Paddling near Bar Harbor, ME

Bar Harbor sits on Mount Desert Island in Hancock County, Maine, at the edge of Acadia National Park. The area draws paddlers to Frenchman Bay, the Porcupine Islands, sheltered inland lakes like Echo Lake, and the protected waters of the Mount Desert Narrows. Sea kayaking is the dominant discipline here, with a dramatic granite coastline, offshore islands, sea caves, and regular sightings of harbor seals, porpoises, bald eagles, and seabirds. Stand-up paddleboarding has grown steadily as well, particularly on the calmer inland lakes and protected coastal coves around the island.