Welcome to the Town of Mount Desert, on beautiful Mount Desert Island, a vacationers paradise.  As you approach the Town of Mount Desert when driving from Ellsworth or the Bar
Harbor/Trenton Airport you will first experience Somesville, the first Island settlement, located at the geographical center of Mount Desert Island. Here you will find white picket fences, mountains meeting the sea, antiques, a theater, bookstore, fire department, bank, church and convenience store. A July must is to stop at the library and partake of fresh strawberry shortcake during their festival. Somesville has one of the most photographed bridges in the state, located a few feet from the library.
Turning right at the fire department onto Route 102 West will lead you to the little village of Pretty Marsh offering a scenic picnic area, picturesque coves and small islands. At Bartlett's Island Landing there is a dock for local lobster men and small boats to tie up as well as a launching area for canoes and kayaks. Traveling South past the fire department on Rte 102 will bring you to Echo Lake, very popular for summer swimming . In the winter ice houses can be seen where the fishermen are keeping warm waiting for their flags to bob up. Hall Quarry, located off Rte 102 on the left just before Echo Lake, once had a booming stone quarry industry and some of the finest buildings in New York City were built with Hall Quarry stone. The village boasts a spectacular view of Somes Sound, the only natural fjord on the eastern coast of the continental United States. Here you will find a working boatyard, campgrounds, and a seafood market.  Returning North, pass through Somesville and turn right onto Rte. 198. Continuing for a few miles, you will see a yellow schoolhouse on the left, now the Mt. Desert Historical Society Museum. Traveling beyond brings you to the Parkman Mountain parking lot on the left. Hiking to the summit of Parkman will reveal a view, to the East, of Jordan Pond in Acadia National Park and to the South, of the Atlantic Ocean with vistas of Northeast Harbor, Bear Island, Sutton Island, the Cranberry Islands and even beyond on clear days. Further down the hill toward Northeast Harbor there is a pullout with a marked trail leading to another popular hike, Norumbega Mountain, which also offers breathtaking views of the harbor and outer islands. To the East, Sargeant Mountain has a bald peak and a small pond at the top, good for a dip after your hike. It overlooks Upper Hadlock Pond which is a favorite spot for canoeing, kayaking and fishing. If you look closely, you'll see the cedar trees are the other side of the pond are evenly trimmed where the deer have been nibbling.
Further, on the left, is the Gatehouse parking lot , leading to bicycle, hiking and
cross-country ski trails. A few hundred yards further along, on the right, a dirt road leads to Lower Hadlock Pond. There is no swimming allowed as this is a drinking water supply,
however, there is good seasonal fishing. In the winter the ice is adorned with ice houses and ice fishing is very popular here along with snowmobiling and ice skating.
At the end of Rte. 198 turn left onto Rte. 3 and discover the Asticou Azalea Gardens on the left, a beautifully designed Japanese style garden open to the public from May - October. Continuing another quarter mile, you will find parking on the right for Thuya Gardens. There is a terraced trail leading to the garden, which features beautiful annuals and a hand carved gate by local artist Charles K. Savage. Every summer many weddings are performed in this spectacular setting.
Journeying along Rte. 3 another two miles brings you to Little Long Pond on the left, with its carriage trails, hiking paths, and in winter, ice skating on the pond. Seal Harbor is the home of many industrial and financial greats, royalty, and politicians. It's the home of the famous Jordan Pond House popovers in Acadia National Park. The Stanley Brook entrance to Acadia is on the left directly across from Seal Harbor Beach, a sand beach open to the public. The beach overlooks a picturesque island and to the right is Crown Shield Point which abuts the Walter Ford property. Seal Harbor has many of what we call beautiful old cottages, but in fact they are large lovely old estates. There is a town dock for local fishermen, lobster men, yachtsmen, and charter boats. Spending the whole day or a few hours on the ocean to fish, sail or picnic is a treasured experience. Seal Harbor sports a gas station, inn, restaurant and Congregational Church.
Further along Rte. 3, beyond Seal Harbor, you arrive at the village of Otter Creek. Acadia National Parkšs Blackwoods Campground is located here. Across from the entrance is another popular hiking trail leading to Cadillac Mountain, the highest of eighteen mountains on the Island. Beyond Otter Creek turn right onto Otter Cliff Road and you can intersect the end of Ocean Drive which has breathtaking views and leads you to Otter Cliffs and back into Seal Harbor. Otter Creek offers an inn and convenience store, and hot showers for campers.  Returning from Seal Harbor on Route 3 take a left at the intersection of Route 198 and discover Northeast Harbor, the hub of the Town of Mount Desert. Quiet in the winter and very busy in the summer, Northeast Harbor has many amenities including tennis courts, a golf course, a marina and boating of all kinds, including a ferry to the Cranberry Islands. A museum, galleries, gift shops, clothing stores and restaurants also provide enjoyable meandering. The police and fire departments and town office are on Sea Street. A grocery/liquor store, hardware store, garage, motel, inns, and boat yard along with banks and real estate offices provide additional year 'round services. There are many beautiful estates and perhaps the most outstanding attraction is the harbor itself, filled with luxurious yachts and sailboats during summer months and a local fishing fleet in the winter. This is home port for the Main Seacoast Mission boat, the Sunbeam V. Northeast Harbor is also the locale of "Petite Plaisance", the home of internationally acclaimed author, Marguerite Yourcenar. You will enjoy a broad range of activities from summer concerts featuring classical music with well known musicians to fabulous auctions.
All of the villages have destinations for the Island Explorer bus which provides free transportation linking Acadia National Park and neighboring towns. So when you are in Hancock County or on Mount Desert Island, be sure to visit the villages of the Town of Mount Desert for a very memorable experience. |
|
Welcome | Communities | Activities | Businesses Getting Here | Local Info | Calendar | Contact Us |
