STANLEY BROOK BRIDGE

A Magnificent Bridge over the Road:

As the last of Rockefeller's classic carriage-road bridges to be built (in 1933), Stanley Brook Bridge is also one of the most magnificent, welcoming drivers from the Stanley Brook Entrance near Seal Harbor into Acadia National Park. Each of the three arches has a purpose: automobile traffic goes under the large middle arch, the Seaside Path (hiking trail) goes under the smaller west arch arch, and Stanley Brook flows under the smaller eastern arch. This bridge and carriage road connect the Jordan Pond carriage roads with the Day Mountain carriage road loop to the east.

To see Stanley Brook Bridge in person, you could just drive to it; however roadside parking is very limited. There are a few pull-off areas, but many are closed as restoration areas, so please obey all "no parking" signs in the area. Alternatively, you could start at the Jordan Pond House and hike the carriage roads for roughly one mile to the bridge. (As many of these carriage roads in this area are on private property, biking is prohibited for much of this route.)

For a more interesting hike to the Stanley Brook Bridge, you can hike the lesser-known Seaside Trail; just east of Junction 16 near the Jordan Pond House, look for the "Seaside" Trailhead marker nailed to a tree. The trail heads south and then crosses over and parallels the carriage road to head right through the arch of Stanley Brook Bridge. (See map below.) While you are in the area, consider hiking east across the bridge to visit nearby Jordan Pond Road Bridge.

To navigate the trails and carriage roads of Acadia and find the classic stone bridges, get a copy of the wonderful Map Adventures Acadia National Park Trail Map or Diane Abrell's Carriage Roads of Acadia: A Pocket Guide. And for more in depth information on the construction and history of the bridges, please see Robert Thayer's Acadia's Carriage Roads book.