THE BEST HIKES IN ACADIA NATIONAL PARK
Acadia National Park has over 120 miles of trails beckoning for exploration. From family strolls along the rocky coastlines to strenuous and exposed scrambles to the tops of the majestic granite peaks, Acadia's large trail system has something for everyone. Because there are so many interconnecting trails and carriage roads, numerous interesting options exist for loop hikes. Carry the Map Adventures Acadia National Park Trail Map to help navigate the maze of trails.
Best Short-and-Easy Hikes:
OCEAN PATH (Sand Beach to Otter Point)
Easy family stroll.
One of the crown jewel features of Acadia National Park is the beautiful coastline with its jagged pink granite formations standing up to the never-ending assault of the ocean's waves. Ocean Path is a family-friendly trail that follows a dramatic stretch of coastline between Sand Beach and Otter Point with Thunder Hole, Monument Cove, and Otter Cliff along the way.
CADILLAC MOUNTAIN SUMMIT LOOP
Short and easy family stroll.
Cadillac Mountain is the largest and tallest mountain in Acadia National Park, and while there are four strenuous hiking trails that lead to the top, most tourists will opt for the easier option of driving up the Cadillac Summit Road and taking a leisurely stroll along the paved Summit Loop Trail. The hardest part about this hike is getting a permit to drive up Cadillac Mountain.
JORDAN POND PATH (Jordan Pond Loop)
Easy family stroll.
When you think of idyllic spots in Acadia, Jordan Pond probably comes to mind with its pristine calm waters surrounded by lush, majestic mountains in all directions. Before or after having afternoon tea and popovers at the Jordan Pond House, a stroll around the Jordan Pond Trail (Jordan Pond Loop) is a wonderful leisurely activity offering up great scenery.
SOUTH BUBBLE MOUNTAIN (and Bubble Rock)
Moderately strenuous day hike.
One of the most famous views in Acadia is from the south side of Jordan Pond looking north at the Bubbles across the lake. In addition to being a wonderful viewpoint, South Bubble also has a famous tourist attraction: Bubble Rock (aka. Balanced Rock), a large boulder that was carried by glaciers and deposited at the seemingly precarious edge of a cliff.
WONDERLAND TRAIL and/or SHIP HARBOR TRAIL
Short and easy family stroll.
Located near the town of Bass Harbor on the southern tip of the quiet side, Wonderland and the Ship Harbor Trail are a pair of family-friendly strolls that lead toward interesting spots along the ocean. Though the scenery is mostly level compared to the dramatic terrain of the more popular sections of Acadia, children of all ages enjoy searching for life in the various tide pools.
BAR ISLAND and BAR ISLAND TRAIL
Easy family-friendly hike.
Located in Frenchman Bay just north of Bar Harbor are several small islands including the Porcupine Islands and Bar Island. Bar Harbor's namesake feature is the long shallow bar that runs through the water between town and Bar Island. During low tide, the bar becomes dry land allowing tourists to hike onto the island, which is officially part of Acadia National Park.
BASS HARBOR HEAD LIGHT (Lighthouse)
Short and easy family stroll.
Constructed in 1876, the Bass Harbor Head Light is one of the most famous landmarks of Acadia National Park and is arguably the most iconic and photographed lighthouse in all of Maine. The lighthouse is located at the southernmost tip of Mount Desert Island just south of the town of Bass Harbor and close to the nearby family-friendly Wonderland and Ship Harbor Trails.
Longer Strenuous Day Hikes:
GORHAM MOUNTAIN TRAIL (and Cadillac Cliffs Trail)
Moderately strenuous day hike.
With its close proximity to the popular Ocean Path trail, Gorham Mountain is a popular peak for hikers even though it isn't the tallest or most noticeable mountain in the park. The trail up to Gorham Mountain has relatively modest elevation gain and is a fairly easy family-friendly hike. Despite the ease of the hike, tourists are still treated to wonderful views from the summit.
PEMETIC MOUNTAIN
Fairly strenuous day hike.
Located in the heart of Mount Desert Island towering over Jordan Pond on the east is the majestic Pemetic Mountain. A visit to the top involves some steep and strenuous uphill hiking, but the summit is like a different world of wondrous granite formations offering unhindered views in all directions, including the trio of inner lakes: Jordan Pond, Eagle Lake, and Bubble Pond.
PENOBSCOT MOUNTAIN and SARGENT MOUNTAIN
Strenuous day hike with exposure.
Penobscot Mountain is the impressive north-south mountain that sits opposite of Pemetic Mountain in the Jordan Pond/Bubbles pantheon. A hike up Penobscot Mountain via the Spring Trail makes for a strenuous and invigorating hike with incredible alpine views. And those looking to extend the adventure can continue hiking north to the taller neighboring Sargent Mountain.
NORTH BUBBLE and CONNERS NUBBLE
Moderately strenuous day hike.
While a visit to the summit of North Bubble can be incorporated into a South Bubble hike, a longer loop hike along the (North) Bubbles Trail offers some great scenery, escapes the crowds, and also summits the lesser-known Conners Nubble for great views of Eagle Lake and heads back through some beautiful forested marshes.
ACADIA MOUNTAIN
Moderately strenuous day hike.
While the tallest and most majestic peaks are on the popular east side of Mount Desert Island, many good peak hikes can be found west of Somes Sound on the "quiet side" of the island. Located along Route 102 by Echo Lake, Acadia Mountain is a great little hike that leads to a majestic view into Somes Sound with the Atlantic Ocean in the distance.
Iron Rung Routes:
While most peak hikes in Acadia National Park are fairly strenuous, Acadia also has a special breed of peak hikes known as the "iron rung routes." Instead of trying to find the easiest way up the mountain, these ingenuous routes negotiate the steep mountain cliff contours with the aid of iron rungs, ladders, and handholds, offering hikers exhilarating exposed views. WARNING: These hikes are not suitable for small children or anybody who has a fear of heights or who isn't steady on their feet.
THE BEEHIVE (The Beehive Trail, The Bowl Trail)
Fairly strenuous and exposed hike with iron aides.
The Beehive is the majestic peak that overlooks Sand Beach from the northwest. The hike up the Beehive Trail is a thrilling Acadia classic that heads right up the steep south face of the peak and includes granite steps, iron rungs to climb up, and several handrails for exposed rock scrambling sections. The views from the summit are incredible.
THE PRECIPICE TRAIL
Strenuous and exposed route with iron aides.
The Precipice Trail is an ingenious route that heads up the steep cliffs of Chamblain Mountain, navigating the various fault lines and shelf systems. Numerous iron rungs, ladders, handrails, and wooden bridges help hikers at the more difficult and exposed sections. As such, this trail may seem more like a via ferrata climbing route than a simple hike.
JORDAN CLIFFS TRAIL
Strenuous and exposed hike with iron aides.
The east face of Penobscot Mountain has some of the most impressive and steep cliffs in Acadia National Park. The Jordan Cliffs Trail is a strenuous route that takes hikers on an amazing traverse through these exposed cliff bands. This route has several sections of handrails and aides and is one of the classic iron rung routes of the park, offering up fantastic views along the way.
BEECH CLIFF TRAIL (Beech Cliff Loop, Canada Cliffs Trail)
Fairly strenuous and exposed day hike.
Located on the southwest shore of Echo Lake, the Beech Cliff Trail is one of Acadia National Park's classic "iron rung" routes. This clever trail has a series of ladders that take hikers up through some of the most interesting and vertical cliff formations in the park. Continue along the Beech Cliff Loop for more impressive views from the top of the cliffs.
