Moving heavy rock is a big part of building and maintaining trails in Acadia National Park. But there’s so much more to it.




Maple Stream Trail
Acadia’s Trail Crew finds balance between historic preservation and a changing climate as they rebuild the Maple Spring Trail.


Meet Our VCLs
Volunteer Crew Leaders (VCLs) are the backbone of the Drop-In Trails and Carriage Roads Stewardship Volunteer Program.


Special Person: Brett Binns
For 15 years, Brett and Celina Binns have been giving to Friends of Acadia. As they settled into retirement on the Schoodic Peninsula, Brett also became a year-round volunteer. I sat down to ask Brett about why he gives back to Acadia in so many ways.


Special Person: Gary Stellpflug
After 35 years with the National Park Service—most of it as
Trails Foreman—Gary Stellpflug knows just about every inch
of Acadia’s 155-mile trail system.


Making Acadia Accessible to All
A new accessible carriage was added to the fleet of carriages used by park concessionaire, Carriages of Acadia, for tours in the park.


Acadia’s Historic Trails
This spring, Acadia’s hiking trails were listed in the national register, recognizing their national historic significance and ties to the history of MDI and Acadia National Park.


Climate Change Means Difficult Decisions
Early on Wednesday, June 9, 2021, rain began to fall. It had been hot, and the warm air held a lot of moisture. Inches of rain fell within a few hours.


Passion, Perseverance, and Partnership
Passion, perseverance, and partnership. That pretty much sums up the success of the Acadia Winter Trails Association (AWTA) over the last 30 years.


The American Birkebeiner Comes to Acadia
Every February, I ski the American Birkebeiner—a.k.a, “the Birkie”—which draws 10,000 cross-country skiers for a 50-km race through northern Wisconsin, finishing on a snowed-in Main Street in Hayward. In 2021, the Birkie came to Acadia.