Maine State Kayak & E-Bike

“We call our kayak tours Aqua Safaris,” says Brad Jordan, owner of Maine State Kayak & E-Bike. “One of my staff members came back from a paddle saying, ‘I’m picking up sea stars and seeing seals and porpoises. It feels like I’m on a safari, but it’s in Maine.’ That name stuck.”

Brad took over the long-standing business in 2016 and has steadily expanded its reach, acquiring a second location in Bar Harbor in 2021. Between both operations, his team welcomes up to twelve thousand guests a year and runs as many as sixteen trips a day in peak season. Each outing focuses on accessibility, wildlife, and connection to Acadia’s protected waters. “We’re very beginner-friendly,” Brad explains. “We use the wind and tide to our advantage so that guests don’t have to fight against the elements. It makes for a more relaxed, enjoyable experience.”

The company’s routes cover the west side of Mount Desert Island, often called the “quiet side,” known for its undeveloped coastline and pristine scenery. “I can paddle a hundred and twenty tours a season and see only a handful of boats go by,” Brad says. “It’s an opportunity to escape the chaos of Bar Harbor.” Their signature wildlife route, featured for years on National Geographic’s list of top sea kayaking destinations in the world, offers sightings of harbor seals, eagles, and remote islands managed by the Maine Island Trail Association.

In 2024, Brad added another way to explore Acadia: e-bikes. The addition has quickly transformed the business. “The e-bike decision was a no-brainer for us,” he says. “There are forty-eight miles of carriage roads, and a lot of people can’t bike the hills on a conventional bike. E-bikes make Acadia accessible for everyone.” Guests can rent for the day or join a guided ride, with staff providing routes, first-aid kits, and recommendations for the best wildlife and foliage viewing.

What started as a classic kayak outfitter has evolved into a year-round adventure company that still holds onto its original mission: inclusivity. “We’ve had guests tell us they just had a knee replacement or can’t hike like they used to, but they still want to experience Acadia,” Brad says. “Hearing them come back saying they could do it on an e-bike: that’s the best feedback we could get.”

FAMOUS FOR:
Owner Brad Jordan has built his business around making Acadia exploration possible for everyone, no matter age or ability, through beginner-friendly kayak routes and electric bike rentals that open the park’s 48 miles of carriage roads to a wider range of visitors.

ADDRESS:
39 Cottage Street, Bar Harbor, ME

WEBSITE:
mainestatekayak.com

photos by Peter Logue