Category Archives: Hiking Acadia National Park

Maine Strong! Virtual race with medals aids MDI, Millinocket

With businesses and non-profits hurt and tourism down from Mount Desert Island to Millinocket, a new Acadia to Katahdin Virtual Race links people from around the world in support of the regions, behind the rallying cry of Maine Strong! Featuring fundraising for area charities, a special “Maine Strong” award with sparkly ribbon, and support of […]

Acadia hiking accident new ordeal for New York nurses

Kerrie Molloy and John Candela visited Bar Harbor last month to unwind after working on the frontlines of the coronavirus pandemic in New York, but the longtime nurses instead faced a new crisis in a horrifying Acadia hiking accident while descending Pemetic Mountain. Molloy suffered three broken ribs, a punctured lung and fractured bones when […]

Acadia hiking boosted by new historic rock steps, innovation and lights

The Valley Cove Trail is set to soon reopen for a summer Acadia hiking season for the first time in five years, following an extensive rehabilitation that gives new life to the historically important trail along Somes Sound. The Acadia trails crew also did major work on Kurt Diederich’s Climb, Beachcroft Path, Seaside Path and around Bass Harbor Head Light, keeping the more than 155 miles of historic Acadia hiking trails in shape for the millions of visitors in coming years. Find out how your favorite trail has been improved, or learn about a new one you’ve yet to explore.

Acadia National Park navigates new era for iconic lighthouse

Acadia National Park is poised “any day now” to take over the vacant Bass Harbor Head Light Station, setting the stage for a new era for the iconic lighthouse, one of the most popular attractions within the park’s boundaries. Ahead of becoming the new owner, Acadia is weighing recommendations in a new study of Bass […]

Amazin’ Maine Virtual Race with medals a new way to socially distance

Giving a new meaning to social distancing, the Amazin’ Maine Virtual Race brings far-flung family and friends virtually near, alone together, on a magical virtual tour of Acadia to Katahdin and along the coast from Lubec to Ogunquit. With Acadia National Park closed until at least June 1 and the cancellation yesterday of what would […]

9 peregrine falcon chicks fledge at Acadia, Precipice Trail now open to hikers

peregrine falcon chicks

Nine peregrine falcon chicks fledged at three nests at Acadia National Park in 2019, helping clear the way for the popular Precipice Trail to open. Four of the chicks fledged from the Precipice on the east face of Champlain, while three fledged from Jordan Cliffs and two from Valley Cove. That is more than last year, bringing the total up to about 150 chicks that have fledged in the last 28 years.

‘MegOMoose,’ ‘mustang,’ other virtual racers lining up in Acadia to aid charity

Ready, set, go! With fun names like “MuddyMom,” “SlowCrawl,” “BunnyButt” and “TheOtherButt,” virtual racers from around Maine and the rest of the country are heading out of the starting gate of the Acadia to Katahdin Virtual Race today, to help raise funds for charity in Millinocket and Acadia. Join the fun no matter where in the world you log your walking, hiking or running miles. Everyone is a winner, whether you opt for a lobster- or moose-themed medal, or get an emailed milestone postcard after virtually climbing the 26 peaks of Acadia.

Virtual race marks 100th anniversary of Acadia peaks, Millinocket library

Virtually climb 26 Acadia peaks, run the MDI and Millinocket Marathons and scale Maine’s highest mountain in a new Acadia to Katahdin Virtual Race that begins Aug. 2, to help raise funds for Friends of Acadia, Millinocket Memorial Library and Our Katahdin. The race celebrates the 100th anniversary of Acadia becoming the first eastern national park and the related effort of renaming mountains, such as Cadillac, as well as of the Millinocket library. Get a chance to earn a lobster or moose-themed medal, keep up with family and friends who join and log miles no matter where they are in the world, and see a virtual tour of parts of Maine you may not have seen in real life yet. Sign up now: https://racery.com/r/acadia-virtual-races/

Acadia deluged with hiking accidents, traffic on busiest day ever over July 4 weekend

The day after July 4 was hot and sunny and attracted so many people to Acadia National Park that it set a single day record for visits – and overwhelmed park staff with rescues of injured hikers and shutdowns of Cadillac summit and other areas because of heavy traffic. Among those rescued: A woman who suffered a heat stroke on Dorr South Ridge Trail and had to be airlifted by helicopter, and a man hiking down Cadillac West Face Trail who slid 40 feet and fell off a 15- to 20-foot cliff.

Gary Stellpflug leads highly skilled Acadia hiking trails crew

If you’ve ever marveled at Acadia National Park’s hiking trails, here’s a chief reason they look so good: Gary Stellpflug, the Acadia trails foreman. In this Q&A with Stellpflug, find out what he revealed during a National Trails Day hike on the Valley Trail, and his updates of trail work throughout the park. There’s no better way to celebrate Acadia’s 103rd anniversary of being founded as a national monument on July 8, 1916, than to appreciate the work of the Acadia trails crew and volunteers.