Help on portland to bar harbor and back scenic driving loop?

Hi to all,

First time visit to Maine from across the globe :)

I would love some help or advice on my plan:

Coming from Portland at October 11th, my plan is to drive up towards Belfast along the shore.

Stay a night at Belfast and head the next day to Bar Harbor and Acadia national park (with a stop at fort Knox).

Spend 2 days around Bar Harbor with trips around the park (bikes, hikes etc).

My problem is really choosing the way back to Portland - I just saw some amazing pictures of the Kancamagus Hwy which really define what I am looking for: Great fall views, where you can (maybe?) stop along the way for some short hikes, rivers along the road etc.

So I was considering going back from Bar Harbor to bethel in a day and then do bethel to Portland through Kancamagus Hwy the next day.

I am just not sure if I am not taking a much too long way from bar harbor for these 2 days, as I have to be back in Portland at October 16th,i can not have more time to spare.

If anyone has a better idea of a way that has same kind of views which is shorter/less busy I would love to hear your advice.

(To sum it up-I want to see the coastal parts the first 2 days and the forests/rivers the last 2 days..)

Thanks鈥?a lot in advance,

gil

Help on portland to bar harbor and back scenic driving loop?

Hi d gil72,

The Kangamangous Highway is in New Hampshire and not in Maine in case you%26#39;re a bit confused :). It is just beyond the North Conway area and about an hour%26#39;s drive west of Portland. It is also one of the most popular scenic highways during leaf peeping season so there could be alot of traffic. However, it is a beautiful drive w/lots of areas to pullover and get out of the car to enjoy the sights of color and mountains.

As far as whether its too much driving in a short period of time between Bar Harbor, Portland, etc. that%26#39;s up to you. It all depends on how you like to spend your time, if you like to stop alot or just whiz along.

Purchase a good New England map and that might help w/distances, etc.

Good luck!

cozyharbor

Help on portland to bar harbor and back scenic driving loop?

Just some suggestions:

1) on your way to Bar harbor, you might want to stop in Camden to spend some time or stay overnight. THe Camden Hills State park has some amazing views of the ocean and a number of hiking trails that top out on cliffs that also have amazing views of the ocean, mounatains and lakes.

2) On your return trip, if you go to Bethel, suggest you drive over to Gorham NH, then drive down rt 16 to North COnway...that is a beatiful drive with great views of Mt Washington. Highly recommended is a drive to mot Washington Summit which can be accessed from rt 16 a few miles south of Gorham.. From North Conway, you could then pick up the Kancamagus highway fror that drive which is really scenic

Overall though, there is quite a bit of driving that you have to do to accomplish this...Although Camden and Acadia may fill your mountain / ocean scenery interests

Bethel to Portland via ';the Kanc'; could turn out to be a very long day if you spend much time out of the car.

Would suggest a variation of your plans which will still give you some good mountain scenery, a chance to get out of the car a bit, and not have you on the road until the middle of the evening.... actually a variation on the plan already suggested above...

From Bethel, take US 2 to Gorham, NH. South from Gorham on Rt 16 through Pinkham Notch...home of the headquarters of the Appalichian Trail Club, which may be a source of good, local hikes since you%26#39;re passing their front door anyway. Would definitely consider including the Mt Washington Auto Road, depending on the weather....but please remember than can be great temperature variations from the base of the Auto Road to the summit, so take something warm (and perhaps windproof) to wear if you do go up. Folks at the ticket stand at the base of the Auto Road can tell you more about summit conditions on any given day.

Follow Rt 16 south to the village of Jackson, then swing left into the village itself (or, if you miss the first turn, keep going south on 16 beyond the golf course and turn left through the covered bridge). Either way, you%26#39;re looking for Rt 16A which makes a short (ten miles or less) loop up the side of the mountain and back again, with a good-sized stream (waterfalls, old mill sites, etc) which parallels the road much of the way. From Jackson, follow Rt 16 south to US 302 in Glen, then 302 South through North Conway and on to Portland, ME.

If you still have time when you get into North Conway, turn right at the first traffic light and go down the hill and under the railroad overpass...then look to your right for a great view of Mt Washington. Continuing on this road will take you to Cathedral Ledge...you can drive to the top and get out and walk to the edge for a great view down the valley and to Mt Cranmore on the other side.

Should still give you a good feel for the woods-and-waters without adding the extra three to four hours of travel time you%26#39;d need to ';do the Kanc'; and get back to Portland that night.

thank you all for the info!

MainerOnTheGo - it seems your advice would take me off the ';kanc'; idea :)

i%26#39;m affraid traffic would be very bad on october 15 because it is peak time and close to the long weekend of 10-13 of october,do you think i%26#39;m right here?

Also noticed that peak foilage is allready on full effect and it might be abit too late ';doing the kanc'; in a week and a half from today?

(i posted a seperate question about it...)

Last idea - i was wondering changing the plan on heading back from bar harbor to portland doing some part of the old canada road instaed of the route you advised me about - Do you think this road also have this kond of ';feel';? or is it more of a ';drive through'; without too many places to stop along the way for short hikes,streams and rivers etc..

Thank you again!

Gil

Just too add to my last post about going theough old canada way,i%26#39;m talking about this kind of route:

a more ';southern'; route from bar harbor to portland which is not along the shore?

I was thinking going through watervile,down to augusta,than to lewiston - spend the night around there..than the next day go from lewiston to freyburg and down to portland through hwy 113 , which suppose to be very scenic?

my aim is to make a shorter drive than going all the way up to bethel,but still have good foilage views.

(as i guess peak foilage would get to the south area last...)

thank you ,

gil

On your way up through Belfast, Bucksport, etc., look for the ';Big Chicken Barn'; on your right halfway between Bucksport and Ellsworth. I love to stop in there - it%26#39;s like a giant indoor flea market/antique shop. www.bigchickenbarn.com

If you end up taking the short route back, through Bangor, consider a stop in Augusta at the Maine State Museum. It%26#39;s really good, rated (I%26#39;ve heard) one of the best of all the states.

www.maine.gov/museum/

RE: your concern about timing of the foliage. For information about Maine foliage, the definitive source is the website of the State of Maine Department of Conservation. It%26#39;s updated weekly (or more often) using information gathered from state forest rangers across the state.

For the latest info: www.mainefoliage.com

becca