BAR HARBOR, ME — Help maintain the historic carriage roads and trails of Acadia National Park while enjoying some Halloween camaraderie during the final day of Friends of Acadia’s Drop-in Stewardship Volunteer Program.

Trick or Trails runs from 8:15 a.m. to 12:15 p.m. on Thursday, October 29, weather permitting, and no experience or registration is required.

Led by knowledgeable Volunteer Crew Leaders, volunteers will help with important work in the park, like trimming back vegetation, clearing drainage features, and other tasks that help keep our trails looking great. Tools and guidance are provided, and all abilities are welcome.

The Trick or Trails event marks the final day of the Drop-in Volunteer Program season, which runs three days a week from June through October. To celebrate an impactful volunteer season and upcoming Halloween, volunteers are encouraged to dress in costume (although costumes are not required).

Volunteers can expect a morning of light trail work that supports the park, some sugary goodies along the way, and a deeper connection to Acadia.

The meeting location is at the Hulls Cove Storage Facility near the Visitor Center. There, volunteers will meet crew leaders and learn more about the day’s project (and show off their costumes, if they’d like). Transportation is provided from the meeting location to the trail, as are tools, gloves, and guidance.

Volunteers should bring water, snacks, clothing layers, and sturdy closed-toe shoes.

“Trick or Trails is a fun way to close out an impactful volunteer season in Acadia,” said Brian Sale, Friends of Acadia’s stewardship manager. “Our dedicated volunteers have accomplished a great deal this year, from cutting back vegetation and building bogwalk to weeding carriage roads and spreading gravel. Some light trail work, good humor, and Halloween costumes are an excellent way to end the season.”

Trick or Trails runs from 8:15 a.m. to 12:15 p.m. on Thursday, October 29. No registration is needed. For more information, go to: friendsofacadia.org/dropin.

Special thanks to Chilton Trust, presenting sponsor of the Drop-in Stewardship Program.

While Trick or Trails marks the end of our Drop-in Stewardship Volunteer Program season, there’s still one more opportunity to lend a hand on the carriage roads! Join us on Saturday, November 7, for our 34th annual Take Pride in Acadia Day. Register by October 30.

Costumed Drop-in Stewardship Program volunteers pose in front of the Duck Brook Connector Trail during Trick or Trails in 2025. Volunteers wore costumes while they trimmed vegetation and raked leaves on Acadia’s trails. (Rhiannon Johnston/Friends of Acadia)

Steph Ley (front), Friends of Acadia Summit Steward manager, and Nathaniel Burke, Acadia National Park trail worker, rake leaves in Halloween costumes during Trick or Trails, the Friends of Acadia Stewardship Crew’s final volunteer drop-in event of the season. (Lily LaRegina/Friends of Acadia)

Volunteers sport costumes and complete some light trail work in Acadia National Park during Trick or Trails, the final day of the Drop-in Stewardship Volunteer Program. (Shannon Bryan/Friends of Acadia)

Lillian Abbott (left) and Stephanie Ley (right), along with other volunteers with Friends of Acadia, participate in brushing the Duck Brook Connector Trail in costumes during the annual Trick or Trails event. (Rhiannon Johnston/Friends of Acadia)