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.
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 (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
- 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
- Jordan Pond Nature Trail
- Forest and pond setting - Park at Jordan Pond parking area - 1.0 mile loop/1.6 km loop
- 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
- 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
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
- 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
- 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
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
- 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
- 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
- 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
- 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
- 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
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
- 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
- Champlain Mountain - Beachcroft Trail
- Rocky open slops - Parking at north end of The Tarn (Route 3) - 2.4 miles/3.8 km
- 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
- 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
Plan Ahead
There 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.
