Best Acadia Hikes & Trails

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

This park has climbing trails for all varieties and ages. Some of the cliff hikes can be tough and unsafe to navigate, but most of the Acadia trails are spouse and children helpful and straightforward for novices.

We have put in months discovering this national park for the duration of the autumn season, and it’s always these kinds of a terrific experience. The park has extra than 47,000 acres of coastal surroundings, and the altering leaf hues in the slide make it even more breathtaking.

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

Greatest Hikes In Acadia Nationwide Park

1. Beehive Trail

This is a exciting cliff trail with incredible views of Acadia Countrywide Park, and it’s also just one of the ideal fall foliage hikes in the park.

The Beehive Path is not as hard or harmful as the Precipice Path (under), but it continue to has some rung climbing sections and a number of steep drop-offs. This is a fantastic gateway hike if you are pondering about climbing Precipice Path.

I would not advocate this hike for individuals with mobility issues, little ones, or any person who is not rather at ease with heights. I also would not try it when the route is soaked or icy, because a slip in individuals circumstances could be lethal.

At the summit, the sights are breathtaking: you can see Sand Beach front and Wonderful Head beneath, as well as the Acadia shoreline and small islands in the length.

This is a loop hike, so the way back down is on a different path. The second part of the hike (likely down) is substantially much easier and safer than the way up. You can finish the full loop hike in 1 or 2 hours.

The trailhead for Beehive is located close to Sand Beach front, and parking fills up quick, so it is ideal to go early.

Problem: Moderate / Tough
 

2. Precipice Trail

The Precipice Trail is the premier hike of Acadia Nationwide Park, but it’s also the most harmful. It is form of like the Angels Landing hike of the U.S. east coastline, apart from even a lot more precarious.

The views on this hike are incredible, and it’s pretty an adrenaline rush. You will squeeze involving enormous boulders, scale a steep mountain making use of steel ladders, and shimmy together uncovered cliff edges that are only a few ft broad. It is absolutely one of the most thrilling hikes in Maine and the U.S. nationwide parks!

There are situations where by you’re climbing a vertical ladder with steep drop-offs on all sides, and a honest number of men and women have died on this trail, so it is not just one to take evenly.

I would extremely advise hiking the Beehive Path prior to you even think about attempting the Precipice Trail. Beehive is like a shorter, a lot easier, and safer model of Precipice, so if you struggle with it at all then you’ll know Precipice is not a great healthy for you.

I would not endorse Precipice for folks with mobility challenges, youngsters, or anyone who is not relaxed with heights. I also wouldn’t attempt it when the path is wet or icy, simply because a slip in these problems could be fatal.

This is a loop hike, so the way back again down is on a unique path. The next section of the hike (going down) is considerably a lot easier and safer than the way up. You can arrive at the prime in about 1.5 hrs of climbing, and then the return goes rather a bit more quickly.

Difficulty: Hard
 

3. Jordan Pond Loop

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

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

You can circle the entire pond in about 1.5 to 2 several hours, while there are a several spots exactly where the path is muddy or narrow. When you are concluded, handle yourself with popovers (baked rolls) at the Jordan Home Cafe.

All through fall foliage time, there are awesome leaf colours on all sides of Jordan Pond, while the finest foliage can be found on the north facet of the pond.

Problems: Simple

4. South Bubble Trail

This is a brief, quick hike to the leading of South Bubble Mountain, where you get stunning sights of the Jordan Pond from earlier mentioned. It also has some of the best fall foliage of any hike in Acadia Nationwide Park.

Along the way, you get to prevent and see a large granite boulder known as the Bubble Rock, which is perched on a cliff with panoramic sights of Park Loop Road and the forest down below.

The issues of this hike is dependent on in which you start out and how significantly you go. If you begin from the extremely modest parking ton at Bubbles Divide, you can reach the major of South Bubble in a lot less than 30 minutes.

Nonetheless, if you start the hike from farther away at Jordan Pond, or go on the hike outside of the South Bubble, then it can be a for a longer time and extra physically demanding experience. Both way, it is definitely a person of the very best hikes in Acadia Countrywide Park!

Issues: Quick / Reasonable
 

5. Ocean Path

This is a flat, straightforward wander alongside the most scenic shoreline of Acadia Nationwide Park, with various awesome viewpoints to end and consider images together the way.

The comprehensive ocean trail goes from Sand Beach front to Otter Issue, and it’s about 4.5 miles roundtrip. It is a flat route in superior problem all the way, so anyone can do it. It’s one of the least complicated Acadia hikes!

You can make this hike as limited or long 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 along the trail.

Just one of the ideal spots to see alongside the path is undoubtedly Thunder Cove, which is situated at the midway level. This is a crevice in the rocks exactly where the waves blast and make a ‘boom’ seem. The timing is almost everything, so it is most effective to appear in this article all-around significant tide.

Issues: Uncomplicated

6. Cadillac Summit Loop

Cadillac Mountain is just one of the most well-known sunrise places in Acadia National Park. Mainly because of its area, it’s also acknowledged as the to start with area in the U.S. to see the sunrise.

You can generate to the summit and see the dawn without any mountaineering, whilst it’s extremely active and auto reservations are essential significantly of the calendar year. Sunset can also be a awesome time for photos, and reservations are not essential for that.

At the summit parking ton, there’s a quick loop trail with panoramic sights of Acadia, Bar Harbor, and the quite a few compact islands bordering it. You can walk this comprehensive loop in about 30 minutes, so general it’s just one of the most obtainable Acadia hikes.

Trouble: Simple
 

7. Bass Harbor Lighthouse

This one’s not seriously a hike for each se, but it’s much more like an straightforward stroll on a path down to the coastline, where by you can see a great historic Maine lighthouse.

The Bass Harbor Head Light-weight was crafted in 1858 to defend the entrance to Bass Harbor, which is on the southwestern facet of Mount Desert Island. It is the only lighthouse in Acadia National Park.

Parking at the lighthouse is totally free, but it fills up simply due to the fact there are only about 20 parking spots or much less. The most common and occupied time to visit is at sunset, but actually any time of day is nice for using shots, so I’d steer clear of sunset except you’re actually intent on seeing it at that time.

Trouble: Quick

8. Beech Mountain Fireplace Tower

Beech Mountain is a fewer known hike in Acadia without the crowds, and there is a historic hearth tower at the major with a amazing panorama. It’s also a great sunset hike.

This is a fairly uncomplicated 1.2 mile loop path that can be completed in a lot less than 1 hour, and it’s fit for all ages and qualities.

You get fantastic sights of Extended Pond together the way, and then you can climb partway up the fireplace tower at the summit for 360 degree sights of the park. It is effortlessly one of the greatest Acadia hikes!

Trouble: Straightforward / Moderate
 

9. Flying Mountain

This is a limited, fairly effortless hike with stellar views of Northeast Harbor and the Somes Audio.

Flying Mountain has fewer foot website traffic than the other hikes in Acadia Countrywide Park, and the views are effectively well worth the climb.

There is a little bit of elevation attain, but if you are match and maintain a superior pace you can reach the best of the peak in about 20 minutes.

Problem: Easy

10. Jordan Cliffs Path

This is a different hike at the Jordan Pond, but this just one takes you up the slender cliffs on the west side of the pond.

The Jordan Cliffs Trail is demanding, but you get wonderful sights of the lake from a new perspective, and there are considerably less crowds when compared to the easier Jordan Pond Loop.

It’s also doable to do this hike as a loop path that includes the Jordan Pond Loop, the South Bubble Path, or each.

Tumble foliage is pleasant on the Jordan Cliffs Trail, despite the fact that the perspective isn’t too significantly distinct from what you see at South Bubble. If you have to pick out, I’d do the South Bubble Trail instead of this a single.

Issues: Moderate
 

More Acadia Vacation Ideas

I hope you savored this listing of the finest hikes in Acadia Nationwide Park.

Don’t forget to verify out my other United States mountaineering guides! I approach to insert numerous much more journey guides for Maine and Acadia at a later date.