Hikes and walks (51)
| Hike | What it is | Time, season, pets |
|---|---|---|
| Hike Beehive Loop | This is a 1.4 mile loop trail that ascends a 450 ft cliff face. Exposed cliffs, iron rungs, and granite staircases climb this trail revealing scenic ocean views. | 1 to 3 Hours · Spring, Summer, Fall · No pets |
| Hike Jesup Path and Hemlock Path Loop | This forested path continues to a boardwalk with multiple interpretive signs and benches. It opens up to a meadow before looping back on an old fire road. Views of Dorr Mountain are interspersed in this walk along a birch and hemlock forest. | 30 to 60 Minutes · All year · Pets with limits |
| Hike Perpendicular and Razorback Loop | The loop features a gravel shoreline path along Long Pond and a steep ascent on granite staircase of over 300 stone steps built by the CCC to reach the summit of Mansell Mountain. | 1 to 2 Hours · Spring, Summer, Fall · No pets |
| Hike Bar Island Trail | Walk along a gravel sand bar during low tide to reach Bar Island. Once on the island, hike another mile to the highest point on the island for views of Bar Harbor and Frenchman Bay. | 45 to 90 Minutes · All year · Pets with limits |
| Hike Wonderland Trail | This 1.4 out and back trail on an old gravel fire road is family-friendly and provides direct access to the coastline with birding opportunities. | 30 to 60 Minutes · All year · Pets with limits |
| Hike Ship Harbor Trail | Ship Harbor Trail is a 1.3 mile figure-8 loop near Seawall. Great for families and birders, and a variety of habitats can be seen along the shore. | 30 to 60 Minutes · Spring, Summer, Fall · Pets with limits |
| Hike Ocean Path Trail | The ocean path is a spectacular 2.2 mile long out and back trail takes you along the bold coast of Maine with ocean views, granite slabs, and rocky cliffs. This trail is a great way to access Thunder Hole and Otter Point from the Sand Beach parking area. | 2 to 4 Hours · All year · Pets with limits |
| Hike Compass Harbor Trail | Explore a historic site near Bar Harbor and enjoy a dramatic shoreline with views of Frenchman Bay and Ironbound Island. | 30 to 45 Minutes · All year · Pets with limits |
| Hike Cadillac Summit Loop | The Cadillac Summit Loop, located on the eastern side of Mount Desert Island, is well known as one of the most scenic paths at Acadia National Park. Starting at the top of Cadillac Mountain, which is accessible via car, this path provides a walk with breathtaking 360-degree views of Frenchman Bay, the Porcupine Islands | 1 to 3 Hours · Spring, Summer, Fall · Pets OK · Reservation needed |
| Hike Great Head Trail | This 1.7 mile trail has spectacular ocean views along a coastal headland with some wooded sections. This historic trail also includes the ruins of an early 1900's tea house. | 2 to 4 Hours · All year · Pets with limits |
| Hike Schoodic Peninsula Trails | This 7.5 mile network of hiking trails leads across the peninsula, from Winter Harbor in the north through spruce-fir forests, pine woodlands, and a shrubland, terminating on the southern end at Blueberry Hill. Enjoy views from the Anvil and Schoodic Head, as well as some challenging steep climbs from the East Trail. | All year · Pets with limits |
| Hike Western Mountain Loop | This 3.8 mile loop travels through forested areas and up the summits of Bernard Mountain and Mansell Mountain, together creating Western Mountain. Although there are not many views, it is a challenging hike with hundreds of cut stone steps and other steep sections along the way. | 2 to 3 Hours · All year · Pets with limits |
| Hike St. Sauveur and Acadia Mountain Loop | This 3.9 mile challenging loop summits two mountain peaks and offers stunning views of Somes Sound, the surrounding mountains, outlying islands,and the ocean. | 2 to 4 Hours · All year · Pets with limits |
| Hike Schiff Path | Schiff Path is a popular, relatively steep trail and acts as a connector between Sieur de Monts and the summit of Dorr Mountain. It is one of the memorial trails built between 1924 and 1930. | 30 to 60 Minutes · Spring, Summer, Fall · Pets with limits |
| Hike Precipice Loop | Rising over 1,000 feet in 0.9 miles, the Precipice Trail requires physical and mental strength. It is a rugged, non-technical climb with open cliff faces and iron rungs, and reaches the summit of Champlain Mountain. | 2 to 3 Hours · Spring, Fall · No pets |
| Hike Pemetic South Ridge | This hike reaches the summit of Pemetic Mountain from Jordan Pond, providing panoramic views of the ocean and surrounding islands. | 2 to 3 Hours · All year · Pets with limits |
| Hike Pemetic Mountain Loop | The Pemetic Mountain Loop combines a variety of hiking environments over 4 miles, starting with an easy walk along a scenic pond to a rugged ascent. It culminates at an open granite summit with excellent views of the surrounding landscape, ocean and outlying islands. | 2 to 3 Hours · Spring, Summer, Fall · No pets |
| Hike Norumbega Mountain Loop | The Norumbega Loop Trail features a steep hike up to the summit of Norumbega Mountain, then a gradual descent in the forest before hiking along the western shore of Lower Hadlock Pond. | 2 to 3 Hours · All year · Pets with limits |
| Hike Kurt Diederichs Climb | Kurt Diederichs Climb is a memorial path at Sieur de Monts. It is a .4 mile steep ascent with many granite steps. It is one of the routes to reach Schiff Path, and eventually the summit of Dorr Mountain. | 20 to 30 Minutes · Spring, Summer, Fall · Pets with limits |
| Hike Kebo Brook Trail to Kebo Mountain | This 2 mile out-and-back trail follows a fairly level forest path before a short, steep climb to reach the summit of Kebo Mountain. | 1 to 2 Hours · All year · Pets with limits |
| Hike Jordan Pond Path | The trail follows the shore of Jordan Pond, providing iconic views of steep, glacially sculpted mountains and the glacially carved valley that is now Jordan Pond. | 1 to 3 Hours · All year · Pets with limits |
| Hike Jordan Cliffs Loop | The Jordan Cliffs Loop offers a challenging 5 mile hike across steep slopes, iron rungs, and a strenuous climb up Sargent Mountain. Hikers are rewarded with panoramic views from two mountain summits and Jordan Pond nestled between the mountains. | 3 to 4 Hours · Spring, Fall · No pets |
| Hike Homans Path | Homans Path is a memorial path at Sieur de Monts. It is a .3 mile steep ascent with impressive examples of intricate rock work. It is one of the routes to reach Schiff Path, and eventually the summit of Dorr Mountain. | 15 to 30 Minutes · Spring, Summer, Fall · Pets with limits |
| Hike Hadlock Ponds Loop | Enjoy boardwalks, wooden bridges and some uneven terrain on this 4.1 mile figure eight trail that includes both Lower and Upper Hadlock Ponds. | 2 to 4 Hours · All year · Pets OK |
| Hike Gorham Mountain Loop | The Gorham Mountain Loop is 3.5 miles featuring mountains and a rocky coastline with panoramic views of Mount Desert Island, Frenchman Bay, and the outlying islands. | 1 to 3 Hours · Spring, Summer, Fall · Pets OK |
| Hike Gorge Path | Gorge Path follows a narrow, rocky gorge separating Dorr and Cadillac Mountains. It crosses streams, climbs steep, granite steps, and intersects other trails leading to either summit. | 2 to 3 Hours · Spring, Summer, Fall · Pets with limits |
| Hike Giant Slide Loop | A challenging hike up a rugged ravine to excellent views atop Mount Desert Island's second highest peak, Sargent Mountain, and other summits. | 2 to 4 Hours · All year · Pets with limits |
| Hike Flying Mountain Loop | This loop hike offers a short, relatively steep hike to the top of a small mountain with spectacular views of Somes Sound and descends to a quiet ocean cove with a rocky beach. | 1 to 2 Hours · Spring, Summer, Fall · Pets with limits |
| Hike Emery Path | Emery Path is a steep .5 mile memorial path at Sieur de Monts leading up towards Schiff Path and Dorr Mountain. | 20 to 45 Minutes · Spring, Summer, Fall · Pets with limits |
| Hike Dorr Mountain South Ridge Loop | The Dorr Mountain South Ridge Loop is a 3.2 mile loop featuring views of Mount Desert Island from the top of Dorr Mountain after a steep ascent. | 1 to 2 Hours · Spring, Summer, Fall · No pets |
| Hike Carriage Roads | Many carriage roads intersect with hiking trails. They can be incorporated into a hike to create a loop, add distance, or provide opportunities for more even terrain to gain or lose elevation. | All year · Pets with limits |
| Hike Cadillac South Ridge Trail | This out and back trail is the longer option for hiking Cadillac Mountain with spectacular views of the Atlantic Ocean and outlying islands before reaching the summit. | 2 to 4 Hours · All year · Pets with limits |
| Hike Cadillac North Ridge Trail | A moderate out-and-back hike to the highest point both in Acadia and on the eastern seaboard. The trail is mostly exposed, providing hikers with sweeping vistas of Bar Harbor, Frenchman Bay, and the Schoodic Peninsula. | 2 to 4 Hours · All year · Pets with limits |
| Hike Bubbles Nubble Loop | This hike traverses the summits of North Bubble, South Bubble, and Connors Nubble and crosses varying terrain of forest paths, steep granite sections, and a level carriage road. Visitors can enjoy views of Eagle Lake, Jordan Pond, Pemetic and Sargent Mountains, and the Cranberry Isles. | 1 to 2 Hours · Spring, Summer, Fall · Pets with limits |
| Hike Bubbles | This short 1.5 mile hike offers views of Jordan Pond and the surrounding mountains from the iconic North Bubble, South Bubble, and Bubble Rock. | 60 to 90 Minutes · Spring, Summer, Fall · Pets with limits |
| Hike Beech Mountain Trail | This short, moderate loop on the west side of Mount Desert Island provides hikers with views of Long Pond and Mansell Mountain on the way up and access to one of the few remaining fire towers in the area. | 1 to 2 Hours · All year · Pets with limits |
| Hike Beech Mountain South Ridge Loop | This loop hike traverses a forest before ascending Beech Mountain, where there is a fire tower and views of Long Pond, Mansell Mountain, and the west side of Mount Desert Island. | 1 to 2 Hours · All year · Pets with limits |
| Hike Beachcroft Path | The Beachcroft Path is an historic memorial pathway, constructed in 1915. Take this trail to reach Champlain Mountain for panoramic coastal mountain views of Mount Desert Island, Frenchman Bay, and the outlying islands. | 1 to 2 Hours · All year · Pets with limits |
| Hike Bald Peak and Parkman Mountain Loop | A short, challenging loop hike to the summits of Bald Peak and Parkman Mountain, each over 900 feet. | 1 to 2 Hours · All year · Pets with limits |
| Hike Village Green to Sieur de Monts with Island Explorer Bus | Beginning at the Village Green in Bar Harbor and ending at the Sieur de Mont Area this hike includes the Great Meadow Loop, the Hemlock Road Trail, and the Jesup Path. With virtually no elevation gain it traverses a Bar Harbor neighborhood, crosses the Great Meadow, and finishes with a boardwalk at the Nature Center. | 1 to 1 Hours · Spring, Summer, Fall · Pets OK |
| Hike Pemetic Summit with Island Explorer Bus | The hike up and over Pemetic takes hikers to the shores of both Bubble and Jordan Pond and summits Pemetic Mountain. Nearly 360-degree views look out over Cadillac, Sargent and Penobscot peaks, the Atlantic Ocean and the Cranberry Isles. Hiking this peak with use of the Island Explorer Bus offers hikers a bus-stop-only | 2 to 4 Hours · Spring, Summer, Fall · Pets OK |
| Hike Double Bubble Nubble Loop with Island Explorer | The trek to summit both Bubbles and Conners Nubble summits three peaks and accesses iconic park locations. Hikers will be treated to views of lakes and mountains while exploring woodlands. By hiking with the use of the Island Explorer Bus, these trails are accessible in a unique way and helps hikers overcome the crowds | 4 to 5 Hours · Spring, Summer, Fall · Pets OK |
| Hike Gorge/Cadillac Mountain North Ridge Loop with Island Explorer Bus | This is a great option for hiking to the summit of Cadillac Mountain. It follows Kebo Brook which cuts deeply through the granite bedrock with views of steep canyons walls from the gorge below. The final portion of the path ascends a steep rock face and gives hikers vistas of Dorr Mountain, Frenchman Bay, the Atlantic | 2 to 4 Hours · Spring, Summer, Fall · Pets OK |
| Hike the Acadia Mountain Loop with Island Explorer Bus | Acadia Mountain Trail follows up the east and west side of the mountain with views of the surrounding mountains and bodies of water. With the Island Explorer bus, visitors won't need to park along the road and can ride to the trailhead stress-free. | 2 to 3 Hours · Spring, Summer, Fall · Pets OK |
| Hike Sieur de Monts to Jesup Path with Island Explorer Bus | The trails from Sieur de Monts to Jesup Path are located adjacent to the Nature Center and the Wild Gardens of Acadia in a wooded area. | 1 to 2 Hours · Spring, Summer, Fall · Pets OK |
| Hike Sieur de Monts to Sand Beach Trek with Island Explorer | The trek from Sieur de Monts to Sand Beach connects four trails and summits Champlain Mountain. Hikers will be treated to views of lakes, mountains and ocean while exploring woodlands, ponds and bare summits. By hiking with the use of the Island Explorer Bus, these trails are transformed from out-and-back hikes to a sc | 2 to 4 Hours · Spring, Summer, Fall · Pets OK |
| Hike Beech Cliff Trail with Island Explorer Bus | The Beech Cliff Trail climbs a steep rock face from the southern end of Echo Lake to the top of the cliffs. Continue north along the short and fun Beech Cliff Loop to be treated to even more views from the top of the cliffs. The descent is more gradual and goes down a forested area via the Canada Cliffs Trail back to t | 2 to 4 Hours · Spring, Summer, Fall · No pets |
| Hike Great Head with Island Explorer Bus | Great Head Trial provides visitors a chance to hike a shorter trail and get amazing views of the ocean and forest in the same hike. Enjoy the views while relaxing on the beach afterward. | 1 to 2 Hours · Spring, Summer, Fall · Pets OK |
| Hike Ocean Path Trail with Island Explorer Bus | Ocean Path follows atop Acadia’s granite cliffs along the Atlantic Ocean. While exploring the Ocean Path, visitors can enjoy scenic vistas and iconic park locations including Sand beach, Thunder Hole and Otter Cliffs. Combining this hike with Acadia’s Island Explorer bus gives hikers flexibility in trail distance on wh | 1 to 2 Hours · Spring, Summer, Fall · Pets OK |
| Hike Sargent and Penobscot Mountains from JPH with Island Explorer Bus | The trails up Sargent and Penobscot Mountains are located a short distance from the Jordan Pond House restaurant and gift shop. | Spring, Summer, Fall · Pets OK |
| Hike Jordan Pond Loop with Island Explorer Bus | If looking for a way to relax, to take in some magnificent views, or to just burn some of the calories from the popovers consumed at the Jordan Pond house, the Jordan Pond Path is a great choice. Even just walking along the eastern shoreline is a certain way to enjoy some scenic vistas of one of Acadia’s iconic locatio | 1 to 2 Hours · Spring, Summer, Fall · Pets OK |
Other things to do (38)
| Activity | What it is | Time, season, pets |
|---|---|---|
| Waysides at Schoodic Woods Ranger Station | There are two waysides featured on a wall at the Schoodic Woods Ranger Station. "Exploring Schoodic," offers an aerial view of a peninsula with a rugged coastline. The land-mass is partially surrounded by deep blue water. "Summit to Sea," captures the essence of the Schoodic Peninsula in a variety of images -- its rock | All year · Pets with limits |
| Oldfarm Video Tour | George B. Dorr worked tirelessly through the early 1900s to found what we know today as Acadia National Park. His former family estate, known as Oldfarm, is situated along the Compass Harbor Trail, less than a mile from downtown Bar Harbor on State Route 3. The short walk beneath forest canopies leads to foundation rem | All year · Pets OK |
| Explore Historic Carroll Homestead | Head towards the west side of the island to visit an example of 1800s island life at Carroll Homestead, a time capsule of early Euro-american settlement before Mount Desert Island became a tourist destination and Acadia National Park came into being. | Spring, Summer, Fall · Pets OK |
| Swim Lake Wood | Lake Wood is a secluded pond with a small beach area, just a short drive away from Hulls Cove Visitor Center. There are no lifeguards and access road does not open until June 1. | Summer · Pets with limits |
| Swim Sand Beach | Acadia’s only sandy ocean beach, at the beginning of the Park Loop Road’s coastal section, is one of the park’s most heavily-visited areas. Visitors come to swim in the frigid water, bask and play on the sand, seek intertidal creatures, or view a feature widely publicized as a “must-see.” | Spring, Summer, Fall · Pets with limits |
| Swim Echo Lake Beach | Echo Lake Beach is a popular, freshwater swimming area on the southern end of Echo Lake. It is accessible off Route 102 in Southwest Harbor. | Summer · Pets with limits |
| Stargazing on Cadillac Mountain (Vehicle Access Limited) | Gaze in awe at Acadia's night sky from the highest mountain summit in the park. | Spring, Summer, Fall · Pets with limits |
| Tidepooling at Wonderland | Explore rocky tidepools at the far end of this coastal forest trail on the west side of Mount Desert Island. | Spring, Summer, Fall · Pets with limits |
| Drive Cadillac Mountain | Cadillac Mountain is a popular destination for visitors to Acadia National Park. Accessible by car, it is the highest point on the eastern seaboard of the U.S., and offers magnificent views of a glaciated coastal and island landscape. The short, paved Cadillac Summit Loop Trail, interpretive waysides, restrooms, and gi | 2 Hours · Spring, Summer, Fall · Pets OK · Reservation needed · Fee |
| Stargazing at Sand Beach | Enjoy stargazing and night photography opportunities from Acadia’s only sandy beach. | Spring, Summer, Fall · Pets with limits |
| Go Earthcaching At Acadia | Embark on an exciting journey through time to discover how glaciers have shaped Acadia National Park. Using your GPS unit and a set of clues obtained from this website and hidden along the journey, you can guide yourself to a series of sites in the park. | Spring, Summer, Fall · Pets OK · Reservation needed · Fee |
| Bike Carriage Roads | Winding through the heart of the park, the 45 miles of historic carriage roads have crushed rock surfaces perfect for miles of bicycling. | All year · Pets with limits |
| Drive Park Loop Road | Wind your way through forests, past lakes and mountains, and along the shoreline on scenic Park Loop Road. The 27-mile (43 km) road also provides access to popular areas such as Sieur de Monts, Sand Beach, Otter Point, Jordan Pond, and Cadillac Mountain. | 1 to 4 Hours · All year · Pets OK |
| Birding Cadillac Mountain | Enjoy excellent birding opportunities from Acadia's highest point. In the fall (late August-October), join park rangers and volunteers daily at the Cadillac Mountain Hawkwatch. | Spring, Summer, Fall · Pets with limits · Reservation needed |
| Tour de Wildlife | A few spots with great potential for wildlife viewing, and what you might find there. | Spring, Summer, Fall · Pets with limits |
| Picnic at Jordan Pond | Eat at Acadia's only restaurant, the historic Jordan Pond House, or bring your own picnic. This popular spot on Park Loop Road is a crossroad for historic carriage roads and hiking trails, as well as a launch point for canoeing and kayaking. | All year · Pets OK |
| Paddle Long Pond | Explore Acadia's longest pond by boat. | Pets OK |
| Paddle Eagle Lake | Explore Eagle Lake by canoe or kayak. | Pets OK |
| Paddle Echo Lake | Launch at Ikes Point to explore Echo Lake by boat. | Pets OK |
| Paddle Jordan Pond | Paddle Jordan Pond in the center of Mount Desert Island. | Pets OK |
| Birding "with" the Champlain Society | In the early 1880's members if the Champlain Society documented bird species breeding on Mount Desert Island. Follow along the same trails they took and observe what birds we find in those places. Are they the same, or different? | Spring, Summer, Fall · Pets with limits |
| Birding at Otter Point | Enjoy Acadia's rugged coastline along Otter Point and search for passing seabirds and listen for songbirds in the nearby forest. | All year · Pets with limits |
| Stargazing at Seawall | Explore the night sky from the west side of Mount Desert Island while enjoying the ocean soundscape. | Spring, Summer, Fall · Pets with limits |
| Tidepooling at Ship Harbor | Explore tidepooling opportunities on the rocky shoreline off this easy figure-8 coastal forest trail. | Spring, Summer, Fall · Pets with limits |
| Birding at Thompson Island | Explore migratory shorebirds, terns, and gulls (August-October) on the mudflats of Mt. Desert Narrows. | All year · Pets with limits |
| Tidepooling at the Schoodic Peninsula | Tidepooling locations at the Schoodic Peninsula. | Spring, Summer, Fall · Pets with limits |
| Birding the Carriage Roads | Grab a bike and binoculars and take a ride. Just about everywhere you go you can find a feeding flock of songbirds. Great starting locations and loops: Eagle Lake, Witch Hole Pond Loop, Aunt Betty Pond, Jordan Pond, and Bubble Pond. | Spring, Summer, Fall · Pets with limits |
| Birding Sieur de Monts Springs | Explore the Wild Gardens of Acadia and Great Meadow, or take a walk on Jesup Path, Hemlock Trail and Stratheden Trail for birding opportunities. | Spring, Summer, Fall · Pets with limits |
| Stargazing at Jordan Pond | Find opportunities to stargaze and photograph the night sky the shores surrounding Jordan Pond. | Spring, Summer, Fall · Pets with limits |
| Stargazing Ocean Path | Learn about stargazing opportunities along the coast on Ocean Path. | Spring, Summer, Fall · Pets with limits |
| Birding Jordan Pond | Explore Jordan Pond before the crowds by searching for breeding loon and songbirds in the morning at this popular Acadia destination. | Spring, Summer, Fall · Pets with limits |
| Tidepooling at Bar Island | Access the shore from downtown Bar Harbor for a unique tidepooling experience on a natural land bridge. | 30 to 60 Minutes · Spring, Summer, Fall · Pets with limits |
| Birding the Western Mountains | Explore the rugged side of Acadia National Park to find and listen for boreal breeding songbirds. | Spring, Summer, Fall · Pets with limits |
| Birding Schoodic Peninsula | Spend a day driving and birding the mainland section of Acadia National Park. Located near Winter Harbor, Schoodic Peninsula provides some of the best birding habitat in the park. | All year · Pets OK |
| Birding at the Precipice | View the cliff for nesting peregrine falcons (mid-April through early August) and for other raptors passing by and explore the wetland across the street. | Spring, Summer · Pets OK |
| Birding Wonderland and Ship Harbor | Enjoy two beautiful walks through boreal and mixed-wood forests out to the rocky coast on the quietside of Acadia National Park | All year · Pets OK |
| Birding Seawall | Seawall provides great birding opportunities on the west side of Mount Desert Island at Acadia National Park. | All year · Pets OK |
| Birding Isle au Haut | Explore this downeast offshore island that is home to spruce-fir forests, rocky coastlines along with a variety of songbirds, shorebirds, and terns. | Spring, Summer, Fall · Pets with limits |
Before you set out
Trail conditions change with snow, fire and storms. Check the park’s current alerts, carry the ten essentials and read know before you go.
Sources
- National Park Service: things to do in Acadia National Park (Data API, public domain)
Last checked 1 November 2026.