Best Acadia Hikes & Trails

Acadia is a gem of the east coast, and some of the ideal hikes in Acadia National Park contain cliff trails, quiet ponds, historic Maine lighthouses, and ocean views.

This park has climbing trails for all forms and ages. Some of the cliff hikes can be tough and harmful to navigate, but most of the Acadia trails are family pleasant and straightforward for beginners.

We have spent weeks checking out this nationwide park through the autumn year, and it’s always these kinds of a wonderful experience. The park has far more than 47,000 acres of coastal landscapes, and the switching leaf shades in the slide make it even far more amazing.

This is my manual to the greatest Acadia hikes and trails! In my feeling, these are some of the quite best hikes in Acadia Countrywide Park.

Most effective Hikes In Acadia National Park

1. Beehive Trail

This is a enjoyable cliff path with awesome views of Acadia Countrywide Park, and it is also 1 of the greatest fall foliage hikes in the park.

The Beehive Path is not as difficult or hazardous as the Precipice Trail (under), but it still has some rung climbing sections and a number of steep fall-offs. This is a excellent gateway hike if you’re considering about hiking Precipice Path.

I wouldn’t advocate this hike for people with mobility issues, kids, or everyone who is not relatively at ease with heights. I also would not try it when the route is soaked or icy, mainly because a slip in people situations could be fatal.

At the summit, the sights are spectacular: you can see Sand Seashore and Fantastic Head underneath, moreover the Acadia coastline and modest islands in the length.

This is a loop hike, so the way back down is on a diverse path. The second section of the hike (heading down) is a lot simpler and safer than the way up. You can full the full loop hike in 1 or 2 hrs.

The trailhead for Beehive is positioned in close proximity to Sand Beach, and parking fills up rapidly, so it is ideal to go early.

Difficulty: Moderate / Challenging
 

2. Precipice Trail

The Precipice Path is the premier hike of Acadia National Park, but it is also the most harmful. It is type of like the Angels Landing hike of the U.S. east coastline, besides even more precarious.

The views on this hike are remarkable, and it’s really an adrenaline hurry. You are going to squeeze involving huge boulders, scale a steep mountain making use of metallic ladders, and shimmy together exposed cliff edges that are only a number of ft broad. It is undoubtedly one of the most thrilling hikes in Maine and the U.S. nationwide parks!

There are situations exactly where you’re climbing a vertical ladder with steep fall-offs on all sides, and a truthful quantity of men and women have died on this path, so it is not just one to acquire evenly.

I would really recommend mountaineering the Beehive Trail before you even contemplate making an attempt the Precipice Path. Beehive is like a shorter, less complicated, and safer edition of Precipice, so if you wrestle with it at all then you will know Precipice is not a excellent in shape for you.

I would not advocate Precipice for people today with mobility difficulties, young children, or any individual who isn’t comfortable with heights. I also would not endeavor it when the path is damp or icy, due to the fact a slip in all those situations could be lethal.

This is a loop hike, so the way back again down is on a unique path. The 2nd component of the hike (likely down) is significantly a lot easier and safer than the way up. You can reach the top rated in about 1.5 several hours of climbing, and then the return goes very a little bit more quickly.

Difficulty: Hard
 

3. Jordan Pond Loop

This is a flat, simple hike that loops close to the Jordan Pond, which is a person of the most iconic sights in Acadia.

Jordan Pond is recognized for getting the clearest lake in Maine, and also the deepest lake in Acadia Countrywide Park. They say it’s typically attainable to see 45 feet (15 meters) beneath the surface area.

You can circle the full pond in about 1.5 to 2 hrs, despite the fact that there are a few places in which the route is muddy or narrow. When you’re completed, take care of you with popovers (baked rolls) at the Jordan Home Cafe.

Through slide foliage year, there are wonderful leaf shades on all sides of Jordan Pond, despite the fact that the ideal foliage can be viewed on the north aspect of the pond.

Issues: Easy

 

4. South Bubble Path

This is a small, simple hike to the best of South Bubble Mountain, where by you get amazing sights of the Jordan Pond from above. It also has some of the greatest fall foliage of any hike in Acadia Countrywide Park.

Along the way, you get to halt and see a huge granite boulder known as the Bubble Rock, which is perched on a cliff with panoramic views of Park Loop Street and the forest below.

The problem of this hike depends on where by you begin and how far you go. If you begin from the extremely modest parking good deal at Bubbles Divide, you can get to the top of South Bubble in less than 30 minutes.

Nevertheless, if you get started the hike from farther absent at Jordan Pond, or go on the hike past the South Bubble, then it can be a more time and a lot more physically demanding experience. Both way, it’s unquestionably 1 of the greatest hikes in Acadia Nationwide Park!

Trouble: Easy / Reasonable
 

5. Ocean Route

This is a flat, effortless walk alongside the most scenic coastline of Acadia National Park, with various awesome viewpoints to cease and choose shots alongside the way.

The comprehensive ocean path goes from Sand Beach to Otter Point, and it’s about 4.5 miles roundtrip. It is a flat route in great condition all the way, so anybody can do it. It is a person of the easiest Acadia hikes!

You can make this hike as short or very long as you want, or just do a few of the most effective sections and skip the rest. There are parking plenty at many noteworthy points alongside the path.

One particular of the finest spots to see together the path is surely Thunder Gap, which is located at the midway point. This is a crevice in the rocks in which the waves blast and make a ‘boom’ audio. The timing is everything, so it is finest to occur here all-around significant tide.

Difficulty: Simple

 

6. Cadillac Summit Loop

Cadillac Mountain is one of the most well-known dawn spots in Acadia Countrywide Park. Simply because of its location, it is also known as the to start with area in the U.S. to see the dawn.

You can drive to the summit and see the dawn without the need of any climbing, whilst it’s pretty hectic and car reservations are needed significantly of the yr. Sunset can also be a great time for shots, and reservations aren’t desired for that.

At the summit parking large amount, there’s a quick loop trail with panoramic views of Acadia, Bar Harbor, and the many compact islands bordering it. You can wander this complete loop in about 30 minutes, so in general it is just one of the most obtainable Acadia hikes.

Trouble: Effortless
 

7. Bass Harbor Lighthouse

This one’s not seriously a hike per se, but it is additional like an easy stroll on a route down to the coastline, wherever you can see a awesome historic Maine lighthouse.

The Bass Harbor Head Gentle was built in 1858 to guard the entrance to Bass Harbor, which is on the southwestern facet of Mount Desert Island. It is the only lighthouse in Acadia Nationwide Park.

Parking at the lighthouse is absolutely free, but it fills up effortlessly considering that there are only about 20 parking places or significantly less. The most well-liked and active time to visit is at sunset, but honestly any time of day is nice for taking photos, so I’d avoid sunset unless you’re seriously intent on viewing it at that time.

Trouble: Quick

 

8. Beech Mountain Hearth Tower

Beech Mountain is a less known hike in Acadia without the crowds, and there is a historic fire tower at the major with a superb panorama. It’s also a fantastic sunset hike.

This is a comparatively quick 1.2 mile loop path that can be concluded in a lot less than 1 hour, and it is in shape for all ages and capabilities.

You get exceptional views of Extensive Pond alongside the way, and then you can climb partway up the fire tower at the summit for 360 degree views of the park. It is simply just one of the greatest Acadia hikes!

Issue: Quick / Moderate
 

9. Traveling Mountain

This is a shorter, fairly simple hike with stellar views of Northeast Harbor and the Somes Sound.

Traveling Mountain has considerably less foot targeted visitors than the other hikes in Acadia Countrywide Park, and the views are effectively well worth the climb.

There is a bit of elevation gain, but if you’re healthy and preserve a fantastic speed you can attain the top rated of the peak in about 20 minutes.

Issues: Simple

 

10. Jordan Cliffs Path

This is yet another hike at the Jordan Pond, but this 1 can take you up the slender cliffs on the west side of the pond.

The Jordan Cliffs Path is strenuous, but you get remarkable sights of the lake from a new perspective, and there are considerably less crowds compared to the less difficult Jordan Pond Loop.

It is also doable to do this hike as a loop trail that includes the Jordan Pond Loop, the South Bubble Trail, or both equally.

Slide foliage is pleasant on the Jordan Cliffs Trail, despite the fact that the look at isn’t also a great deal distinctive from what you see at South Bubble. If you have to pick, I’d do the South Bubble Trail instead of this one.

Difficulty: Moderate
 

Additional Acadia Journey Strategies

I hope you relished this checklist of the best hikes in Acadia Countrywide Park.

Never fail to remember to look at out my other United States climbing guides! I plan to add a lot of additional travel guides for Maine and Acadia at a later day.