Best Acadia Hikes & Trails

Acadia is a gem of the east coastline, and some of the finest hikes in Acadia National Park include things like cliff trails, tranquil ponds, historic Maine lighthouses, and ocean views.

This park has climbing trails for all kinds and ages. Some of the cliff hikes can be tricky and perilous to navigate, but most of the Acadia trails are relatives welcoming and simple for inexperienced persons.

We have spent weeks checking out this nationwide park for the duration of the autumn year, and it’s generally these a excellent knowledge. The park has far more than 47,000 acres of coastal scenery, and the changing leaf shades in the fall make it even much more stunning.

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

Ideal Hikes In Acadia National Park

1. Beehive Trail

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

The Beehive Path is not as tricky or dangerous as the Precipice Path (under), but it however has some rung climbing sections and a number of steep fall-offs. This is a superior gateway hike if you’re contemplating about climbing Precipice Trail.

I would not propose this hike for people today with mobility challenges, kids, or anyone who isn’t quite at ease with heights. I also would not attempt it when the route is moist or icy, simply because a slip in all those circumstances could be lethal.

At the summit, the sights are magnificent: you can see Sand Beach and Terrific Head beneath, additionally the Acadia shoreline and little islands in the length.

This is a loop hike, so the way back again down is on a various route. The 2nd portion of the hike (likely down) is much much easier and safer than the way up. You can finish the entire loop hike in 1 or 2 hours.

The trailhead for Beehive is positioned in close proximity to Sand Beach, and parking fills up quick, so it’s very best to go early.

Difficulty: Average / Hard

2. Precipice Trail

The Precipice Trail is the leading hike of Acadia National Park, but it’s also the most harmful. It is sort of like the Angels Landing hike of the U.S. east coast, other than even a lot more precarious.

The views on this hike are amazing, and it’s quite an adrenaline rush. You are going to squeeze among big boulders, scale a steep mountain applying steel ladders, and shimmy alongside exposed cliff edges that are only a couple of toes large. It is definitely just one of the most thrilling hikes in Maine and the U.S. countrywide parks!

There are moments the place you’re climbing a vertical ladder with steep fall-offs on all sides, and a honest variety of persons have died on this trail, so it is not a single to acquire flippantly.

I would remarkably endorse climbing the Beehive Path just before you even consider attempting the Precipice Trail. Beehive is like a shorter, easier, and safer model of Precipice, so if you struggle with it at all then you’ll know Precipice is not a good suit for you.

I would not recommend Precipice for folks with mobility problems, youngsters, or any person who isn’t at ease with heights. I also wouldn’t try it when the path is soaked or icy, due to the fact a slip in those people ailments could be fatal.

This is a loop hike, so the way back again down is on a distinctive route. The next aspect of the hike (likely down) is much less difficult and safer than the way up. You can reach the major in about 1.5 several hours of climbing, and then the return goes really a bit more quickly.

Trouble: Tricky

3. Jordan Pond Loop

This is a flat, straightforward hike that loops all-around the Jordan Pond, which is one particular of the most iconic sights in Acadia.

Jordan Pond is known for currently being the clearest lake in Maine, and also the deepest lake in Acadia National Park. They say it is commonly probable to see 45 ft (15 meters) under the surface.

You can circle the entire pond in about 1.5 to 2 hours, despite the fact that there are a couple of spots where by the path is muddy or slender. When you are completed, treat on your own with popovers (baked rolls) at the Jordan House Cafe.

In the course of drop foliage year, there are great leaf colours on all sides of Jordan Pond, although the greatest foliage can be found on the north side of the pond.

Issues: Effortless

4. South Bubble Path

This is a small, uncomplicated hike to the prime of South Bubble Mountain, where you get amazing views of the Jordan Pond from earlier mentioned. It also has some of the most effective tumble foliage of any hike in Acadia Countrywide Park.

Together the way, you get to quit and see a large granite boulder referred to as the Bubble Rock, which is perched on a cliff with panoramic views of Park Loop Street and the forest beneath.

The issue of this hike is dependent on exactly where you begin and how much you go. If you start off from the really smaller parking great deal at Bubbles Divide, you can get to the prime of South Bubble in a lot less than 30 minutes.

Having said that, if you start out the hike from farther away at Jordan Pond, or go on the hike beyond the South Bubble, then it can be a more time and more strenuous experience. Both way, it’s unquestionably a person of the finest hikes in Acadia National Park!

Issue: Effortless / Moderate

5. Ocean Path

This is a flat, effortless walk alongside the most scenic coastline of Acadia Nationwide Park, with many nice viewpoints to prevent and get pictures together the way.

The entire ocean trail goes from Sand Beach to Otter Place, and it’s about 4.5 miles roundtrip. It is a flat route in good situation all the way, so any individual can do it. It is just one of the most straightforward Acadia hikes!

You can make this hike as brief or prolonged as you want, or just do a few of the finest sections and skip the rest. There are parking loads at a number of noteworthy points alongside the path.

One particular of the most effective places to see along the path is undoubtedly Thunder Gap, which is positioned at the halfway level. This is a crevice in the rocks wherever the waves blast and make a ‘boom’ audio. The timing is every thing, so it’s ideal to appear right here all over significant tide.

Problem: Effortless

6. Cadillac Summit Loop

Cadillac Mountain is one of the most common dawn spots in Acadia Nationwide Park. For the reason that of its site, it is also recognised as the initially put in the U.S. to see the sunrise.

You can push to the summit and see the sunrise with out any mountaineering, whilst it’s incredibly fast paced and auto reservations are required a great deal of the yr. Sunset can also be a good time for pictures, and reservations are not needed for that.

At the summit parking lot, there is a brief loop path with panoramic views of Acadia, Bar Harbor, and the quite a few smaller islands encompassing it. You can walk this full loop in about 30 minutes, so total it is a single of the most available Acadia hikes.

Problems: Easy
 

7. Bass Harbor Lighthouse

This one’s not definitely a hike for each se, but it’s extra like an simple stroll on a path down to the coast, where by you can see a awesome historic Maine lighthouse.

The Bass Harbor Head Light-weight was designed in 1858 to safeguard the entrance to Bass Harbor, which is on the southwestern facet of Mount Desert Island. It’s the only lighthouse in Acadia Nationwide Park.

Parking at the lighthouse is totally free, but it fills up easily considering that there are only about 20 parking spots or much less. The most well known and active time to take a look at is at sunset, but honestly any time of working day is wonderful for having pics, so I’d steer clear of sunset except if you are truly intent on seeing it at that time.

Problem: Easy

8. Beech Mountain Fire Tower

Beech Mountain is a much less regarded hike in Acadia without the need of the crowds, and there is a historic fire tower at the best with a excellent panorama. It is also a fantastic sunset hike.

This is a fairly effortless 1.2 mile loop trail that can be concluded in much less than 1 hour, and it is match for all ages and climbing skills.

You get superb views of Lengthy Pond alongside the way, and then you can climb partway up the fireplace tower at the summit for 360 diploma views of the park. It’s quickly just one of the most effective Acadia hikes!

Trouble: Simple / Reasonable

9. Flying Mountain

This is a shorter, somewhat effortless hike with stellar sights of Northeast Harbor and the Somes Audio.

Traveling Mountain has less foot site visitors than the other hikes in Acadia Countrywide Park, and the sights are perfectly value the climb.

There is a bit of elevation gain, but if you are suit and hold a superior rate you can reach the leading of the peak in about 20 minutes.

Issue: Effortless

10. Jordan Cliffs Trail

This is one more hike at the Jordan Pond, but this just one usually takes you up the slim cliffs on the west facet of the pond.

The Jordan Cliffs Trail is physically demanding, but you get astounding views of the lake from a new point of view, and there are considerably less crowds in contrast to the a lot easier Jordan Pond Loop.

It is also probable to do this hike as a loop trail that contains the Jordan Pond Loop, the South Bubble Path, or equally.

Fall foliage is nice on the Jordan Cliffs Trail, although the look at is not much too substantially diverse from what you see at South Bubble. If you have to decide on, I’d do the South Bubble Path as an alternative of this one.

Issues: Moderate
 

A lot more Acadia Travel Tips

I hope you liked this listing of the finest hikes in Acadia Countrywide Park.

Don’t forget about to verify out my other United States climbing guides! I prepare to increase lots of additional journey guides for Maine and Acadia at a later on date.