require a substantial hike to reach, but are wonderful spots for swimming or just cooling off your feet. The Bowl has a few near-perfect rock ledges that make access to the water easy. If you want to bring your dog to The Bowl, you'll have to take the Bowl Loop Trail, since The Beehive climb is impossible with a dog. By the way, there are two legends about Sargent Mountain Pond: it's bottomless, and the home of a serpent. Only one has been disproved.