Acadia Stand Up Paddle Boarding

Stephanie Tran

2023-09

Overall great experience and I would recommend booking with this shop.Lee was very accommodating despite us being late for our reservation. He carefully instructed us on how to load the paddle boards onto our vehicle with the foam pads and straps.He gave us three paddle boarding spot recommendations. Ponds End doesn’t require a national park entrance ticket so we went there. Nice and peaceful activity.

Mallory Whitt

2023-05

We had such a fun afternoon during a private paddle boarding adventure on Long Pond in Acadia. The guide, Nate, was ready for us when we arrived at the shop. We quickly filled out paperwork and followed him into Acadia (bring your own vehicle pass). Nate handled all equipment and gave clear directions. Once on the water he was able to give us paddling tips and showed up a variety of strokes. Nate spotted bald eagles, snapped pictures for us, and encouraged us to try a headstand. It was the perfect afternoon in Acadia and we would definitely schedule a private paddle board trip again.

Caitlin Boston

2023-09

My husband and I had such a great time with Chris! The entire experience was extremely seamless, from booking to the actual paddle boarding. We loved getting to have a quiet two hours out on the water in the morning and were treated to some absolutely incredibly wildlife moments. Chris was extremely knowledgeable about both the area we were paddling in, providing us with some interesting historic and ecological facts about the area, and the animals and birds that we saw. It was an extremely accessible and conversational approach to learning about a place we were visiting and you can tell Chris really respects the environment he chooses to share with you - it made us even happier to support his business. I would highly recommend SUP to anyone going to Acadia, particularly if you like being on the water, out in nature, or just want to try something new.

Emily Musselwhite

2023-10

Great experience with this shop! Super friendly, helpful, knowledgeable staff and reasonably priced rentals. I did a full day rental and haven't been on a paddleboard in years so I appreciated their patience explaining things and answering questions. I explained I had my dog with me and they gave me some recommendations for some local spots that are dog friendly and we ended up at Ponds End and had a great day on the water. 10/10 recommend this shop and hope to come back next time I visit Bar Harbor!

Casey Solomon

2023-08

Chris and Brynn were fabulous guides and allowed us to go at our own pace since this was our first time paddle boarding. They provided a thorough lesson prior to actually going out on the water.They gave us lots of information about bar harbor throught the tour.

Andrew Ames

2019-05

Probably one of the most underrated experiences and shops in Bar Harbor. This should be first on your list of things to do. To give some background, my girlfriend and I were in Bar Harbor this past weekend during Memorial Day and were trying to do as much as possible within the 3 days we had. One of the things we wanted to do based on past experiences was to kayak, but sadly everything was booked until Monday. We then found Acadia Stand Up Paddle Boarding and immediately went to the shop to book a time. We lucked out and had one of the best experiences ever. Our instructor Chris was an amazing teacher and he was incredibly patient as he wanted to ensure that we were all doing okay and mastering the techniques he taught us while out on the water. He is incredibly knowledgeable about Bar Harbor too, so if you want a bit of background about the area ask away and he’ll deliver. Now for those who are not big into the ocean, but rather hit the lake there is an option available to do so and no matter what you choose, you will have a very intimate experience out there in Acadia (you’ll get to drink in the scenery around you). This is also for everyone so for those newbies out there give it a go and be patient (you’ll realize patience is a theme here) and don’t dive into going solo without instruction. Take the tour with Chris and get your bearings. For the experienced, you can rent the paddle boards at a great price if you are not feeling the tour, but I recommend it if you want to understand the area more. All in all, and not to talk down on kayaking, but if you enjoy the water then you should consider Acadia Stand Up Paddle Boarding as your first option.

Amir Weiss

2022-05

Fantastic shop and standup paddle board tour and rentals. We had a family of 5 that went with Chris to a really beautiful spot a short distance from the shop. Some of us had paddled before and others had their first experience. Chris was patient and professional showing us the basics as well as some tricks.Everything was clean, well kept and really easy to use. Whether you’re athletically oriented or not, this should be something to add to the list when visiting the area. Kids and adults all had a great time.

C A

2019-05

Chris, our instructor and owner of Acadia Stand Up Paddle Boarding, was incredibly knowledgeable not just about paddle boarding but also about the area. He has has been in Acadia for 17 years and has a slew of experience on the waters (kayaking, paddle board, high and low tides) and he will definitely keep you safe! Chris’ advice and recommendations set the tone for the rest of our trip and helped us decide what we wanted to do/where we wanted to eat. On our SUP tour he took us to go look at starfish and it was one of the coolest experiences ever! Chris, thanks so much for the wonderful experience. We look forward to coming back up and seeing you again!

Allison Hoffman

2023-05

This was the highlight of our trip to Maine! Nate was SO patient with our two kids and was able to provide a full fun family experience catering to all of our levels. It was peaceful, challenging and exciting all at the same time - definitely check out this business, ask for Kai to help book it and ask for Nate to guide you!

Michael Kusmierz

2019-05

My girlfriend and I stumbled across Acadia SUP while walking down Main St. We signed up on the spot for a 10AM trip and couldn’t have picked a better activity! I haven’t been SUP’ing for very long and Chris and Curtis were great instructors.We were driven down to the sandbar, and given wetsuits if we wanted them (it’s June and about 60 outside). What an incredible way to get your day going. Chris is very knowledgeable about the area, town history, and Maine geology. He helped improve my technique to be much more efficient and definitely can help anyone progress. We had so much fun out in the harbor working our way up the coastline and trying to do headstands on our boards for fun!I would definitely recommend this place to anyone looking for a fun and exciting experience in Bar Harbor.

Jess Feinberg

2023-07

We had a wonderful experience learning how to paddle board! Julie was a thoughtful, fun, and patient instructor. Can't wait to paddle with her again!

Russell White

2022-05

Unfortunately, the day before our reservation my wife took a nasty tumble while we were biking in Acadia National Park. The following morning we took her into an urgent care in Ellsworth and learned from the X-ray that she fractured two of her toes. I was only able to give the owner a couple hours notice of our cancellation. Given their policy we weren't able to get a refund, but he did give us full credit to a reservation in the future -- meaning we're just postponing our reservation for a later date. Chris was very professional and empathetic with us, especially given the circumstances. His customer service is wonderful and we are appreciative of his willingness to work with us and keep our business. We look forward to returning to Acadia and going on a stand up paddleboard tour. Thank you again for being so kind and flexible!

Christian Malanowski

2021-05

I’ve been interested in getting into SUPs for a while, and could not find a local shop that was overly informative and friendly.The staff here is A+, and I am happy to support this local business.They took their time to answer all my questions and to make sure I walked out with the right product.Thanks for making this a pleasant experience!We will continue to do business with Acadia SUP in the future!If you’re looking for a friendly, non-threatening environment for beginners, look no further!

Rebecca Moody

2019-05

We purchased two boards for our family. The owner, Chris, had honest and useful advice about which boards would be the best fit for our two girls (ages 13 and 11). When we discovered an issue with one of the boards, he handled the issue with fantastic customer service. I highly recommend Acadia SUP.

Janet Bishop

2020-05

Four adults and four kids ranging in ages from 7-60. We had a blast. Everyone got up, paddled, and swam in the pristine waters of Echo Lake. Some of us enjoyed a little yoga; all of us enjoyed the tranquility and beauty of the lake. Becky was a perfect guide. Highly recommend for an unforgettable experience! Wish I could rate it higher than 5!

Julie Waterman

2023-07

Fantastic! The guides there are so skilled at teaching and keeping us safe. The employees are very helpful with making decisions about gear.

vincent cangelosi

2017-05

This s.u.p. is a very friendly and professional business. I booked a afternoon session for 2 and had a very personal, well trained, and fun two hour time.We started out with basic training about how to control the sup board and progressed quickly to move while standing up and not sitting on your knees while paddling.I will say the more in shape that you are the better you will pick up on how to move with the board, but that's with anything involving exercise.All in all all I had a great experience for anyone that has never done sup before and now I wouldn't mind to pick up a used board to get better at it.5 out of 5 would recommend for anyone.

Shane Richard

2021-05

Chris and Nell took my gf and I on a SUP tour with instruction. I had never been on a board before. Both guides were super patient and informative. We enjoyed our trip so much and cannot wait to book another!!!

ELGEA

2023-05

Our guide, Nate, was such a fun tour guide! Very knowledgeable and super laid back. Would recommend for anyone, especially kids who may get a kick out of starfish searching :-)

Lindsay Solie Jensen

2020-05

super cool staff, provided helpful guidance in selecting tour and tour itself was fantastic! we were a mixed level group including beginners and chris’s coaching was simple but effective. beautiful views of the harbor. highly recommend, thanks acadia SUP!

Ann McMillan

2022-05

Paddleboarding in a quiet area of Acadia was the (non-food-related) highlight of our trip! We were very pleased with SUP's service. The area suggested for our solo paddleboarding was quiet and beautiful, with calm, clear water. Thanks SUP!

Rebecca Coppins

2023-05

Had a great paddle boarding session with Nate, who was very patient, knowledgeable and flexible- we even saw a harbour seal up close! Would definitely recommend.

Christopher Black

2019-05

Great time out on the water with Chris. Out of the 6 in our group 4 have never done it before and the other two have gone once. After a quick lesson we were out on the water almost looking like we knew what we were doing. Very enjoyable experience from start to finish.

Eric Chaconas

2023-08

Great paddle shop with very knowledgeable and friendly staff. We did half day rentals was a lot of fun.

Fred Joseph

2018-05

Chris was my guide and is also the owner- very knowledgeable and safety first. This is a great activity that is also beginner friendly. There is no better way to experience the area in a couple of hours.

Bradley Lawrence

2022-05

Love this place! We come to MDI every year and one of our favorite things to do is to rent a paddle board. Great gear and awesome service, delivery and communication!

Abigail Bruce

2021-05

We had a great private guided tour of the bay in Bar Harbor. Our guide was very knowledgable and friendly! Definitely would recommend.

Jorge Mendez

2022-05

Very knowledgeable staff that helped us with the best launching spots in the area. We were helped by Abby. Highly recommended!

Jason Christenson

2019-05

Awesome little store. Very reasonable prices - most of the stuff here is related to swimming and paddle-boarding. Cool!

Kara Street

2022-05

The girl working at the register never moved. I asked about buying a paddle board (over a $1000 sale for her)….she was so unenthusiastic it was pathetic…..too bad! I’ll buy a board elsewhere.