This shows a hiking trail cairn on top of Gorham Mountain in Acadia National Park.

Hiking Trails of Acadia

Hiking Trails in Acadia National Park are often interconnected and range in difficulty from easy to strenuous. There are over 120 miles of trails to select from. Add to this the famous Carriage Roads, and the day hiker has a wide selection of enjoyable hiking options. Camping is restricted within the park to Blackwoods Campground and Seawall Campground. For camping options outside of Acadia, select campgrounds. Be sure to review the hints and rules for hiking safety prior to arriving.

Hiking Safety Tips   Carriage Roads   Towns & Villages


Difficulty Ratings

Unless otherwise indicated, distances given are for round trip up and down the same trail. However, many of them can be combined to make loops and longer routes. For more details, refer to a map, guidebook, or consult with a National Park Ranger. Parking areas are on the Park Loop Road unless otherwise indicated. Trails are listed alphabetically within difficulty groupings. Use the buttons below to quickly access a specific grouping.

Very Easy   Easy   Moderate   Strenuous

Very Easy (smooth path over level ground)

Bar Harbor Shore Path
Beginning at the Bar Harbor Town Pier, the Shore Path runs along the shore offering great views of the harbor and Porcupine Islands. The path crosses private property and access is granted by owners providing that hikers respect their residences and stay on the path. Park on the Town Pier in Bar Harbor. - 1.0 mile/1.6 km

Bar Harbor Shore Path

Cadillac Summit - Paved path encircling the summit
Offers panoramic views of Bar Harbor, Frenchman Bay and out islands - Parking on the Cadillac Mountain 1,530 foot summit - 0.3 mile loop/0.5 km loop

Cadillac Mountain Summit

Jordan Pond Nature Trail
Forest and pond setting - Park at Jordan Pond parking area - 1.0 mile loop/1.6 km loop

Jordan Pond Nature Trail

Ocean Trail
Begins near Sand Beach and runs parallel to the Park Loop Road on its east side past Thunder Hole all the way to Otter Cliff - Park at the Sand Beach or Otter Point parking lots - 3.0 miles/4.8 km

Ocean Trail

Wonderland
Unique hiking trail in a forest to rocky shoreline setting with tidal pools located on the south western side of Mount Desert Island near Bass Harbor Head Lighthouse - Parking is 1 mile south of Seawall Campground on Route 102A - 1.4 miles/2.2 km

Wonderland Trail

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Easy (uneven ground but fairly level)

Bar Island - Accessible 1-1/2 hours either side of low tide
A sand bar leads to the forested island. Be aware of the time and tide schedule as there are no public facilities on the island. - Park on Bridge Street off West Street in Bar Harbor - Distance varies

Bar Island Path

Most Carriage Roads - Check with park staff on specific routes
Varied Acadia National Park settings concentrated on the eastern side of Somes Sound on Mount Desert Island - Parking & access at Jordan Pond, Bubble Pond, Eagle Lake, Brown Mountain Gatehouse, visitor Center, or Parkman Mountain - Distance varies

Carriage Roads

Ship Harbor Nature Trail
Forest to rocky shore setting on the western side of Mount Desert Island near the Bass Harbor Head Lighthouse - Parking is located in the Ship Harbor area off Route 102A - 1.3 mile loop/2.1 km loop

Ship Harbor Trail

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Moderate (some steep grades, some level stretches)

Beech Mountain Trail
Located on the western side of Mount Desert Island near the Pretty Marsh Road offering a vista of Great Long Pond on the Northwest route - Follow signs from Somesville to Beech Mountain - 1.2 miles/1.9 km

Beech Mountain Trail

Bowl Trail
Forest to granite ledges and pond setting - Starting point is approximately 100 feet north of Sand Beach parking area - 1.4 miles/2.2 km
Bubble Rock Trail
Forest setting with occasional open views and Jordan Pond views - Park in the Bubble Rock parking area just north of Jordan Pond near North Bubble and South Bubble Mountains - 1.0 mile/1.6 km for each mountain
Cadillac Mountain North Ridge Trail
Open ascent with spectacular Bar Harbor and Frenchman Bay views - Park at the North Ridge Cadillac Mountain parking area - 4.4 miles/7.0 km

Cadillac Mountain

Champlain Mountain - Bear Brook Trail
Pine slop with vistas of Frenchman Bay - Park at the Bear Brook parking area, 400 feet beyond Beaver Dam Pond - 2.2 mile /3.5 km

Champlain Mountain

Gorham Mountain Trail
Spruce forest setting opening to a granite ascent of 525 foot Gorham Mountain - Park in the Gorham Mountain parking area just past Thunder Hole - 1.8 miles/2.9 km

Gorham Mountain

Great Head Trail
Sea Cliffs on the east side of Sand Beach - Park at the eastern edge of Sand Beach - 1.4 mile loop/2.2 km loop

Great Head Trail

Jordan Pond Shore Trail
Follows water's edge with rocky sections - Jordan Pond parking area (not the Jordan Pond House Restaurant parking area) - 3.3 mile loop/5.3 km loop

Jordan Pond Shore Trail

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Strenuous (steep grades, many steady climbs)

Acadia Mountain Trail - Return via fire road
One of the most popular hiking trails in the park offering views of Somes Sound and Southwest Harbor, National Park Rangers often lead hikes up Acadia Mountain as part of their regular summer program. The steep 700 foot climb can descend to a fire road or continue up St. Sauveur then down to a parking area about 1/2 mile south of the Acadia Mountain parking area (Route 102) - 2.5 miles/4.0 km
Beehive Trail - Iron rungs on ledges
Woods to exposed cliffs - 100 feet north of Sand Beach parking area - 0.8 miles/1.3 km

The Beehive in Acadia

Cadillac Mountain South Ridge Trail
A Forest setting opening to a gentle granite ascent - Located 100 feet south of Blackwoods Campground entrance (Route 3) - 7.4 miles/11.8 km

Cadillac Mountain

Champlain Mountain - Beachcroft Trail
Rocky open slops - Parking at north end of The Tarn (Route 3) - 2.4 miles/3.8 km

Champlain Mountain

Dorr Mountain - Canon Brook to Murray Young Path to Dorr Summit
Forest setting to steep granite ascent - Canon Brook parking area (Route 3) - 4.8 miles/7.7 km
Mansell Mountain - Perpendicular trail to 946 foot summit
Located on the Western Side of Mount Desert Island and Great Long Pond, it has a rocky stair step climb offering spectacular pond views. - Parking near south end of Great Long Pond near Southwest Harbor - 2.0 mile loop/3.2 km loop
Norumbega Mountain - Goat Trail
Steep ascent with wooded summit - Parking north of Upper Hadlock Pond (Route 198) - 1.0 mile loop/1.6 km loop
Pemetic Mountain Trail
Forest setting to ocean and lake views - Bubble Pond parking area - 2.4 miles/3.8 km

Pemetic Mountain

Precipice Trail - Iron rungs & ladders, very steep
The is the most challenging and well known hiking trail in Acadia National Park with an exposed and almost vertical 1,000 foot climb that's only recommended for physically fit and experienced hikers with no fear of heights. It is sometimes closed late spring through mid-August due to returning and endangered peregrine falcons. So, check with the National Park Service on this. The Precipice parking area is north of the Schooner Head entrance fee station on the Park Loop Road before Sand Beach - 1.6 mile/2.6 km

Precipice Trail

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Plan Ahead

Greg A. Hartford, photographer, author, publisherThere really is at least one trail for anyone within Acadia National Park. From the most basic walking path all the way to a strenuous rated climb, the Park has a full spectrum of offerings. If you want more than to just see things from a distance, but rather touch, smell and interact with the landscape, hiking on trails that go into the forest or across a mountain is the way to go. I highly recommend that you follow the recommendations found in the Hiking Safety Suggestions page. As my grandmother used to say, “An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.” This holds very true when it comes to venturing into a wilderness setting that can sometimes make the difference between safely returning or suffering a bad injury or worse. If climbing across rocky areas, make sure to have the right shoes for the terrain. It makes a significant difference. I am often hiking carrying many pounds of camera gear. The added weight is noticeable after a short while. Always plan ahead and expect the unexpected to happen.

Acadia and Bar Harbor Resource Guide