Know where to run
before you unpack.

Thirteen miles around a Maine island is not something most runners can say they've done. This full loop from Boothbay Harbor crosses the Southport Bridge, circumnavigates the island on quiet peninsula roads, and rewards every climb with the kind of coastal view that makes you forget your legs hurt. The rolling hills are relentless but never cruel — you earn each one and the ocean is never far from sight. Out and back you will find Robinson's Wharf which sits right on the water — lobster boats, working docks, the real Maine. The Southport General Store is your mid-run lifeline for a potty break, water, a snack, or just an excuse to stop and take it all in. Cross back over the bridge on the return and you'll feel a real sense of gratitude for the work you put in, and also the wonder of a gorgeous Maine run!

Eagle Lake sits in the heart of Acadia National Park, and this 7.4-mile loop around it is one of the finest carriage road runs in New England. The surface is smooth packed gravel — wide, well-maintained, and built by the Rockefeller family a century ago. You're in the trees for much of it, with the lake appearing through the pines in glimpses that make you slow down every time. The elevation is gentle and rolling — nothing that'll break you, everything that'll reward you. No cars, no traffic, just you, the lake, and the kind of quiet that Bar Harbor delivers when you get off the main road. An absolute must-run if you're visiting Acadia.

One of the finest road runs on the Boothbay Peninsula — this out-and-back takes you from the harbor out to Spruce Point, where the Atlantic opens up in front of you in a way that stops you mid-stride. The route follows the harbor's edge before climbing gently out to the point, passing the iconic Spruce Point Inn along the way. Water views are with you for nearly the entire run, with the kind of scenery that makes you forget you're working. Just the right amount of rolling hills will have you feeling grateful, and ready to indulge in a delicious breakfast with no regrets!