About Acadia Horses
Acadia Horses is a horse-drawn carriage experience and equestrian education centre located just minutes from downtown Ellsworth, serving as a gateway activity for visitors heading to Bar Harbor and Acadia National Park. The operation keeps a stable of draft horses that have worked the carriage roads and surrounding trails for between 4 and 16 years, giving each ride a sense of history and partnership between horse and handler.
The core offering is a scenic wagon ride through forested trails, led by experienced teamsters who share stories about the horses, the landscape, and Maine's carriage-driving tradition. Beyond rides, Acadia Horses runs immersive hands-on experiences designed for all ages — participants learn grooming, feeding, harnessing, and the daily care routines that go into working with draft horses. These educational sessions make the visit more than a passive ride and appeal to families with horse-curious kids.
Open seven days a week from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. during the season, Acadia Horses provides a quieter, more personal alternative to the larger carriage operations inside the national park. The small-group format and focus on horse welfare set the tone — this is about connection with the animals, not just a scenic loop. It is an easy half-day add-on for visitors on their way between Ellsworth and Bar Harbor.
