A portion of the Park Loop Road along the ocean remains open through the winter with access from Route 3 and the Schooner Head Road (see Winter Activity Guide map). You might enjoy a walk along Sand Beach, or if ice conditions permit, a hike on Great Head near Sand Beach.
In Bar Harbor, at low tide, you can explore the sand bar between the town and Bar Island. You might be treated to a glimpse of an Oldsquaw, Common Loon, Bufflehead or Scoter. Driving along Sargent Drive wfll take you along the shores of Somes Sound. Carved by glaciers, the steep granite walls drop dramaticary to the sea forming the only fjord on the east coast of the United States. (No motor homes are allowed on Sargent Drive.) For a short walk explore Jordan Pond Nature Trail (1 mile round trip) or Ship Harbor Nature Trail (1.1 mile round trip). Over 120 miles of trails in the park offer a variety of longer hiking options. Weather and safety considerations, such as ice on the trails, will determine the best areas.
