The Shore Path is a

coastal path A coastal path (or a littoral path) is a trail along a sea shore or a lake shore for pedestrians, and sometimes for cyclists or equestrians. Some coastal paths were originally created for use by customs or coastguard officials looking out for s ...

Bar Harbor Bar Harbor is a resort town on Mount Desert Island in Hancock County, Maine, United States. As of the 2020 census, its population is 5,089. During the summer and fall seasons, it is a popular tourist destination and, until a catastrophic fire ...

Maine Maine () is a state in the New England and Northeastern regions of the United States. It borders New Hampshire to the west, the Gulf of Maine to the southeast, and the Canadian provinces of New Brunswick and Quebec to the northeast and north ...

, United States. Established in 1881, it runs along the shore of

Frenchman Bay Frenchman Bay is a bay in Hancock County, Maine, named for Samuel de Champlain, the French French (french: français(e), link=no) may refer to: * Something of, from, or related to France ** French language, which originated in France, and its ...

, from Ells Pier, beside

Agamont Park Agamont Park (originally Bar Harbor Park) is an urban park in Bar Harbor, Maine, United States. It is located at the northern end of the town's Main Street, at its intersection with West Street. The park, set upon a hill, affords 180-degree view ...

, in the north to an east–west-running continuation of the path at the eastern end of Wayman Lane. To the west of the path, mostly in its southern section, are the properties of several of Bar Harbor's historic "cottages". Several exits along its route lead through to Bar Harbor's Main Street (about away at its most distant point). Cycling is not permitted on the Shore Path. Balance Rock, deposited during an

ice age An ice age is a long period of reduction in the temperature of Earth's surface and atmosphere, resulting in the presence or expansion of continental and polar ice sheets and alpine glaciers. Earth's climate alternates between ice ages and gree ...

, is located on the shore beside the path."Balance Rock along Shore Path, Bar Harbor, ca. 1939"
– Maine Memory Between 2012 and 2016, Bar Harbor's Village Improvement Association (VIA) spent $150,000 repairing and improving of the Shore Path. This work included resurfacing the gravel path and rebuilding seawalls. A new bench commemorating the donor of Glen Mary Park, Mary Shannon, was installed in the fall of 2014. The VIA pledged another $30,000 to improve the path in front of Grant Park, which was redone in coordination with the redevelopment of the park in 2017.Recent projects
– Bar Harbor Village Improvement Association

Route description

From the town pier, the path runs east initially, then south after it passes the lawn of the

Bar Harbor Inn The Bar Harbor Inn is an inn in Bar Harbor, Maine. It was built in 1887, and has been an inn since 1950. The inn has accommodations in the main building, Oceanfront Lodge and The Newport. It has two restaurants: the Reading Room and (in the high s ...

and Uncle Steve's Point. Grant Park is next, just north of the Balance Rock Inn. An exit, leading to Main Street's village green via Albert Meadow, is here. Continuing, past the

Tudor Revival Tudor Revival architecture (also known as mock Tudor in the UK) first manifested itself in domestic architecture in the United Kingdom in the latter half of the 19th century. Based on revival of aspects that were perceived as Tudor architecture ...

-style

John Innes Kane Cottage The John Innes Kane Cottage, also known as Breakwater and Atlantique, is a historic summer estate house at 45 Hancock Street in Bar Harbor, Maine. Built in 1903-04 for John Innes Kane, a wealthy grandson Bar Harbor Inn The Bar Harbor Inn is an inn in Bar Harbor, Maine. It was built in 1887, and has been an inn since 1950. The inn has accommodations in the main building, Oceanfront Lodge and The Newport. It has two restaurants: the Reading Room and (in the high s ...

File:Balance Rock.jpg, Balance Rock, looking north to

Bar Island Bar Island () is a tidal island across from Bar Harbor on Mount Desert Island, Maine, United States. The uninhabited island is mostly forested in pine and birch trees and the island is now part of Acadia National Park Acadia National Park i ...

References

External links

The Shore Path
– Bar Harbor Village Improvement Association

– Acadia Magic {{commons category Bar Harbor, Maine Footpaths in the United States 1881 establishments in Maine