Читать книгу Hike the Parks: Acadia National Park - Jeff Romano - Страница 33

The final piece of the Acadia puzzle has been the development of recreational infrastructure so that visitors can safely explore and enjoy the park’s natural splendor. At the heart of Acadia’s recreational opportunities is its network of trails: more than 150 miles (241 km) of hiking trails, 45 miles (72 km) of carriage roads, and 8 miles (12.9 km) of bicycle paths.

Hiking Trails. Most of the hiking trails that wind around Mount Desert Island were established in the 1890s when village improvement associations laid out and constructed many of them. In 1896, Waldron Bates was the lead author of the island’s first hiking map, which closely resembles today’s version.

A trail pioneer, Bates also designed the area’s first trail construction and maintenance handbook. Thanks to Bates, there are few hiking trails in New England that exhibit the same level of artistry, erosion control, and assistance for scaling steep inclines as those that traverse Acadia National Park. He is also credited with the creation of the park’s unique cairn style.

Carriage Roads. Acadia’s network of carriage roads showcases a bygone era in the United States. Separate from the park’s automobile roads, this 45-mile (72-km) recreational network combines artistic beauty with a design that facilitates a deliberate and leisurely paced exploration of the park by foot, bike, or horseback.