We went on the aqua safari and had an amazing time. The kayaks and equipment were great, and our guide Gabby had a ton of knowledge about the local wildlife. 10/10 would come back for another tour. read more

One of the best guided tours I have been on. Casey is an amazing guide and Jesse was great with the logistics getting us back and forth from the start and finish. The water was relatively calm which made for a nice day of sea kayaking. Casey was great with providing safety instructions before and during the trip. He was a wealth of information about the wildlife, geology of the area, and the history. It was like we had the ocean to ourselves. We saw a couple of bald eagles and tons of seals primarily harbor seals but several gray seals as well. Can't recommend this company enough. Kayak on the quiet side of the island. You won't regret it. My family of four would do this trip again. read more

Took a guided tour of Acadia with Jackson, and Maine State was perfect. Reservations were easy to secure, had every thing ready to go, and guide Jackson was fantastic. Highly recommended taking the guided tour. read more

Great bikes. Excellent pre-ride instruction. It took quite awhile to get going from checkin to departure. Very friendly staff. read more

I walked in without a reservation and was on a bike and on my way to Acadia within 15 minutes. The process was easy, seamless, very pleasant. I especially appreciate the help of Ben who was handling front desk duties when I arrived. He got the paperwork squared away, showed me a tutorial video, suggested routes and gave me valuable info about the area. I'm so glad I was able to do this spontaneously and not run into a lot of restrictions or unavailability of bikes . read more

I rented e-bikes from Maine State Kayak and E-Bike to ride the Carriage Roads in Acadia with my 16-year-old granddaughter, and it was a frustrating experience from the start. I'm a 62-year-old woman, and the staff rushed through the instructions so fast that I barely understood where we were supposed to go. We ended up confused and unsure for most of the ride. The bikes themselves were uncomfortable--the seats were extremely hard, and we were both sore not long into the trip. To make matters worse, there was no place to store anything on the bikes--not even a small bag or water bottle. For the price we paid, I expected more thoughtful equipment and better service. I would not rent from this company again, and I wouldn't recommend them to others planning to explore Acadia's trails. read more

Used the Fat tire bikes for the carriage roads in Arcadia. It was fantastic. Not sure why anyone would rent ebikes without Fat tires! And I ride a regular road bike all the time for recreation. Great directions from staff. read more

Riding the carriage trails on fat tire e-bikes was so fun! Great experience. Smooth check in and return.

Beautiful day yesterday on the water. Thanks to Max for an excellent tour. Saw a bunch off seals and birds and enjoyed the paddle.

We booked all 12 spots on the morning Ocean Safari tour during our family reunion. Amazingly everyone arrived on time. Our guide Isaiah was great... funny and knowledgeable. The morning started misty but cleared quickly. We saw lots of wildlife including 3 bald eagles one of which was in a dog fight with an Osprey. We paddled through many curious seals that popped up all around our kayaks. Three were already sunning themselves on the barely exposed rocks as the tide went out. The trip was fun and beautiful. Everyone had a great time! read more

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Owen is our tour guide. He was very professional and entertaining. His local recommendations were excellent( hike trails, sunset spots etc). Overall, very pleasant experience! read more

Had a great Kayaking run with Main State Sea Kayak. I know very little about Kayaking and the sort but that's not a problem here. After you're booked, when you show up and check in you're prompted on how it will all work and able to buy souvenirs or other potential needs for your trip such as the popular phone holder which allows you to use your phone but protect if from water. You then get an instructional with your Kayak guide who shows you how to gear up, parts of the kayak, where you'll be going, what you may see and more. At this time you're of course able to ask questions and get acquainted with other kayakers if you wish. From here you load up on the bus/van and make your way to the take off point. I really appreciate the guys doing the driving and doing the lifting with the kayaks. Makes it fast and easy as they move everything like they've done it a couple hundred times. Once you get going it feels great, especially if you somewhat enjoy this sort of outing or anything water related. Our guide was helpful the whole step...er paddle of the way giving out tips and sharing history about the surroundings as well as alerting us all of wildlife sightings. He was also humorous which is great if you're nervous. We saw some otters and nests of some egrit. You can see much more than that however. We got a short break on a little cove before getting back on the water for the final stretch. It was a great time and if you're beginner or better, and like water activities I'd definitely say Maine State Sea Kayak is for you. Bring your paddle partner and get on the water. read more

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I paddled with Main State twice last year, the first was a planned aqua safari - Rain and headwinds meant a long slog and few animals. less than an hour after I received a voucher for another safari, good for the entire 2024 season. I did a paddle out of Bar Harbor thst was lovely, and when I found myself back in Acadia in 2024, I tried the safari again - it was a delight. Rob and Owen were great, fun, knowledgable and safe guides. The weather was perfect and the safari a joy. few tour companies have such integrity and customer service. read more

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Our family of five enjoyed an afternoon out with Owen and Izz. They were awesome tour guides. Super personable and knowledgeable - and kept us in stitches with their seafaring jokes. We learned about the various ecosystems, marine life and birds. Highly recommend Owen and Izz. We were safe, had a great time and learned a lot. Thank you again! read more

This tour with Kyle and Carrie was wonderful. It was a beautiful night. The animals and birds were out and about. Our guides were fun and passionate. read more

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wonderful experience with my family! we got up close with a ton of wildlife, including seals, porpoises and a bald eagle. we hired a guide so our 3rd child could go and it was absolutely worth it. read more

We rented the Rad Power wagons for 2 mornings and we're renting for a 3rd. The e-bikes make it so much fun, the hills feel like flat roads with these bikes, it really makes the adventure more enjoyable and less of a slog. The wagon feature also allowed our 5 and 7 year old kids to have a very comfortable ride. Staff was so super friendly and accommodating. Highly recommend this company and the power wagons for biking with younger kids! read more

Carrie was a great guide, very friendly and wonderful with the kids (and parents). We didn't get to see very many seals, but saw several bald eagles. Very peaceful and beautiful surroundings! read more

Maine State Sea Kayak - Getting ready for a beautiful day of kayaking in Acadia! - Rafting/Kayaking Near Me - Bar Harbor, Maine

The the weather was beautiful but the instructor should have stayed with us. He was so far ahead of us we did not catch up. read more

Maine State Sea Kayak - The trip was wonderful, but i felt the instructor should have stayed with us. He was so far, we couldn't hear a thing he said. - Rafting/Kayaking Near Me - Bar Harbor, Maine

DO NOT join with an odd numbered group, or someone will be paired off with a stranger! We did the four hour sea kayaking trip from 4pm to 8pm during low tide. The actual kayaking is about 2 hours. The first hour is instruction and driving to the body of water. Our guide was Alex who is incredibly knowledgeable about MDI and the area. We got to see many seals on the rocks but be warned you cannot approach them due to federal marine wildlife laws. However seals are free to approach you though none of them got close enough to our kayaks. The weather was a bit colder for May. I strongly recommend wearing waterproof layers, both top and bottom. As well as bringing water shoes, as we had to step well above ankle level water when we returned. Be warned it is unlikely the guide will let you have a solo kayak. And be extra warned: DO NOT come with an odd numbered group of people. One of you will be forced to pair with a stranger (or the guide ?). In tandem kayak (2 people) the backseat controls the direction, so make sure you are in the backseat if you are paired with a stranger. We saw a nice lady forced to pair with an immature young college guy outside her group. He proceeded to ruin the trip by playing bumper boats with his buddies and crashing his kayak repeatedly into the shore while she was helpless in the front. The guide was pretty upset but couldn't do anything other than reprimand him over and over again. It completely ruined the trip for everyone. I give 2 stars because they do not handle odd numbered groups nicely nor bad behaving customers. And they do not screen their customers. You should not pair immature college kids with older mature adults. For $73 I expect much nicer service and handling of problematic customera. One bad apple can ruin the trip. Perhaps they should have age separated groups to avoid this in the future. read more

Maine State Sea Kayak - Different birds you can see - Rafting/Kayaking Near Me - Bar Harbor, Maine

Kyle was an amazing tour guide; above and beyond! Our scheduled tour was canceled due to rain, but Kyle said he could take us out on his day off. It was a beautiful night and we got to see his seal friend Becky. read more

Our family (including our 17 y/o and twin 13 y/o boys) rented E-bikes to explore the carriage roads in Acadia, and we couldn't have been happier. When searching for a place for rentals, all of the other companies required riders to be 18 years old. My twins were so bummed, until I found Maine State Kayak and E-Bike Rentals. They provided a map, with simple instructions on how to get to the carriage roads. We rode 27 miles through the mountains, and were able to see so much of the park that we wouldn't otherwise have had the opportunity to explore. It was so much fun and we had one of the best family days ever! read more

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Aqua safari kayak trip with Owen was the highlight of our trip, and that says a lot seeing as Acadia is magnificent in every aspect! Owen was knowledgeable, kept the safety of the participants and wildlife at the highest regard, and very funny (loved the loon joke ;). I was personally nervous as a first time kayaker and loved every single moment! We saw tons of seals, a bald eagle, loons and many other seabirds. Also, thanks for the restaurant and Beech Mountain trailhead recommendations, they made our last night on the island perfect! Highly recommend!! read more

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This was one of our many kyak trips over past 15 years at Bar Harbor ME. We used this sea kyak shop many times because of the less hectic location, great guides and equipment! This is a real nature tour and again we saw bald eagles, osprey, dolphins, harbor and grey seals all within 2 hours on the water! Take this kyak trip whenever you can get a reservation! Great . Dick and Debbie Blanchard read more

One of the highlights of my trip to Acadia National Park/Bar Harbor. Alex, Max, and Kyle were incredibly professional and got all of us newcomers kayaking with no problem. They were very knowledgable about the surrounding nature and gave a great tour, all while managing to herd a group of ~15 tandem kayaks. Would highly recommend, and I hope to be back soon! read more

Maine State Sea Kayak - Hadley Point Kayak route - Rafting/Kayaking Near Me - Bar Harbor, Maine

I took my 13 and 16 year old on a youth kayak tour and it was amazing! They absolutely loved it and hopefully will be kayaking in the near future. We had Anslee (not 100% on spelling) as an instructor and she was very clear in everything she told us and it was a very safe trip. We saw 2 seals and a bald eagles nest on our trip. Highly recommend! We had several young children who were also kayaking and we all stuck together and had fun. read more

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A sea kayak excursion is a must-do when visiting Mount Desert Island/Bar Harbor. Our guide, Rob, was fantastic...skilled, funny, and very knowledgeable of the area and wildlife. 10/10! read more

My in-laws and I had a blast on our family vacation, and our experience with Maine State Sea Kayak was a highlight. Even though we didn't see THAT much wildlife, I appreciated the seamless logistics and the energy of our guide Alex. Upon arrival, we checked in and were asked if we wanted waterproof sleeves for our phones. What a grand idea. We were briefed, did introductions, then loaded up into a van. Alex even made the drive to and from the site very engaging. My husband and I shared a kayak and were wiped by the end of the adventure. We saw porpoises and seals from a distance, though our favorite discovery was the boils of small fish. The weather was great that day, though having quality time was my favorite. Alex took the time to get to know each kayaker throughout the journey, regrouping and pointing out our next destination along the way. Wonderful, experienced guide. If you're looking for a place to kayak, I'd recommend this top-rated agency! read more

We rented e-bikes on our trip to Acadia, and it was probably one of the best experiences of my life! Some of the views we were able to see were so breathtaking, and we wouldn't have been able to see them any other way than via the Carriage Roads on bikes. We decided to go with Maine State Kayaks over other companies because their fat tire bikes had a higher weight limit (270) than other e-bikes in the area (250...my husband is just barely over that). The big tires on these bikes made me feel safe cruising over various terrain. A few questions I hope I can answer for others: They only do half day rentals, whereas other companies offer full day. Half day was plenty. I would have loved to do it all day but honestly I don't think my butt could have taken any more! I can't imagine sitting on a bike seat all day. Also, with a full day rental I would have been concerned about the battery running out. With the half day, I didn't feel like I had to conserve the battery, so I took those hills using the max pedal assist! The ride from the shop to the Carriage Roads isn't too far...maybe 10 minutes? Only the first few blocks were on streets, then you have a nice bike lane for the rest of the way. This was my first time on an e-bike, and the instructions we received from Maine State Kayak were easy to understand. We got the hang of them quickly. As long as you know how to ride a bike, you'll be fine. It was like a cross between riding a bike and being on a motorbike. I think most people, whatever their activity level, would be able to use these without feeling overwhelmed or over-exerted. Such a great experience! read more

Don't leave MDI without doing this! This company is professional, friendly, and a lot of fun! Our guide, Travis, went out of his way to make sure everyone felt comfortable on the water regardless of experience level. He's also incredibly knowledgeable about both kayaking and the local area and I learned a lot about both. We saw a lot of gorgeous coastline and a lot of wildlife (including harbor seals!) I was nervous about doing a kayaking tour alone but this place was awesome. read more

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Amazing day on the water! Lots to see, well maintained equipment, reasonably priced. Our guide, Kyle, was very knowledgable about the sea life and land. It is a must do in Maine! read more

Maine State Sea Kayak - From the boats. - Rafting/Kayaking Near Me - Bar Harbor, Maine

Excellent kayak tour. Our guide Max was very knowledgeable about the wildlife, geology, and islands in the area. Service is top notch. Great experience. read more

This trip was my best part of my trip to Maine, hands down. The staff was so friendly and helpful. Our guide Kyle was awesome-- patient, knowledgeable, and funny. We saw over 20 harbor seals (including a few pups who kept popping up nearby to say hello), porpoise, a grey seal, a fledgling bald eagle in its nest, loons, and a ton of undersea creatures that Kyle scooped up for us to look at close -- green crabs, scallops, hermit crabs, sea stars, pointing out sea anemone-- before returning safely to the water, of course. Truly amazing! read more

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So many seals! Maine guide, Kyle, was great at pointing out wildlife that I would have otherwise missed. Maine State relies on tides, winds, and group skills to plan a unique trip and I appreciated that Kyle didn't have a script or recycled jokes but kept the facts coming with genuine excitement for the seals feeding and families of ducks. I booked same day with Maine State after a late cancelation from another outfitters and I couldn't be happier that it worked out. Kyle provided excellent recommendations of the area as well, I wish I hadn't waited until my last night. read more

Maine State Sea Kayak - End of 4pm Wildlife Excursion - Rafting/Kayaking Near Me - Bar Harbor, Maine

Excellent experience with their Youth Kayaking tour. They meeting at Hadley Point Beach, which has pretty calm waters and guide you to areas where you can see different parts of the island and experience introductory kayaking. We saw a bald a couple eagles during the outing, which was pretty awesome. The staff here was a really great. We had Colby and Alex as our guides, and both of them were top notch. They explained a little history, told some jokes, pointed out eagles, and kept the entire experience fun. I highly recommend the Youth Kayaking option for families with younger kids. read more

We thoroughly enjoyed the Aqua-Safari out of Southwest Harbor in July. Isaiah was our guide, knowledgeable, and funny for the teenagers in our group. The area we kayaked was beautiful and easy to put in and out with a nice beach area to have a break while taking in the sights and a snack. Nature sightings are never guaranteed but we were lucky enough to see several bald eagles flying, resting gray and harbor seals, a porpoise, and many other birds including gulls, terns, loons, and cormorants. Being on the water was a great way to experience the Mount Desert Island area. read more

A great experience! Super easy and staff was incredibly helpful and knowledgeable. Would 100% recommend this business for any Acadia biking.

We had a great experience. Knowledgeable and fun guide, saw plenty of unique wildlife and they went above and beyond.

Our favorite part of our entire trip to Acadia was this trip! It was so much fun. Kayaking was a blast and so easy. Having the interactions with all of the seals was fascinating. And Kyle was a delightful guide as was his new side kick Rob. I will absolutely do this trip again the next time we go. This is a can't miss experience! read more

This is a first class operation! We kayaked with a competing business earlier in the week and we found Maine State blew them away across the entire experience - from a detailed orientation to the kayak, using a full size cutaway model, to a comprehensive safety briefing and a clear presentation of the route of our travel and expectations for weather and sea conditions. They put our safety first over all other considerations. They took us to the more secluded Bartlett Island side of Mt Desert Island where the wildlife was plentiful. This 69 year old got to see a couple of Eagle flying for the first time as a result of our alert guide pointing them out. She was also extremely knowledgeable of the area, the wildlife and kayaking and very professional. A great joy. read more