SamAfter having months to explore the park, here is my honest opinion of the best hiking trails in Acadia National Park. I have divided this guide into sections based on the level of difficulty you are aiming for. So feel free to jump to whichever section fits you best! I will also be linking all of these recommendations to all of their corresponding AllTrails pages for you to gather more information or use for navigational purposes.
Always hike prepared!
Before you head off on your hiking adventures lets make sure you have everything you need! Here’s a checklist of essentials to be best prepared for hiking in Acadia National Park:
- Acadia trail map: Obtain a detailed trail map of Acadia National Park to plan your route and be aware of any trail closures or restrictions. My favorite is the Map Adventures Waterproof Trail Map.
- Sturdy footwear: Wear comfortable hiking boots or shoes with good traction, as most trails in Acadia can be rugged and rocky.
- Weather Ready: Bring along extra layers, rain gear, and sun protection to ensure you are ready for all types of weather conditions.
- Ample water: Carry enough water to stay hydrated throughout your hike. Consider using a hydration bladder or water bottles that are easy to refill.
- First aid kit: Include essential items like adhesive bandages, antiseptic wipes, pain relievers, blister pads, and any personal medications you may need.
- Emergency supplies: Carry essential emergency items such as a whistle, flashlight/headlamp, multipurpose tool, battery packs, and a space blanket.
- Bug repellent: Apply a bug repellent to ward off mosquitoes and ticks during the hiking season. Reminder that only bug spray with DDT is effective on ticks!
- Respect the Leave No Trace principles: Follow the principles of Leave No Trace by packing out any trash, staying on designated paths, and respecting wildlife and the natural surroundings. This includes food scraps that may be biodegradable!
Always check the official Acadia National Park website for any important updates, closures, or specific guidelines before your hike. Enjoy exploring the beautiful trails of Acadia!
WARNING:
There are many cliffside trails in Acadia that include a series of rung ladders, steps, and thin ledges. Please be prepared before attempting any of these hikes, and note that they are one way only routes. Individuals with fear of heights, mobility limitations, and medical conditions may wish to reconsider their ability to complete these hikes. Lastly, these trails are not suitable for young children.
Easy Hiking Trails
These trails are well maintained, include little to no elevation gain, and are enjoyable for the entire family!
Wonderland
A quick out-and-back trail, Wonderland gives you a glimpse at our coastal ecosystems here on the island. From wooded forests, to marshes, and finally our rocky coastlines, this trail is a great option for a leisurely walk. I would note that the terrain on this walk is not completely flat, so it is not completely accessible.
In my honest opinion, I think this trail is incredibly overrated. It’s name is much more magical than the trail itself. Unless you are explicitly looking for a super quick trail that will give you access to the coastline, there are much better trails to spend your time on in Acadia. It’s neighbor, Ship Harbor Nature Trail is one of my favorites and is a mere 2 minute drive down from Wonderland. Jump ahead to read more about Ship Harbor Nature Trail!
Jesup Path
This trail is one of many that is centered around the Sieur de Monts area. Jesup Path is not just an accessible and easy hike, it is also a great way to learn more about the natural plant and wildlife in the park. A majority of this hike is on a well constructed boardwalk that guides you through the beautiful deciduous forests. Throughout the hike you will come across multiple informative plaques that share details about the local ecology and landscape. It is a great way to learn more about the land you are exploring within the park while also enjoying the beautiful views.
This hike is one of my favorites to do in the fall time. The abundance of maple and birch trees that engulf this route make for such vibrant colors and an immersive experience.
Ocean Path
So you want to see all the major landmarks in Acadia that are along Park Loop Road? The Ocean Path Trail is the best hiking trail in Acadia National Park to help you hit nearly all the hotspots! While you could opt to drive, completing this hiking trail will give you more freedom to explore. The beginning section of the trail is fairly flat and accessible, with a mix of concrete and fine gravel. This section extends from Sand Beach to Thunder Hole. Once you pass this point the trail becomes a lot more rocky and uneven. It is still an easy trail, but not as fitting for those with mobility issues.
All in all, it is by far one of the easiest trails here in Acadia and very family friendly. The full trail extends 2.2 miles in one direction, with the easier section covering a little under a mile. This trail is a great way to explore all of the fun offshoots that are along the coastline and really take in the beautiful views.
Ship Harbor
Often overlooked due to its proximity to Wonderland, Ship Harbor is much more worth your time. This 1.8 mile trail winds you in a figure-8 through the forests, marshes, and rocky cliffs of Acadia’s coastline. This trail has a lot of uneven terrain. But elsewise this trail is very family friendly and great for beginners.
It is more dynamic than its neighbor Wonderland since you never have to repeat the same part of the trail, making every turn a new adventure! This trail is one of my favorite on the island to escape into nature and away from people. It is one of the less popular, but very underrated, trails on the island.
Great Head
Looking for a coastal adventure, but Beehive and Ocean Path are too crowded for your liking? Head over to Great Head Trail. You can start from either Sand Beach or Schooner Head Road. This trail will take you up the cliffside that overlooks Sand Beach, Beehive, and the entire coast. There is a bit of a climb along with rocky and uneven terrain, making this unsuitable for those with mobility or stability issues. However, this trail is by no means a difficult hike.
The entire length of the trail sits at 1.9 miles, hugging the coastline for a majority of the path. There is some rock scrambling involved, but all at an easy level. This is a great sunrise or sunset hike as well, given that it jets out into the ocean and gets you higher in elevation. Just make sure to bring your headlamp!
Jordan Pond
One of the most popular hikes in the entirety of the park, Jordan Pond Path is a picturesque 3-mile walk that fully encompasses the beauty of Acadia National Park. This trail is incredibly family friendly, as a majority of the trail is flat and well groomed. There is a small section of the trail that includes walking on pond side rocks, so be aware of this challenge for anyone with mobility restrictions.
If this trail is of interest to you, please note that Jordan Pond is arguably the most trafficked area in the entirety of Acadia National Park. Plan accordingly for this trail, as there is little parking. During the tourist season you could take the bus, or hit up the trail early in the day or later in the evening for a shot at snagging a parking spot. While you certainly won’t be alone in nature on this hike, the views are still stunning and well worth the efforts to experience it.
Flying Mountain
The trail begins at the Valley Cove Trailhead and spans approximately 1.8 miles round trip. While this is a popular trail in the area, venturing over to the west side of the island always means less crowds!
As you ascend, you’ll experience a gradual incline through a forested area, with occasional glimpses of the surrounding valleys and ocean. The trail is well-maintained and features sturdy steps and boardwalks in certain areas to help navigate more challenging sections.
Once you reach the summit of Flying Mountain, you’ll be rewarded with panoramic views of Mount Desert Island and the surrounding mountains. The sight of Somes Sound, the only fjord on the East Coast of the United States, is particularly mesmerizing.
Moderate Hikes
Many of these hikes are cliffside and ladder trails, which is a hazard to be aware of. There is significant elevation gain and the trails are moderately strenuous.
Beehive
One of the most popular trails in Acadia for a good reason, Beehive is challenging, exhilarating, and beautiful. Starting just across from the Sand Beach parking area, the trail begins by winding you through a dried up rocky riverbed. From the very start you will get a feel for the uneven terrain and technical difficulty of this trail. As you hop from rock to rock, you will eventually come to granite slabs that will flatten out a bit and bring you to the intersection of the Beehive Trail and the Bowl. Make sure to veer right for the Beehive Trail.
Once you pass a bright yellow warning sign regarding the hazards of the hike, you will start your ascent to the top of Beehive. Stairs, upon stairs, upon stairs. Soon enough you’ll be coming across ledges and rung ladders that will have you quickly approaching the summit. This is the best and most exciting section of the trail, with beautiful views to reward your hard work.
This trail is fairly strenuous, and mildly technically difficult, but overall a short hike. At a leisurely pace it takes about 30 mins – 1 hour to reach the summit. This is a great trail option that will easily fit into your itinerary. Additionally, it can easily be connected with Ocean Path Trail for a longer hiking experience.
Definitely do not descend down the Beehive. Instead, you can circle around the back of the mountain. For some added milage and beautiful views, head over to the Bowl before heading back to Park Loop Road.
The Bubbles
The North and South Bubbles are some of the most popular hiking destinations in Acadia. Most notably, South Bubble Mountain is famed for being home to Bubble Rock. A unique 14 ton glacial erratic that seems to magically balance atop the mountain.
There are two primary routes at your disposal in terms of tackling the Bubbles. The easiest route is to start from the Bubbles parking area along Park Loop Road. This has significantly less elevation gain and is a much more gradual climb. You will climb up to the divide where you can then proceed to South Bubble up to your left or North Bubble up to your right. It is a simple enough hike that a majority of people summit both mountains, however you do not have to do both. Round trip this route will bring you to 1.6 miles and typically takes around 1-2 hours to complete.
If you are up for a challenge, then try out the alternative route for the Bubbles! It is fun, technically challenging, and well worth it for the views! This route begins at Jordan Pond and will carry you up to the Bubbles.
Beech Cliffs
After exploring nearly every inch of Acadia, Beech Cliffs became one of my favorite trails. this cliffside ladder trial is incredibly underrated, making it a nice escape from the crowds and into nature.
The trailhead is at the Echo Lake parking lot, making this an accessible trail. As the name would suggest, this is one of the many cliff trails within the park, which includes sharp drops and ladders.
The hike starts with a quick ascend on stone steps under the forest canopy. Right when you feel like you are ready to give up from all of the steps, you will be greeted with your first series of ladders. These ladders are the most fun out of all the ladder trails in the park. It makes the last half of the climb go by so quickly, as you are quite literally vertically climbing.
The last ladder of the trail brings you to the top of Beech Cliffs, the shining star of the entire hike. With incredible views of the surrounding mountains and Echo Lake below, it is easily one of the most serene places in all of Acadia National Park.
Pro Tip: Be sure to incorporate Beech Cliffs Loop at the top of the mountain into your hike. This is where some of the best views are, with fantastic places to relax and soak in the serenity.
It is highly advised that you do not descend down the Beech Cliffs LadderTrail, and instead circle down on the Canada Cliffs Trail.
Acadia Mountain
Named after the park itself, Acadia Mountain is a popular mountain for a mild day hike. These trail is a loop, with the peak in the middle. While most people complete this hike in a clockwise direction, I highly suggest completing this hike counterclockwise. Hiking in this direction makes for a quick, but incredibly steep climb to the top of the mountain. This part is very strenuous. However, going up this section is much easier than going down the steep cliffs. And the hike down the mountain is significantly easier, with less of an incline and steps incorporated as well.
There are stunning views all throughout this hike, including a beautiful overlook of Somes Sound and the surrounding mountains. And don’t miss the chance to see the beautiful waterfall at the sign that points you to an overlook!
Difficult Hikes
These hikes are all incredibly strenuous and technically difficult. Many of these hikes are ladder trails and include sharp cliffs and dangerous ledges. Please proceed with caution.
Precipice
Well known as the most technically challenging and dangerous trail in Acadia, Precipice is coveted by park explorers and hikers from across the world.
If you want a hike with fun, challenging elements, risky ledges, and beautiful views, then this is the trail for you! However, a majority of visitors and ambitious hikers never get the opportunity to take on this challenging hike. The trail is typically closed from June-Late August in efforts to protect nesting peregrine falcons. So make sure to keep an eye on NPS trail closures before you head out on your adventures!
This trail begins with a quick ascent and mild bouldering as you climb to the true start of the trail. Built to quickly ascend the cliffside of Champlain Mountain, you will climb a series of steps and ladders, and walk along steep ledges. Since the entirety of the hike is on exposed cliff-sides, this entire hike is full of stunning views overlooking the ocean. However, if you are anything like me, you will need to take breaks where you can to appreciate said views, since this trail takes a lot of technical work and focus.
The end of precipice brings you to the peak of Champlain Mountain, surrounded by 360 views. There are multiple ways to descend the mountain, but never go back down precipice trail! The hike is most commonly finished by descending the North Ridge Trail. Alternatively, you can descend the back of the mountain, down Beachcroft Path. This route is not a loop, so plan on having two cars or an alternative form of transportation for this route. It offers stunning views however, and is well worth it.
Dorr Mt. Ladder Trail
This is by far the most physically draining trail I’ve ever done in Acadia. It surpasses Cadillac and Precipice!
With nearly 1,100 granite stairs on this trail, you are in for a good sweat. This trail is the first of the ladder trails within the park, and was named after the founding father of Acadia, making it a fun part of the park’s history.
The granite stairs will take you to the top of Dorr Mountain, getting little peaks of the view along the way as you ascend through the forested mountains.
While this is one of the most popular trails in the park, I personally find it a bit overrated. There aren’t too many ladders, and the views are far and few between until you reach the summit. However, if you are looking for a more intense hike, or to see part of Acadia’s origins, this is the trail for you!
It is often recommended you do not descend down the ladder trail, but rather take one of the many other trails that connect to the base of the mountain. Connecting to the Gorge is my personal favorite way, as it is a beautiful valley surrounded by both Dorr Mountain and Cadillac Mountain.
Cadillac
There are may trails that lead to the summit of Cadillac, ranging in different difficulties. However, all of them are included in the more difficult trails within the park.
The ‘easiest’ route up the mountain is the South Ridge Trail which climbs to the 1,500 ft summit over the course of 3.5 miles. This is a slow and steady climb up the mountain. Alternatively, the North Ridge Trial is slightly more advanced. This trail is a bit shorter at 2.1 miles, making it a steeper climb up the mountain. These two trails are the most popular routes to get to the peak of Cadillac Mountain.
If you want more of a challenge, I suggest hiking to the summit via the Dorr Ladder Trail. This trail is significantly more challenging, as you actually gain a total of nearly 1,800 ft in elevation. After completing the Dorr Ladder Trail, you will descend into the valley before continuing the steep climb to summit of Cadillac.
Once you reach the summit, take pride in the fact that you hiked all the way up the tallest peak in the park (unlike all the people who simply drove)!
Jordan Cliffs to Penobscot
Possibly the most underrated trail in the entirety of Acadia National Park. Jordan Cliffs offers the most stunning views overlooking Jordan Pond and the surrounding mountains. There are so many unexpected surprises on this hike, from ladders, to wooden bridges, to small rock scrambles. It is all part of what makes Jordan Cliffs so unforgettable. This trail is one of the longer ones in the park, so allot plenty of time and daylight for this hike.
The trail climbs incredibly quickly, and then follows along the cliffside that overlooks Jordan Pond. Once you have completed the Jordan Cliffs Trail, make sure to keep left to continue to the summit of Penobscot Mountain. Penobscot has stunning 360 views of the entire coast and national park, so be sure to soak it all in!
This hike is amazing for the fall time, as the trees and plants in the area just explode in color.
