Hi,
Newby paddler here planning a trip to Acadia NP to do some easy, short paddling, camping, and climbing around the park. There will be two of us, me with an Impex Force Cat 3 (more boat than I deserve at my level), and my friend with an Oru folding kayak. And a dog. What to do with the dog - anyone successfully planned a trip with a dog - and for rank beginners, unguided, to Acadia NP?
Hopefully,
NewbyImpexPaddler
Acadia isn’t really known as a paddling destination, but the Oru is going to limit paddles to smaller lakes and ponds anyway since it has a large cockpit and no flotation. For hiking, Acadia gets very busy and the parking lots fill up. I’d recommend trying to choose a parking area to use as a base for a whole day, get there early and use that as the base for several hikes that day.
The last time we went, we parked at Sand Beach the first day. We got there around 8:15 AM which was early enough to get a parking spot under a tree (shade is good). We hiked the ocean trail to Otter Point, Gorham Mtn, and the Beehive. On day 2, we parked at Jordan Pond (got a shady spot again), hiked Penobscot and Sargent Mtn, Jordan Cliffs and the Jordan Pond Loop. We were also able to drive up Cadillac Mtn on the way back to Bar Harbor. That was only a 2 day trip, but day 3 could have been parking at the Bubbles and hiking those plus Pematic Mtn. Sand Cove and Jordan Pond make good all-day bases because they have real bathrooms
Sorry, I have no advice on the dog. I expect it wouldn’t work with the Impex, and would probably tear apart the Oru. I don’t know the rules about dogs on Acadia trails.
Thank you Wolf! I agree, tho I had daydreams of island hopping, I think that may be too ambitious for us given our gear, experience, and avoidance of guides. And dog. I think for short paddles on ponds and lakes (thoughts on Somes Sound?), keeping my dog in a Tesla with Dog Mode (maintains temp at setting) will work. On trails, NPS say leashed and pickup are key rules (Visiting With Pets - Acadia National Park (U.S. National Park Service)). So we should be good there.
But if anyone has done paddling trips with their dog, I would love to know how you did that.
Thanks again!
Newby…
I saw a lot of dogs last time I was in Acadia. Most trails are dog friendly, but some are off limits to pets because they have sections with ladders, cliffs, or rock scrambles. Dogs are also not allowed on either of the two beaches.
The ponds and lakes on the eastern half of Mt Desert island are drinking water supplies, so you can’t swim in them or let your dog in them. They might not want a dog in a kayak on those bodies either because of the possibility of the dog getting in the water. With an Oru kayak carrying a dog, you won’t be exploring the islands, even if you weren’t beginners. But I think you’ll be able to paddle with a dog on Long Pond, and in the strait.
If you’re going in the summer season, expect crowds and traffic every day. Weekends will stay crowded through leaf peeping season, but weekdays are mellower after the kids are back in school.
For something quieter check out the Schoodic peninsula section of the park, further east. Some beautiful coastal hikes there and nowhere near the traffic of the main part of the park.
Awesome RedMC! That makes me feel much better about bringing the dog, but the question remains about how I might be able to manage a dog while paddling (ultimately for future long paddling trips, I might have to kennel him, which I really don’t want to do… so just exploring my options now).
Thanks again!
Newby
Thanks mickp - I will definitely check out Schoodic section - thank you!
Newby
If your friend has one of the Oru models with a big open cockpit, the dog can go there. Otherwise, it would be quite a challenge to carry a dog on your Impex.
If you’re coming up Rt 1 from the south, consider a stop in Camden. It’s a picturesque village, touristy and crowded in the summer (but not as big as Bar Harbor). And nearby Megunticook Lake is great for kayaking. It’s a big lake, but very convoluted in shape with lots of islands and rocky sections of shoreline - plus views of the adjacent Camden Hills “mountains”. You can find many protected areas to paddle. And a large peninsula occupies the center. That’s a park (Fernald’s Neck) with no houses and many places to land on shore. There’s also great hiking at Camden Hills State Park. The Maiden Cliff overlook looks right down on Megunticook Lake. You could even kayak out of Barret’s Cove or the nearby boat ramp, leave the car there and start the Maiden Cliff hike at the trailhead just up the road.
The national Park on the Bar Harbor side is crowded. We tend to avoid those places. We stayed in Goldsboro at a RV park on the coast of West Bay. We were able to launch from the park. Tides are impressive. Yes you could paddle the bay but your boats /experience isn’t up to what those conditions can be.
Note Schoodic across the bay from Bar Harbor is less crowded and has some of the same Acadia National park. National park camp ground . Good bike path. Low traffic. .
East Bay before the wind &waves high tide…
Some pics from Scoodic point
We launched one day at Donnell Pond. Nice lake . Had some houses at boat ramp end but rest in public land. Beach camp grounds see Scoodic Beach. Good views of Schoodic Mountain. https://maps.app.goo.gl/NqBHRLTJPbw63W4L9
Stay out of the ocean if you are newbies. Wear a PFD and dress for immersion.
Dogs fit great in canoes. You can get one in some large open cockpits in kayaks.
I don’t have any experience with paddling with someone in the higher end Oru’s, but the lower end Oru’s are very susceptible to windy conditions. On several occasions they had to be towed back when the winds increased. This may limit where and when you can paddle.
If unfamiliar with Maine coastal waters be aware of the extreme tides which can leave you on a mudflat trying to get back to your launch. Seek local knowledge. And the water is pretty cold year round.
I’d be hesitant about leaving a dog in a car. Not many people are familiar with “dog mode”. You may risk having someone calling it in and when you return to your car might find out that the authorities have broken a window and taken you dog to a shelter. Also check out local laws. Many localities prohibit leaving an animal unattended in a car and might not have an exception for cars with the dog mode feature even if they know about it.
Acadia and Bar Harbor are a favorite; my family and I have been there many times. Was there two summers ago. If you are traveling with the boats, be cognizant that parking downtown can be tight during peak hours and having boats on the roof will complicate matters. At peak times/seasons moving around the park by private vehicle can be headache inducing. We rely on the shuttle buses, which are excellent.
If you are new (and with the Oru) I would avoid the ocean side. The harbor side is lovely and you can paddle out to the Porcupines. Just be careful of the whale watching boats, they can be aggressive toward man-powered craft. If you pay attention to the weather and tides you should have no problem. There are a couple of good kayak touring places in town. If paddling isn’t the main reason for the trip (it wasn’t when we were there in 2022), I prefer renting or going out on a paid tour. This way you don’t have to worry about where to store the boats when you’re not paddling and you get the benefit of having a guide who knows the area and the currents etc. IIRC there’s a big sand bridge that can jam you up if you’re not in the right place at low tide.
If paddling is your main reason for going there, I don’t think bringing the dog on the water should be in your decision matrix. I’ve paddled with someone with the Oru and doing a rescue is complicated enough without having to worry about getting a dog back into the boat.
You mentioned camping. Check the campground’s rules about dogs. Similarly check the Acadia NPS site about dogs, I can’t recall seeing dogs in the park, but maybe I wasn’t paying attention. Horses are another matter!
I missed some things.
Dog…
We traveled with two retrievers, 60 and 80#. They stayed in the air-conditioned trailer during paddle sessions. National parks, state parks, etc do not let dogs be left in camp sites if tenting. They also have barking limits.
Oru…pictures are deceiving as to sea state. The day we took the Petrel Play pictures seas were 1-2 ft outside of the wind shadow we were in. Oru…?..not me.
Oru and dog…? Well not me.
We had a camp site at the north end of Somes Sound and paddled the sound a couple of days. We found that to be very enjoyable and pretty well sheltered from wind. One day we paddled Bass Harbor and that was fine until we got out toward the point and the open ocean where waves quickly increased to 2’. Another day we paddled Western Bay and got caught in a thunderstorm which brought in lightening and increased waves. We did see a lot of seals that day though! We also went out on the north end of the island near Thomas Island hoping to avoid the south wind but the wind ended up increasing there as well. I guess my main advice would be to keep a close eye on the forecast and wind directions regardless of where you decide to paddle.
Lucky you - Acadia and the entire Mount Desert area are a treat in summer; we’ve returned many times. For quiet waters, the launch areas on Long Pond (on the “quiet side”) are easy to access, and the scenery is lovely. Plenty of spots to pull up for a picnic - just check in with the folks at National Park Canoe and Kayak rentals, for maps that show public vs. private areas of the shoreline. Go early - as in arrive no later than 7:30-8:00, for a spot to park, and stick to weekday mornings to avoid crowding. On a good-weather day, you could explore a relatively protected salt-water paddle on the west side of MDI, by launching from Bartlett’s Landing, heading up through Bartlett Narrrows, past Squid Island and Green Island to Indian Point or Clark Cove. Seals and porpoises, rocky outcrops with starfish…We lacked our own boats that trip, and went with a guide from SW Harbor. Enjoy every minute!
