Acadia National Park hosts Take Pride on 7 November

Acadia National Park and Friends of Acadia will hold Take Pride in Acadia Day on 7 November 2026, bringing volunteers to the historic carriage roads near Bar Harbor, United States. The annual stewardship event will combine practical conservation work with a communal lunch at the Hulls Cove Visitor Center.

Volunteers will rake leaves and clear drainage features before winter. The work is intended to keep water moving through ditches and culverts, helping protect the road surfaces from erosion and washouts during winter storms and spring snowmelt.

Take Pride in Acadia Day brings volunteers to the carriage roads

The event will begin at 8.30am on 7 November 2026. Friends of Acadia says volunteers will receive their assigned meeting locations along the carriage roads before the event, while the organisers ask participants to register by 30 October.

Work groups will clear leaves from drainage ditches, culverts and related features. After the morning activity, participants will gather at noon for lunch at the Hulls Cove Visitor Center in Bar Harbor, with chili, cornbread, cake and cider on the menu according to the organisers.

Take Pride in Acadia Day is now in its 34th year. The event is open to volunteers of all ages, and registration is required. The 7 November programme was announced by Friends of Acadia on 8 October 2026.

Acadia National Park's carriage roads connect history and conservation

The conservation task is closely tied to the place's historic transport network. The National Park Service describes 45 miles of rustic carriage roads crossing the mountains and valleys of Mount Desert Island. The roads were built between 1913 and 1940 through the work of John D. Rockefeller Jr. and his family.

Approximately 16 feet wide, the roads use broken stone and include stone-faced bridges, gate lodges and drainage structures. They are now shared by pedestrians, cyclists and horse-drawn carriages, while motor vehicles are excluded from these auto-free routes. Clearing leaves before winter therefore protects both a historic feature and a working recreational network. The carriage road system is documented by the National Park Service.

Visiting Acadia National Park: what travellers from Western Europe should know

• Take Pride in Acadia Day takes place on 7 November 2026. The programme starts at 8.30am, and lunch is scheduled for noon at the Hulls Cove Visitor Center.
• Access to the volunteer activity requires registration by 30 October 2026. Meeting locations on the carriage roads are assigned to registered volunteers before the event.
• Acadia National Park is in Maine, with the main event administration based at the Hulls Cove Visitor Center in Bar Harbor. The carriage roads are used by walkers, cyclists and horse-drawn carriages.
• The historic roads are approximately 16 feet wide and include drainage ditches, culverts, bridges and sections that follow hilly terrain. Volunteers should bring closed-toe shoes, a reusable water bottle and suitable clothing.
• Entry requirements depend on your nationality; UK travellers can check the FCDO travel advice at gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice, Irish travellers the Department of Foreign Affairs at ireland.ie.

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Frequently asked questions about Acadia National Park

When does Take Pride in Acadia Day take place at Acadia National Park?

Take Pride in Acadia Day takes place on 7 November 2026. The event begins at 8.30am.

Where is Acadia National Park and how do you get there?

The park is in Maine, with the Hulls Cove Visitor Center at 25 Visitor Center Road in Bar Harbor. The event's meeting locations are assigned along the carriage roads.

What is Acadia National Park?

It is a national park whose historic carriage-road system covers 45 miles. The roads were built between 1913 and 1940 and are used by walkers, cyclists and horse-drawn carriages.