Beehive Mountain. Egg Rock. Otter Cliffs. Oreo cows. Cranberry Isles. Just hearing the names makes you smile. And wait 'til you get here. There’s so much to smile about. Incredible views of Penobscot Bay from Cadillac Mountain. Historic lighthouses. Scaling granite! Picking wild blueberries. Charming New England fishing villages and rocky coastlines. Pulling lobster traps out of the ocean. A bald eagle soaring overhead. Gliding across a lake by kayak. Pedaling by the crashing Atlantic. And even time to sneak off for a spa treatment.
Days 1-2 Enchanting Camden, brimming with galleries, museums and shops,
and often called Maine’s prettiest seaside village 
Hike a wooded trail to the 780-foot summit of Mount Battie for a superb panorama of islands, Camden and Penobscot Bay You may spot ospreys or even a bald eagle during an easygoing kayak excursion on pristine Lake Megunticook Spin through rolling countryside past Oreo cows to Rockland, home to the Farnsworth Museum, acclaimed for its collection of Wyeth family paintings.
Day 3 Discover the understated beauty of Maine's coastline
Kick off your day with a sunrise hike to Maiden Cliffs and dazzling views on a clear day 
Aboard our private boat, a lobster trap demonstration offers insight into authentic Maine coastal life.
Day 4 Pedal under towering firs and past pristine crashing surf
at Acadia National Park The arched bridges and quiet roads of Acadia’s carriage road system, a gift from philanthropist John D. Rockefeller, Jr., make for superb biking Kids check out a lobster museum and get their hands wet at Mount Desert Oceanarium's touch tank.
Days 5-6 Hike up Cadillac Mountain, the highest point in the park,
for an eagle's-eye views Donning harnesses and helmets, youngsters rock climb with expert guides at oceanside Otter Cliffs Adults trek through birch and evergreen forests to Gorham Mountain's summit, or simply relax at the hotel Revel in a classic Maine culinary experience: a lobster pound!
Trip Highlights
- Discover the understated beauty of Maine’s coastline
- Pedal under towering firs and past pristine crashing surf at Acadia National Park
- Fish lobster traps out of the water, just like the locals
- Kayak on serene Lake Megunticook, keeping an eye out for bald eagles
- Seaside Camden, brimming with galleries, museums and shops
Premiere Inns
Camden Harbour Inn (2 nights): A Travel + Leisure favorite, this stylish 1800s inn offers exceptional hospitality and commanding views of the boat-dotted harbor. (spa)
Bar Harbor Inn & Spa (3 nights): This Condé Nast Traveler editor's pick, a shingled oceanfront lodge on Frenchman Bay, offers private balconies. (pool, spa)
Daily Mileage Options & Cumulative Elevation Gain
Day 1
- Level 1 1 Route Option Available
- Hiking 2.3 miles
- 500 - 1000 feet elevation gain
Day 2
- Levels 1 to 2 3 Route Options Available
- Biking 4, 18, 28 miles
- 500 - 1000 feet elevation gain
- Kayaking 2 hours
Day 3
- Level 1 3 Route Options Available
- Hiking 0.5, 1, 2 miles
- 0 - 500 feet elevation gain
Day 4
- Levels 1 to 3 3 Route Options Available
- Biking 12, 21, 33 miles
- 500 - 1000 feet elevation gain
Day 5
- Level 1 2 Route Options Available
- Hiking 2.5, 3.3 miles
- 200 - 1000 feet elevation gain
- Rock Climbing (Kids) 3 hours
Day 6
- Level 2 1 Route Option Available
- Hiking 0.5, 2.2 miles
- 500 - 1500 feet elevation gain
Routes For All Abilities
Every Backroads trip is designed to appeal to a wide variety of interests
and fitness levels. We know your pace may vary from one day to the
next-and your traveling companion's may differ somewhat from yours.
So we present a range of mileage options, and each day you decide exactly
what and how much you want to do.| Activity Level | Average Time | Biking Average | Walking Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Level 1 | 2-3 hours | 10-20 mile | 2-5 miles |
| Level 2 | 2-4 hours | 21-30 miles | 5-7 miles |
| Level 3 | 3-5 hours | 31-40 miles | 7-9 miles |
| Level 4 | 4-6 hours | 41-55 miles | 9-11 miles |
| Level 5 | 5-7+ hours | 56-75+ miles | 11-13+ miles |
2012 Dates & Pricing*
FAMILY TRIPS
*Prices may change. Once you book your trip, your price is guaranteed.
Recommended Kids Ages
Minimum Ages:
- Minimum age restriction for trip: 5 years due to hotel restrictions
- Recommended minimum age for the trip: 6 years
- Minimum age restriction to ride own bike: 7 years
- Minimum age restriction to kayak and rock climb: 5 years
General Info on Minimum Ages:
We strongly encourage families to join our Family Trips, designed with kid- and adult-friendly features. Please note that we have a minimum age requirement of 1 year for all Inn trips and 2 years for all Camping trips. Other than that, we do not restrict trips to a minimum age except in the rare case of a hotel age restriction. We do, however, recommend minimum ages based on the following criteria:- 12+ amount of cultural appreciation, difficulty of activities, routes
- 9+ difficulty of activities/activity age restrictions, routes
- 6+ several longer dinners; routes are difficult for pulling a Burley and therefore not appropriate for younger children; difficulty of activities/activity age restrictions
Guest Trip Reviews
To give you an idea of how much we enjoyed our latest Backroads trip, let me just say this: on our drive home from the airport, we planned two more! We were reminded, after about a year and a half gap between trips, how much we really LOVE traveling with Backroads. Looking forward to many more adventures with you in the future.- Winter Haven, FL
Backroads continues to be my tour company of choice. The attitude of your leaders is what sets you apart.- Everett, WA