PET FRIENDLY Mount Desert Island/Acadia National Park

There are plenty of pet-friendly hotels in the vicinity of Mount Desert Island. And this jewel of the Maine coast offers endless opportunities for you to relax and have fun with your pet, dog or cat, no matter the season. At pet-friendly Mount Desert Island, you can hike around the park on its trails or carriage paths and get stunning views of the ocean and seascapes at every turn.

We’ve found pet-friendly Acadia National Park to be a dog-walker’s paradise. There you are, on a solitary walk with your dog enjoying the spectacular scenery and then you round a bend and suddenly you come across someone else with their dog and you start talking and enjoying their company and then you’re off again by yourself. It’s the best kind of walk: both public and solitary, social and private, relaxing and surprising. Just what you want on a pet-friendly vacation.

In addition to all the pet-friendly trails and carriage road in the park, one of our favorite walks is the one from Bar Harbor to Bar Island. This one is tide-sensitive, as the walk depends on the tide going out, which creates a sandbar connecting Bar Harbor to Bar Island. It's a lovely walk, but mind the clock and the tide so you and your pooch don't get stranded there or, worse, get caught in the incoming tide.

Another wonderful way to enjoy the beauty of Mount Desert Island with your canine is to see it by boat. Acadian Boat Tours offers 2-hour-long nature cruises that depart from Bar Harbor. Keep your pup on a short leash and he's welcome to join you! You can also take a ferry over to the Cranberry Isles (your pet is welcome on the ferries). There’s not a lot to do on Great and Little Cranberry Islands, but you can get some quality time in by taking walks with your dog as you enjoy spectacular views of Mount Desert Island across the water.

And it wouldn't be a trip to Maine without getting your fill of lobster. The best way to do that is to visit one of Mount Desert Island's pet-friendly lobster pounds: Stewman's Lobster Pound or C-Ray Lobster in Bar Harbor, Beal's Lobster Pier in Southwest Harbor, or Seafood Ketch Restaurant in Bass Harbor.

The bottom line is, you’ll find that there’s plenty of beautiful scenery, dog-friendly activities, and pet-friendly lodgings on Mount Desert Island and Acadia National Park.