Acadia is a gem of the east coast, and some of the greatest hikes in Acadia Countrywide Park contain cliff trails, tranquil ponds, historic Maine lighthouses, and ocean sights.
This park has climbing trails for all types and ages. Some of the cliff hikes can be challenging and harmful to navigate, but most of the Acadia trails are loved ones pleasant and straightforward for inexperienced persons.
We’ve spent months checking out this countrywide park through the autumn year, and it is often these kinds of a great expertise. The park has more than 47,000 acres of coastal scenery, and the modifying leaf hues in the fall make it even more spectacular.
This is my guide to the very best Acadia hikes and trails! In my opinion, these are some of the extremely ideal hikes in Acadia Countrywide Park.
Ideal Hikes In Acadia Nationwide Park
1. Beehive Trail
This is a pleasurable cliff trail with wonderful views of Acadia National Park, and it’s also one of the greatest drop foliage hikes in the park.
The Beehive Trail is not as complicated or harmful as the Precipice Path (underneath), but it continue to has some rung climbing sections and a couple steep fall-offs. This is a superior gateway hike if you’re considering about climbing Precipice Trail.
I wouldn’t suggest this hike for people with mobility problems, little ones, or any individual who is not pretty at ease with heights. I also would not attempt it when the path is soaked or icy, for the reason that a slip in people circumstances could be deadly.
At the summit, the views are amazing: you can see Sand Beach front and Wonderful Head below, moreover the Acadia coastline and smaller islands in the length.
This is a loop hike, so the way again down is on a different path. The 2nd part of the hike (likely down) is substantially a lot easier and safer than the way up. You can total the complete loop hike in 1 or 2 several hours.
The trailhead for Beehive is located near Sand Seaside, and parking fills up rapid, so it is greatest to go early.
Issues: Reasonable / Difficult
2. Precipice Path
The Precipice Path is the premier hike of Acadia Nationwide Park, but it is also the most unsafe. It’s form of like the Angels Landing hike of the U.S. east coast, except even extra precarious.
The views on this hike are wonderful, and it’s really an adrenaline hurry. You’ll squeeze amongst massive boulders, scale a steep mountain employing steel ladders, and shimmy along uncovered cliff edges that are only a couple ft vast. It’s surely a person of the most thrilling hikes in Maine and the U.S. national parks!
There are occasions where you are climbing a vertical ladder with steep fall-offs on all sides, and a fair amount of individuals have died on this path, so it is not 1 to choose flippantly.
I would very advise hiking the Beehive Trail right before you even take into account attempting the Precipice Path. Beehive is like a shorter, less complicated, and safer variation of Precipice, so if you struggle with it at all then you will know Precipice is not a very good in good shape for you.
I wouldn’t advocate Precipice for men and women with mobility issues, young children, or any person who is not comfy with heights. I also wouldn’t try it when the route is damp or icy, due to the fact a slip in individuals situations could be deadly.
This is a loop hike, so the way back again down is on a unique path. The second component of the hike (going down) is a lot less complicated and safer than the way up. You can reach the major in about 1.5 hours of climbing, and then the return goes very a bit more rapidly.
Problems: Challenging
3. Jordan Pond Loop
This is a flat, easy hike that loops all-around the Jordan Pond, which is one of the most legendary sights in Acadia.
Jordan Pond is known for currently being the clearest lake in Maine, and also the deepest lake in Acadia Countrywide Park. They say it’s usually possible to see 45 feet (15 meters) under the surface area.
You can circle the whole pond in about 1.5 to 2 hours, although there are a handful of spots where by the path is muddy or slim. When you are concluded, deal with your self with popovers (baked rolls) at the Jordan Dwelling Restaurant.
During fall foliage period, there are wonderful leaf colors on all sides of Jordan Pond, despite the fact that the greatest foliage can be found on the north side of the pond.
Difficulty: Straightforward
4. South Bubble Trail
This is a limited, quick hike to the best of South Bubble Mountain, wherever you get stunning sights of the Jordan Pond from earlier mentioned. It also has some of the greatest fall foliage of any hike in Acadia National Park.
Together the way, you get to end and see a large granite boulder termed the Bubble Rock, which is perched on a cliff with panoramic views of Park Loop Street and the forest under.
The trouble of this hike depends on exactly where you start out and how significantly you go. If you start off from the very tiny parking lot at Bubbles Divide, you can achieve the major of South Bubble in considerably less than 30 minutes.
Nevertheless, if you start the hike from farther away at Jordan Pond, or go on the hike beyond the South Bubble, then it can be a extended and far more challenging experience. Either way, it is definitely one particular of the most effective hikes in Acadia Countrywide Park!
Issue: Straightforward / Average
5. Ocean Path
This is a flat, effortless walk alongside the most scenic coastline of Acadia National Park, with quite a few pleasant viewpoints to stop and take photos along the way.
The full ocean trail goes from Sand Seashore to Otter Level, and it is about 4.5 miles roundtrip. It’s a flat path in good affliction all the way, so anyone can do it. It is a single of the simplest Acadia hikes!
You can make this hike as limited or lengthy as you want, or just do a number of of the best sections and skip the relaxation. There are parking a lot at a number of noteworthy factors together the path.
One particular of the best places to see along the path is certainly Thunder Gap, which is found at the midway position. This is a crevice in the rocks where the waves blast and make a ‘boom’ audio. The timing is every little thing, so it is best to appear right here all over substantial tide.
Trouble: Uncomplicated
6. Cadillac Summit Loop
Cadillac Mountain is one of the most common dawn places in Acadia Nationwide Park. Since of its locale, it’s also acknowledged as the 1st position in the U.S. to see the dawn.
You can generate to the summit and see the sunrise without having any mountaineering, while it is extremely occupied and car or truck reservations are required much of the year. Sunset can also be a great time for photos, and reservations aren’t required for that.
At the summit parking ton, there is a short loop path with panoramic sights of Acadia, Bar Harbor, and the many modest islands bordering it. You can wander this entire loop in about 30 minutes, so total it’s 1 of the most available Acadia hikes.
Trouble: Quick
7. Bass Harbor Lighthouse
This one’s not definitely a hike for every se, but it is a lot more like an straightforward stroll on a path down to the coastline, exactly where you can see a nice historic Maine lighthouse.
The Bass Harbor Head Gentle was developed in 1858 to shield the entrance to Bass Harbor, which is on the southwestern facet of Mount Desert Island. It’s the only lighthouse in Acadia National Park.
Parking at the lighthouse is absolutely free, but it fills up conveniently due to the fact there are only about 20 parking spots or much less. The most well-known and hectic time to check out is at sunset, but truthfully any time of working day is pleasant for having pics, so I’d prevent sunset until you’re really intent on observing it at that time.
Problem: Quick
8. Beech Mountain Fireplace Tower
Beech Mountain is a considerably less known hike in Acadia without the crowds, and there’s a historic fireplace tower at the prime with a great panorama. It is also a wonderful sunset hike.
This is a rather easy 1.2 mile loop path that can be concluded in less than 1 hour, and it is healthy for all ages and qualities.
You get excellent sights of Extended Pond along the way, and then you can climb partway up the fireplace tower at the summit for 360 diploma sights of the park. It’s easily one of the finest Acadia hikes!
Issues: Effortless / Moderate
9. Flying Mountain
This is a quick, fairly quick hike with stellar views of Northeast Harbor and the Somes Seem.
Traveling Mountain has considerably less foot site visitors than the other hikes in Acadia Countrywide Park, and the sights are effectively value the climb.
There is a bit of elevation obtain, but if you’re healthy and hold a fantastic speed you can access the top of the peak in about 20 minutes.
Issues: Effortless
10. Jordan Cliffs Path
This is an additional hike at the Jordan Pond, but this one takes you up the slender cliffs on the west facet of the pond.
The Jordan Cliffs Trail is arduous, but you get incredible sights of the lake from a new viewpoint, and there are a lot less crowds when compared to the much easier Jordan Pond Loop.
It’s also doable to do this hike as a loop path that incorporates the Jordan Pond Loop, the South Bubble Trail, or each.
Tumble foliage is wonderful on the Jordan Cliffs Trail, while the perspective isn’t also substantially diverse from what you see at South Bubble. If you have to decide on, I’d do the South Bubble Path rather of this a single.
Issue: Reasonable
Additional Acadia Travel Guidelines
I hope you appreciated this list of the best hikes in Acadia Nationwide Park.
Really do not fail to remember to examine out my other United States mountaineering guides! I plan to include lots of a lot more journey guides for Maine and Acadia at a afterwards date.
