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Bar Island Trails, Bar Harbor

4.6

#7 of 11 in Parks in Bar Harbor

Hiking Trail Nature / Park

• ©

Bar Island is a tidal island across from Bar Harbor on Mount Desert Island, Maine, United States. The uninhabited island forested mostly in pine and birch is now part of Acadia National Park. There are walking trails on the island. A sand and gravel bar exposed only a couple of hours at low tide connects Bar Island to Bridge Street in Bar Harbor. At low tide visitors often walk across, or park cars on the exposed bar. However, on the island side in front of a locked gate, only a small area fringed with dense sea rose bushes is elevated enough to provide safe parking. Visitors have been known to return from a hike to find their cars submerging and themselves stranded until the tide recedes.
The town of Bar Harbor has repeatedly attempted to obtain jurisdiction over this island connected to it by the eponymous bar, but a 1903 court decision confirmed that the distant town of Gouldsboro retains jurisdiction under its 1798 articles of incorporation.

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Bar Island Trails Reviews

Rate this attraction

TripAdvisor Traveler Rating

180 reviews

Google

4.6

facebook

5.0

44 likes

• By rogergrippe

  It’s a sandbar that surfaces at low tide - provides an easy walk to Bar Island. There are a couple of trails on the island, but nothing too spectacular. It’s just fun thinking that you are walking acr...  more »

• By Joy G

  Bar Harbor got its name from the sand bar that is revealed at low tide. You can walk across the sand bar to Bar Island and hike to the top. You have about a 3 hour window to explore the Bar Island and...  more »

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Google

• By Deian Tabakov

  A great place from which to see the harbor. There is a short tail up to a unimpressive summit. Don't get stranded.

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• By Toxic Doll

  Super fun to be on. You feel like you've accomplished the impossible. Trail did not seem to go around Island fully. I'm sure you can create your own walk without trouble. Tides to watch for. Very nice to see Bar Harbor from the sea.

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