Paddling near Southwest Harbor, ME

Southwest Harbor sits on the quiet western side of Mount Desert Island in Hancock County, Maine, within reach of Acadia National Park's coastal and inland waters. Sea kayaking is the dominant paddling pursuit here, with guided tours running through Somes Sound, Western Bay (Pretty Marsh), and Blue Hill Bay. Long Pond and Echo Lake draw SUP and flatwater paddlers, while a public boat ramp in Southwest Harbor gives independent paddlers direct access to the island's tidal waters.