Witch Hole Pond Carriage Road Loop

If you’re craving a mellow, scenic wander away from Acadia’s headline crowds, this loop delivers. The Witch Hole Pond Carriage Road Loop circles calm water and marshy shorelines framed by birch and mixed forest, with classic Rockefeller-era stonework sprinkled in for good measure. It’s wide, groomed gravel—ideal for walking, running, and biking—with no motor vehicles allowed.

Plan on roughly 4.6 miles total for the loop. You can start from Hulls Cove Visitor Center (there’s a short connector—steep for cyclists), Duck Brook Road near Duck Brook Bridge, or a short access near the Acadia Inn on Route 3/Eden Street. The grades are gentle, but expect a few brief ups and downs. Intersections are marked with numbered posts, and you’ll pass Halfmoon Pond and cross the photogenic Duck Brook Bridge if you include that spur in your loop.

Scenery is the quiet kind: cattail-lined coves, granite ledges, and reflective pond views, plus a good chance of spotting beaver activity around the wetlands. It’s generally less crowded than the flashier loops around Eagle Lake, though bridges and major junctions can be busier in peak season. Dogs are welcome on leash.

Navigation is straightforward if you follow the posts, but there are plenty of junctions—grab a carriage-road map from the boxes at entrances or take a photo of one before you roll. In summer, bring bug spray; marshy stretches can be mosquito-y. For riders, that steep connector from Hulls Cove is best walked or avoided by starting at Duck Brook Road.

Best time to hike: Spring brings cool temps and fewer people. Fall is stellar here—the canopy lights up and the water doubles the color. Summer is shaded and pleasant, just mind the bugs. In winter, these roads become a favorite for cross-country skiing and snowshoeing after storms.