BAR HARBOR SHORE PATH

I was looking over older photos of Balance Rock along the Bar Harbor Shore Path, interesting to see how over the years the rock has faired.  The early photos where the rock narrows to a point were taken around 1900.

Though the Shore Path is not an abandoned path or trail, over the years the length of the Shore Path has shrunk as newer land owners closed off sections of the path from the public.  I had heard at one time the Shore Path ran almost all the way to Compass Harbor, back in the day.  I had also read where a turret or tower was located along the Shore Path, a photo of it is below, though I don't know if it is still there today or was torn down at some point.  It may of been along the section of path no longer open to the public.

The Bar Harbor Shore Path begins at one corner of the Town pier, next to Agamont Park, with two old large cannons overlooking the start of the path.  At over a century old the path winds along the shoreline offering fine views of the Porcupine Islands, including Bald Porcupine Island where a deep cave is located and where a mysterious bright glowing fern grows, according to several articles this strange moss only grows in this cave.  A break water can be seen at low tide extending from Bald Porcupine Island almost to the shoreline.  The start of the path also passes one of the oldest inns along the water front, the Bar Harbor Inn before passing Grant Park, a perfect spot for afternoon picnics.  You can also view Egg Rock Lighthouse and the  Schoodic Peninsula off in the distance. and the famous Balance Rock is a perfect spot for photos.  Sadly the path today ends after crossing a short footbridge and turning toward Wayman Lane, but back in the day there was a time the path continued onward, passing a turret along the side of the path, with the path ending by Cromwell Harbor.  The path dates back to about 1880 and has some steep drop offs along some sections of the path, so caution should be used if your hiking the three froths of a mile path with young children.

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SHORE PATH EXTENDING TO COMPASS HARBOR
BAR HARBOR SHORE PATH

DREAMWOOD BALLROOM
Ireson's Hill, Bar Harbor

JELLISON'S BARBER SHOP

Cottage Street, Bar Harbor

DOYLE'S MARKET
School Street, Bar Harbor

THE BELMONT HOTEL
Mt. Desert Street, Bar Harbor

W.H. SHERMAN
11 Cottage Street, Bar Harbor

BREWER BROTHERS GROCERY STORE
West Street, Bar Harbor

SPOUTING HORN CAVE AT SCHOONER HEAD

SPOUTING HORN CAVE
Schooner Head - Acadia National Park

Located far below the towering cliffs of Schooner Head is a cave known by the name of Spouting Horn.  When the ocean is rough in Spring and Autumn or when foul weather makes its way up along the coast of Maine, that is when the Spouting Horn really comes to life, much as is the case with nearby Thunder Hole.  For the best of shows it is important to time one's visit to these locations.  I am not sure if this cave can be entered at low tide but I have read old newspaper accounts of people going out by it in boats when the sea was calm.  It is said that as waves crash into the cave, the shape of the cave along with the rocks by the mouth of the cave cause huge sprays of water to shoot high into the air.  Looking at maps it appears access to the land and cliffs above the cave are on private property which means access to the cave would have to be by boat, though on that I am not certain.  At least one old map has the word PARK written on a section of land close to the area where the cliff at Schooner Head peers downward in the direction of the cave and back in the 1800's and early 1900's these cliffs were a very popular spot to go to in order to watch the high sprays of water from the Spouting Horn.  The cave can be entered at low tide, but this is a dangerous cave that is deep and slants downward not far in.

THE SPOUTING HORN CAVE
SCHOONER HEAD
ACADIA NATIONAL PARK

SPOUTING HORN CAVE AT SCHOONER HEAD
ACADIA NATIONAL PARK

PEOPLE ALONG CLIFF LOOKING DOWN AT SPOUTING HORN CAVE
ACADIA NATIONAL PARK

As for step by step instructions on how to reach the Spouting horn Cave, i would direct you to the book, "The Acadia You Haven't Seen,: by Matthew Marchon.  On page 75, is a write up on Meadow Brook Sea Cave - which is also known as The Spouting Horn Cave, his instructions will lead you right to the cave.

You can also contact Matt through his website - link below

LEAVE THE WORLD BELOW

SPOUTING HORN CAVE - SCHOONER HEAD
ACADIA NATIONAL PARK

TRAGIC ACCIDENT AT SPOUTING HORN

Acadia National Park
Spouting Horn Death
Bar Harbor Times
July 6, 1918

DROWNING ACCIDENT AT SCHOONER HEAD

Camera Man For Moving Picture Company Meets Tragic Death

John Von den Brock, camera man for the Maurice Tourneue Production Company of Fort Lee, N.J., was accidentally drowned at Schooner Head on last Saturday.
At the time the accident occurred the company was in the vicinity of the Spouting Horn making a picture and Mr. Von den Brock was on a ledge close to the sea with his back to the water using his camera.  The sea was rough and a heavy swell was running and the director of the company urged Mr. Von den Brock not to stand so close to the water, but the latter said there was no danger and stuck to his position.
The place is a very exposed one and the sea sweeps in from the ocean with nothing to break its force.  When the sea is rough and the tide coming in, it is an exceedingly dangerous place for a person not acquainted with the spot.  One may stand there in perfect safety for half an hour when all at once a big wave will come in with irresistible force.
That is just what happened Saturday.  The picture company had been at work there all the forenoon when at about 12;30 a high wave came in with over-whelming power and took Mr. Von den Brock off his feet and carried him and his camera out to sea.  It happened so quickly that the other members of the company were powerless to render their companion any aid and he was drown before their eyes.
Mr. Von den Brock is said to have been the highest paid camera man in the business and was most popular young man among his associates.  He was 23 years of age, unmarried and resided at 156 Riverside Drive, New York City.

Sand Beach, Anemone Cave
Acadia National Park

THE OLD CURIOSITY SHOP
Bar Harbor Maine

ART SHOP
Bar Harbor Maine

BUILDING OF THE ARTS
Bar Harbor Maine

MEZENEN & REED GARAGE
Cottage Street, Bar Harbor

THE VANTA BABY GARMENTS
Main Street Bar Harbor

BAR HARBOR BAKERY
School Street Bar Harbor

Christian Mezenen - Local Businessman

SCHOONER HEAD ROAD UNMARKED PATHS

SCHOONER HEAD ROAD UNMARKED PATHS

There are four unmarked paths along the Schooner Head Road, all on National Park Property and all were once roads, now blocked off at the start of each by large rocks or blocks of granite.  Each path is unique in its own way.

PATH ONE
Path one was once a very expensive road, as nearly one entire side of the road is well built up with stone work and large boulders mark much of the side of it, though of the four paths, the start of path one is easy to miss as it sets further back from the roadway.  When we first followed this path we named it the experimental path, as it leads to an area in the woods where over 10 tree's are tagged and spray painted with markings.  The path exits the woods at an circular open granite area with a number of iron stakes embedded into the granite which appear to have once been some type of tie down stakes, perhaps a tower of some sort was once located there.

Interesting stonework all along path one

Large rocks line one side of path

Iron or steel tie down stakes around open granite area

Path one with built up side

PATH TWO
This path is easy to spot from the road and very well worn for the first section, but the further you go down it it gets harder to follow before finally connecting with the well worn first path.  It forms a loop with path one at one point and path two continues on for a ways more.

Path two

PATH THREE
This path is also easy to spot from the road and runs almost in a straight line through the woods to a cliff over looking the ocean.  There are a few large fallen trees you have to walk around along the way.  At the end of the path is a small circle drive or turn around, to the left a couple sections of foundation or walls, to the right, just past a tree by the cliff is a worn path with a more interesting set of remains, you can see where the doorway use to be.  Follow the path several more yards and to the right before a very large boulder you will find piles of old brick and sections of an old chimney.  There are also a few iron and metal items scattered around the area as well.
Path four runs through the woods and connects to this path but you have to be looking for where they connect, about two thirds of the way down along path 3.

unmarked Path three - Schooner Head Road

section of foundation - path three

section of foundation - path three schooner Head Road

section of foundations

old foundation - unmarked path
Schooner Head Road, Acadia National Park

PATH FOUR
This is the only tiny dirt parking area along the Schooner Head Road, and nearly every time I have gone down the main road I have spotted a ranger truck parked or just leaving the tiny parking area.  Once we saw a couple rangers in the small field just down the path, my guess is they are monitoring something in the area of that field.
A deep cellar with all its walls in tact is several yards down the path and to the left, gps for foundation is N 44 21' 582" - W 068 11' 182".  Other slabs and sections of old walls can be found by searching the nearby area not far from the main foundation.
This fourth path leads down through the woods and turns to the left and continues on until it connects with path three, keep your eye out for a faint path which runs through the woods to the edge of the ocean.  From the waters edge you can see a small island not too far away with many birds on it, the birds have been there every time I have gone there.  You also can see Egg Rock Lighthouse as well off to the right of where the birds are located.

Foundation by Schooner Head Road
Acadia National Park

Stone work by path four
Schooner Head Road

Foundations - path four
Schooner Head Road
Acadia National Park

Unmarked path four - Schooner Head Road
Acadia National Park

Unmarked path - Schooner Head Road
Acadia National Park

OCEAN PATH
Look for a worn path leading  the ocean where there are wide open views by a rough beach, and you get a nice view of Egg Rock Lighthouse in the distance.

Unmarked Schooner Head Road Path to Ocean
Acadia National Park

EGG ROCK LIGHTHOUSE
Unmarked Schooner Head Road Path
Acadia National Park

Ocean view from unmarked ocean path
Schooner Head Road
Acadia National Park

SCHOONER HEAD ROAD - Unmarked Paths
Acadia National Park

Path 1 GPS
start of path
N 44 21' 771"
W 068 11' 278"
At open granite
N 44 21' 720"
W 068 11' 078"

Start of path 2
N 44 21' 751"
W 068 11' 248"

Start of path 3
N 44 21' 642"
W 068 11' 214"
Interesting house remains
N 44 21' 675"
W 068 10' 984"

Tiny parking area
path 4
N 44 21' 572'
W 068 11' 198"

A faint path leads
to ocean

Schooner Head Road
Acadia National Park

Z.H. CLEAVES
Bar Harbor

LAFAYETTE NATIONAL PARK BUCKBOARD RUNS
Bar Harbor

HARRY BURNETT'S MARIONETTES
Building Of The Arts
Bar Harbor

CONRAY'S CAFE
West Street, Bar Harbor

LAFAYETTE CAFE
49 Main Street, Bar Harbor

BUICK AD

GARHAM'S GARAGE
Main Street, Bar Harbor