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Inn at Isle au Haut

The Inn at Isle au Haut provides rooms and meals on a Maine island six miles out to sea from Stonington Maine, where Innkeeper Diana Santospago greets you at the Island's dock. Enjoy the simplicity and quiet, with elegant meals provided for you: home-baked breads and desserts, carefully chosen fresh ingredients, and delicious cooking.

Located on the quiet eastern shore, the Inn is a bike ride away from the entrance to Acadia National Park and the town landing, with commanding views of Cadillac Mountain and the surrounding islands.

Relax on the front porch by the ocean’s edge, contemplating a bygone era of peg-legged sea captains and sailing ships while watching local lobstermen haul their pots.

A naturalists' and artists' Nirvana, and total 'get away from it all' experience, the Inn at Isle au Haut offers the opportunity for visitors to explore the unmatched natural beauty of the most remote sector of Acadia National Park. There are 18 miles of hiking trails accessed by one circuitous, mostly dirt, road. Wind your way through forest, ledges, marshes and shore with no distractions save for the sea song, the cry of the gulls, and a lobster boat or two working the bay. Chance to catch a seal frolicking in the surf, or a bald eagle riding the thermals; enjoy a trail with only you on it.

Your two-night stay begins with arrival at the town dock on Isle au Haut. Innkeeper Diana Santospago will meet you for the final leg of your journey, a 2 ½-mile drive to the Inn on the east side of the island. After settling in your cozy room, unwind, and sip some blueberry lemonade in a porch chair just in time to watch lobster boats headed home with the days catch. Relax and enjoy appetizers, followed by a sumptuous dinner in our dining room.

The next morning early risers will find coffee and a baked goody to tide them over until a full sit down breakfast is served between 8 and 9 am. Diana will 'talk trails' with you, offering suggestions for filling your day either hiking in the park or wandering around the island. Hearty lunches are stowed in insulated daypacks and ready for a day of adventuring.

Perhaps you will choose to hike the Goat Trail where you will meander through woods and shoreline that includes Squeaker Cove- named for the Harlequin ducks at home riding the foamy surf. Maybe you will climb Duck Harbor Mountain, to take in sweeping views of Penobscot Bay including Vinalhaven, North Haven and Camden Hills to the northwest; and Matinicus Island and Wooden Ball to the south. Lunchtime could find you settled on a log on the Western Head Trail spying on seals sunning themselves on ledges, or gulls hovering above lobster boats hoping to snatch tidbits of herring bait.

Those preferring to stay closer to home or not ready to brave a bicycle can visit rugged and beautiful Boom Beach. Grab your lunch pack, and maybe a book and your favorite someone, and spend the day inspecting subtly colored, perfectly round rocks tumbled smooth by the ocean, or lounge on the ledges and soak up the surf sound. A bit further down the road, mile-long Long Pond is the place to be for a mid-afternoon swim. Further still is the Thunder Gulch trail, winding through fragrant spruce forest to open ocean and steep ledges that throw up salty spray on all but the calmest of days.

When it's time to call it a day, head 'home' to the Inn and pick up where you left off the night before, with appetizers, dinner and a comfy bed.

Day 2, fortified with breakfast and armed with a packed lunch, offers the opportunity for continued exploring, until time to depart the Inn for the town landing and the mail boat and the return journey home.

Bicycles: The nearest Acadia National Park trailhead is about 3 ½ miles from the Inn. Bicycles are provided for getting around on the island, and to and from the trails. These are single speed, coaster brake, fat tire, fat seated bikes- they are difficult bikes to ride! On our rough island roads, it is best that bicyclists ride slowly, and get off and walk both down and up hills. Helmets are provided and highly recommended. Riders assume all risk of injury. Please note that all bicycles are prohibited on the National Park trails.

Packing Hint: Plan to bring sturdy shoes for negotiating rugged terrain, sweatshirts or jackets for cool island evenings, and rainwear.