Southwest Harbor is a region in Maine, situated on Mount Desert Island, offering a diverse landscape for outdoor activities. The area provides direct access to Acadia National Park, characterized by a blend of rugged coastline, serene lakes, and rolling mountains. This unique geography makes Southwest Harbor a prime location for several sports like hiking, jogging, road cycling, touring cycling, and more.
Southwest Harbor provides a variety of outdoor activities for enthusiasts. The region features…
64
Routes
4.9
(37)
Average rating
770
People visited

5.0
(2)
12
hikers
4.14km
01:31
250m
250m
Easy hike. Great for any fitness level. Easily-accessible paths. Suitable for all skill levels.

5.0
(1)
6
hikers
12.1km
04:05
590m
590m
Moderate hike. Good fitness required. Easily-accessible paths. Suitable for all skill levels.

5.0
(4)
6
hikers
9.89km
02:57
300m
300m
Moderate hike. Good fitness required. Easily-accessible paths. Suitable for all skill levels.

1
hikers
1.41km
00:37
190m
0m
Easy hike. Great for any fitness level. Easily-accessible paths. Suitable for all skill levels.
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5.0
(2)
30
riders
33.3km
03:25
380m
380m
Moderate gravel ride. Good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.

17
riders
30.7km
01:55
430m
430m
Moderate gravel ride. Good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.

19
riders
38.4km
02:22
540m
540m
Hard gravel ride. Very good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.

5.0
(1)
8
riders
19.5km
01:11
250m
250m
Moderate gravel ride. Good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.
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5.0
(1)
14
riders
23.3km
01:26
210m
210m
Moderate bike ride. Good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.

34.7km
02:21
440m
440m
Moderate bike ride. Good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.

8.63km
00:32
50m
50m
Easy bike ride. Great for any fitness level. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.

55
riders
35.3km
03:26
350m
350m
Moderate bike ride. Good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.
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4.0
(1)
18
riders
16.5km
00:44
130m
130m
Easy road ride. Great for any fitness level. Mostly well-paved surfaces and easy to ride.

19
riders
18.4km
03:51
420m
420m
Moderate road ride. Good fitness required. Some segments of this route may be unpaved and difficult to ride.

14
riders
66.0km
03:17
1,070m
1,070m
Hard road ride. Very good fitness required. Mostly well-paved surfaces and easy to ride.

14
riders
23.8km
04:52
380m
380m
Moderate road ride. Good fitness required. Some segments of this route may be unpaved and difficult to ride.
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7
riders
15.1km
01:19
180m
180m
Easy mountain bike ride. Great for any fitness level. Suitable for all skill levels.

4
riders
19.5km
01:48
260m
260m
Easy mountain bike ride. Great for any fitness level. Suitable for all skill levels.

5
riders
Easy mountain bike ride. Great for any fitness level. Suitable for all skill levels.

5
riders
11.6km
01:04
160m
160m
Easy mountain bike ride. Great for any fitness level. Suitable for all skill levels.
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4
runners
18.2km
01:57
280m
280m
Hard run. Very good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.

4
runners
12.4km
01:19
190m
190m
Moderate run. Good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.

3
runners
7.75km
00:53
170m
170m
Moderate run. Good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.

4.02km
00:30
40m
40m
Easy run. Great for any fitness level. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.
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Southwest Harbor offers a diverse landscape for outdoor activities including Hiking, Jogging, Road cycling, Touring cycling, Gravel biking, and Mountain biking. The region provides access to Acadia National Park, featuring coastal paths, serene lakes, and rolling mountains. More than 10,000 visitors have explored routes in the area.
Popular hiking trails in Southwest Harbor include the Ship Harbor Nature Trail, Wonderland Trail, Beech Cliff Loop, and Flying Mountain Trail. Acadia National Park, accessible from Southwest Harbor, also offers trails like those around Echo Lake and the Western Mountains. For more options, consult the Hiking around Southwest Harbor guide.
Yes, Southwest Harbor offers easy hiking options suitable for various skill levels. The Ship Harbor Nature Trail and Wonderland Trail are examples of less strenuous paths. For a curated list of accessible routes, refer to the Easy hikes around Southwest Harbor guide.
Southwest Harbor is known for its cycling opportunities, particularly the historic, car-free carriage roads within Acadia National Park. These crushed-granite paths are suitable for both road and touring cyclists. Local rides also explore areas like Seawall, Wonderland, Ship Harbor, and the Bass Harbor Head Lighthouse.
Yes, road cyclists can explore the extensive network of carriage roads in Acadia National Park, which offer scenic routes. The Southwest Harbor & Long Pond loop provides lake views. Detailed routes are available in the Road Cycling Routes around Southwest Harbor guide.
Southwest Harbor provides options for mountain biking, including the Western Mountain fire road network. These trails offer varied terrain for off-road cycling. Information on specific routes can be found in the MTB Trails around Southwest Harbor guide.
Southwest Harbor is known as the "Quietside" of Mount Desert Island, offering a relaxed atmosphere with direct access to Acadia National Park. Its unique blend of ocean coastline, serene lakes like Echo Lake and Long Pond, and mountains provides a varied environment. The historic carriage roads are a significant draw for cyclists.
Komoot offers several guides for Southwest Harbor, covering various sports. These include guides for Hiking, Easy hikes, Running Trails, Road Cycling, Touring Cycling, Gravel biking, and MTB Trails.
Southwest Harbor is a popular destination on komoot, with more than 10,000 visitors having shared their experiences. The routes in the region have an average rating of 4.85 out of 5 stars, based on 820 ratings. This indicates a high level of satisfaction among outdoor enthusiasts.
The official website for the Town of Southwest Harbor, Maine, is southwestharbormaine.org. This resource provides local information and services for the area.
Southwest Harbor offers several family-friendly options, particularly easy hiking trails like the Ship Harbor Nature Trail and Wonderland Trail. The car-free carriage roads in Acadia National Park also provide safe and enjoyable cycling for families. Freshwater bodies such as Echo Lake and Long Pond are suitable for swimming and paddling.
Key natural attractions include the rugged coastline, serene lakes like Echo Lake, Long Pond, and Somes Pond, and the rolling mountains of Acadia National Park. Distant views of Bear Island Lighthouse, Sutton Island, and the Cranberry Islands are visible from Manset. The historic carriage roads are also a significant natural and historical feature.
Yes, gravel biking is an available activity in Southwest Harbor. The region's network of carriage roads and fire roads provides suitable terrain for gravel bikes. For specific route suggestions, consult the Gravel biking around Southwest Harbor guide.
For more challenging hikes, the Acadia National Park area accessible from Southwest Harbor features trails in the Western Mountains. Long Pond also offers a challenging "Perpendicular and Razorback Loop." These routes provide more strenuous terrain and elevation changes.
The phone number for the Town Office of Southwest Harbor is (207) 244-5404. This contact can be used for official inquiries regarding the town.

