Best Acadia Hikes & Trails

Acadia is a gem of the east coast, and some of the most effective hikes in Acadia Countrywide Park incorporate cliff trails, quiet ponds, historic Maine lighthouses, and ocean views.

This park has climbing trails for all sorts and ages. Some of the cliff hikes can be tough and hazardous to navigate, but most of the Acadia trails are spouse and children friendly and uncomplicated for newbies.

We have put in weeks exploring this countrywide park in the course of the autumn season, and it is often this kind of a terrific practical experience. The park has extra than 47,000 acres of coastal landscapes, and the transforming leaf colors in the drop make it even much more amazing.

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

Most effective Hikes In Acadia National Park

1. Beehive Path

This is a enjoyable cliff trail with astounding views of Acadia Nationwide Park, and it is also one particular of the greatest tumble foliage hikes in the park.

The Beehive Path is not as difficult or hazardous as the Precipice Path (under), but it continue to has some rung climbing sections and a few steep fall-offs. This is a superior gateway hike if you’re thinking about hiking Precipice Trail.

I would not recommend this hike for people today with mobility issues, young children, or anybody who isn’t reasonably cozy with heights. I also would not endeavor it when the path is moist or icy, simply because a slip in people circumstances could be deadly.

At the summit, the sights are amazing: you can see Sand Seaside and Excellent Head down below, furthermore the Acadia shoreline and modest islands in the length.

This is a loop hike, so the way back again down is on a different path. The second section of the hike (likely down) is considerably less complicated and safer than the way up. You can finish the complete loop hike in 1 or 2 hours.

The trailhead for Beehive is found in close proximity to Sand Beach, and parking fills up quickly, so it is greatest to go early.

Problem: Average / Difficult

2. Precipice Trail

The Precipice Trail is the leading hike of Acadia National Park, but it is also the most unsafe. It’s form of like the Angels Landing hike of the U.S. east coastline, other than even far more precarious.

The sights on this hike are incredible, and it is fairly an adrenaline hurry. You’ll squeeze between substantial boulders, scale a steep mountain making use of metal ladders, and shimmy alongside uncovered cliff edges that are only a couple of ft extensive. It’s certainly a person of the most thrilling hikes in Maine and the U.S. national parks!

There are situations wherever you’re climbing a vertical ladder with steep fall-offs on all sides, and a truthful number of individuals have died on this trail, so it’s not a person to choose evenly.

I would highly propose climbing the Beehive Path just before you even take into consideration attempting the Precipice Trail. Beehive is like a shorter, less complicated, and safer model of Precipice, so if you battle with it at all then you will know Precipice is not a good in shape for you.

I wouldn’t advise Precipice for individuals with mobility troubles, youngsters, or any person who isn’t relaxed with heights. I also wouldn’t try it when the route is wet or icy, simply because a slip in all those disorders could be lethal.

This is a loop hike, so the way back down is on a distinctive path. The next portion of the hike (going down) is significantly much easier and safer than the way up. You can achieve the best in about 1.5 several hours of climbing, and then the return goes fairly a bit a lot quicker.

Problems: Tricky

3. Jordan Pond Loop

This is a flat, easy hike that loops all around the Jordan Pond, which is a single of the most legendary sights in Acadia.

Jordan Pond is regarded for remaining the clearest lake in Maine, and also the deepest lake in Acadia Countrywide Park. They say it is usually feasible to see 45 toes (15 meters) down below the floor.

You can circle the whole pond in about 1.5 to 2 several hours, though there are a few places where the path is muddy or slim. When you are concluded, take care of your self with popovers (baked rolls) at the Jordan Dwelling Restaurant.

All through fall foliage year, there are pleasant leaf hues on all sides of Jordan Pond, even though the very best foliage can be noticed on the north facet of the pond.

Issues: Quick

4. South Bubble Trail

This is a shorter, straightforward hike to the prime of South Bubble Mountain, the place you get breathtaking sights of the Jordan Pond from higher than. It also has some of the best fall foliage of any hike in Acadia Nationwide Park.

Along the way, you get to stop and see a huge granite boulder named the Bubble Rock, which is perched on a cliff with panoramic sights of Park Loop Highway and the forest down below.

The issue of this hike is dependent on where by you begin and how considerably you go. If you get started from the extremely smaller parking great deal at Bubbles Divide, you can reach the top of South Bubble in less than 30 minutes.

However, if you begin the hike from farther absent at Jordan Pond, or go on the hike past the South Bubble, then it can be a lengthier and more demanding experience. Possibly way, it’s absolutely one of the best hikes in Acadia National Park!

Issues: Quick / Reasonable

5. Ocean Path

This is a flat, straightforward wander along the most scenic coastline of Acadia Nationwide Park, with numerous nice viewpoints to quit and just take photos alongside the way.

The whole ocean path goes from Sand Seaside to Otter Position, and it is about 4.5 miles roundtrip. It is a flat path in good ailment all the way, so everyone can do it. It’s 1 of the best Acadia hikes!

You can make this hike as quick or extensive as you want, or just do a handful of of the finest sections and skip the relaxation. There are parking a lot at various noteworthy factors together the path.

A single of the best spots to see alongside the path is absolutely Thunder Hole, which is located at the halfway place. This is a crevice in the rocks where by the waves blast and make a ‘boom’ sound. The timing is everything, so it is best to come here all around significant tide.

Problems: Easy

6. Cadillac Summit Loop

Cadillac Mountain is one particular of the most well known dawn spots in Acadia National Park. Due to the fact of its site, it is also identified as the very first place in the U.S. to see the sunrise.

You can generate to the summit and see the sunrise without the need of any climbing, whilst it’s extremely busy and car or truck reservations are needed significantly of the year. Sunset can also be a wonderful time for pictures, and reservations aren’t essential for that.

At the summit parking whole lot, there’s a limited loop trail with panoramic views of Acadia, Bar Harbor, and the numerous modest islands encompassing it. You can wander this total loop in about 30 minutes, so overall it’s a person of the most obtainable Acadia hikes.

Problems: Effortless
 

7. Bass Harbor Lighthouse

This one’s not seriously a hike for each se, but it is far more like an easy stroll on a route down to the coast, wherever you can see a pleasant historic Maine lighthouse.

The Bass Harbor Head Mild was crafted in 1858 to defend the entrance to Bass Harbor, which is on the southwestern side of Mount Desert Island. It’s the only lighthouse in Acadia Nationwide Park.

Parking at the lighthouse is totally free, but it fills up conveniently considering that there are only about 20 parking spots or much less. The most well known and active time to visit is at sunset, but honestly any time of working day is wonderful for getting photos, so I’d stay clear of sunset except you are really intent on seeing it at that time.

Issue: Easy

8. Beech Mountain Hearth Tower

Beech Mountain is a considerably less recognized hike in Acadia with out the crowds, and there’s a historic fireplace tower at the major with a superb panorama. It is also a wonderful sunset hike.

This is a fairly uncomplicated 1.2 mile loop path that can be concluded in less than 1 hour, and it is match for all ages and hiking capabilities.

You get fantastic views of Extended Pond along the way, and then you can climb partway up the fire tower at the summit for 360 degree views of the park. It’s very easily 1 of the greatest Acadia hikes!

Issue: Quick / Reasonable

9. Traveling Mountain

This is a brief, reasonably uncomplicated hike with stellar sights of Northeast Harbor and the Somes Audio.

Flying Mountain has significantly less foot targeted traffic than the other hikes in Acadia National Park, and the sights are effectively value the climb.

There is a little bit of elevation get, but if you’re in good shape and keep a great pace you can achieve the prime of the peak in about 20 minutes.

Problems: Easy

10. Jordan Cliffs Trail

This is another hike at the Jordan Pond, but this a person normally takes you up the slim cliffs on the west facet of the pond.

The Jordan Cliffs Path is arduous, but you get incredible sights of the lake from a new point of view, and there are fewer crowds compared to the much easier Jordan Pond Loop.

It is also attainable to do this hike as a loop trail that incorporates the Jordan Pond Loop, the South Bubble Path, or both.

Slide foliage is awesome on the Jordan Cliffs Path, while the view isn’t too substantially various from what you see at South Bubble. If you have to choose, I’d do the South Bubble Trail as an alternative of this a single.

Issue: Average
 

Far more Acadia Travel Suggestions

I hope you loved this listing of the most effective hikes in Acadia National Park.

Don’t forget to check out out my other United States climbing guides! I plan to add quite a few far more journey guides for Maine and Acadia at a later on day.