10 Best Hikes in Acadia National Park
I won’t lie…when we were first looking to go to Acadia National Park, I thought to myself…the hiking in Acadia can’t be that great. I mean, the trails are all pretty short and many of the mountains are under 1,000 feet tall. Being a regular hiker in places like the Adirondacks and the Whites, and having just come back from a trip to Colorado where we scaled a 14,000-footer, I had my doubts about Acadia being anything to write home about.
Well, turns out it was. And I was very, very wrong. I’ll be the first to admit it!
Acadia National Park is a true gem of the Northeast, and home to plenty of awesome hikes. There’s really something for everyone here, ranging from coastline strolls along the Atlantic Ocean, to quiet forested trails, to exposed cliffside walks, to summits with ocean views.
And if you’re after a summit, take it from us, the hikes in Acadia are no joke! They may be short, but that’s because they’re steep climbs up rocky, rugged and challenging terrain. At the tops of the summits, you’re rewarded with amazing views of lakes, ocean, and mountains all in one.
And while the views alone make the hikes in Acadia worth the trip, that wasn’t the best part. In most cases here, it’s about the journey and not the destination! The trail system in Acadia is very unique, with many trails creatively weaving their way along the sides of sheer cliff faces. Famously known as the iron-rung routes, these challenging trails involve narrow ledge walks with big exposure and vertical iron rung ladders that have you climbing the cliff face to the summit. These trails in Acadia are some of the most fun hikes we’ve ever done!
With over 150 miles of trails in this park, there’s a lot of hikes in Acadia to choose from. And while we still have so many more on our list that we that want to check off (we’ll definitely be making another trip soon!), we think we chose some pretty killer ones!
In this post, we’ll give you some details on what we think are some of the best hikes in Acadia National Park, along with some general tips for hiking in Acadia, so that we can help you plan your own trip to this beautiful section of New England!
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Tips For Hiking in Acadia National Park
Certain areas of Acadia require a timed-entry vehicle reservation that must be booked ahead of time. Check out the NPS site for more information. Some of the hikes on this list, including the popular Beehive Trail, fall within the reservation area, so be sure to make plans ahead of time if these hikes are high on your to-do list.
If you plan on hiking to a summit within in Acadia, expect it to be more challenging than you might think. The trails here are often short to reach the summit, but it’s for a reason…they’re steep! And rocky. Often, they involve climbing up rock or boulder fields, some scrambly bits, some ladders here and there, and, oh, there are a lot of stone stairs. Many hikes are quad burners from start to finish with little break, so, basically, if you plan to hike in Acadia, be ready for the burn! Heck, even the visitor center requires a climb up 53 stairs!
Some of the hikes on this list are Acadia’s famed iron rung routes. These hikes are challenging and not for those afraid of heights, as they creatively weave and climb their way up sheer cliff faces. In our opinion, these are some of the best hikes in Acadia, but these trails involve climbing up iron rung ladders and walking along exposed cliff ledges. Do not attempt these trails in wet and rainy conditions, as the granite ledges become dangerously slippery.
Because of the rocky and rugged nature of the trails, having a good pair of hiking boots that can grip granite surfaces is essential for hiking in Acadia. Many people like to use trekking poles, too, especially for hiking down on the steep trails.
Make sure you have a trail map. The signs are very well marked along each intersection, but it’s good to have your route planned out ahead of time and to know where you want to go, as there can be a lot of intersecting trails and different routes to get to the same place.
Trails along granite are often marked with blue blazes on the granite surface and with Bates Cairns. These intricately built rock piles are historically important to the park and should not be touched or moved in anyway. They help keep hikers on trail and in the right direction.
Good to know: The direction of the rock on top is used to point the way along the trail! They’re pretty nifty.
Get an early start. Think 7 am or earlier. This will help you avoid parking issues (in the peak months of July, August and October, lots fill up fast), but also will help you to avoid crowds on the most popular trails.
Bring sunblock and a hat. Many hikes in Acadia involved exposed granite summits or ledges with little shade.
Trail signs found throughout Acadia National Park
A Bates Cairn found along the granite portions of the trails in Acadia
Best time to hike in Acadia National Park
Late spring through fall is the best time to hike in Acadia. Peak times are the summer months of July and August, as well as October for the fall foliage.
A note on fall foliage: Colors and peak season can very from year to year. Generally, peak falls around Columbus Day weekend. We visited Acadia the week before Columbus Day to avoid the holiday crowds, and we weren’t disappointed. Make sure to check the Maine foliage trackers if seeing the Acadia colors is on your to-do list!
Fall colors of October in Acadia
Less crowded times are spring as well as September (after the summer crowds leave but before the leaf peepers arrive).
Important: Coming in the spring may limit your hikes because many of the iron rung routes, including the Precipice Trail, often stay closed until late August due to peregrine falcon nesting. Make sure to check trail conditions on the park website!
Best Hikes in Acadia National Park
1. Precipice Trail
Location: At the beginning of Park Loop Road, just before the Sand Beach Entrance Station. A small parking lot is found along the right side of the road, but there is plenty of road side parking if the lot is full.
Distance: 2.5 miles for a full loop hike
Elevation Gain: 1300 feet
Often touted as the park’s most challenging hike, we think the Precipice trail is the best hike in Acadia! And we’re not alone…it’s quite a popular trail. But, it is certainly not for everyone.
Along with the Beehive, the Precipice is the most famous of the iron rung routes in Acadia. This trail is no joke. You’ll gain about 1,000 feet of elevation gain in just 0.9 miles as you climb your way up to the summit of Champlain Mountain.
This trail involves maneuvering through boulder fields, tackling some thought-provoking scrambles, traversing across some particularly hair- raising exposed ledges with steep drop offs, and climbing metal rungs up the side of granite cliffs.
We love this kind of stuff! This trail was one of the most fun hikes we’ve ever done! But like we said, this stuff isn’t for everyone. Those afraid of heights or who have little to no experience with hiking and with strenuous steep scrambles may first want to try their hand at an easier iron rung hike in Acadia, such as the Jordan Cliffs Trail, which we describe below.
The views from the summit of Champlain Mountain are your reward at the end of the climb.
Rather than hiking back down the Precipice Trail, which is dangerous and highly discouraged, you can make a loop back to the parking lot by taking the Champlain North Ridge Trail and the Orange and Black Path. Though not filled with huge exposure and iron rungs, the Orange and Black Path brings you back to your car by traversing back along the lower cliffsides of Champlain Mountain, and it’s an extremely rugged trail with lots of stone steps and scrambling. We thought it was more tiring than the Precipice Trail itself!
2. The Beehive Trail
Location: Along Park Loop Road, shortly after the Sand Beach Entrance Station. Parking is located at Sand Beach or along the road unless otherwise noted. Because this is a one-way road, park wherever you see an open spot, because you can’t go back!
Distance: 1.2 miles for a loop hike
Elevation Gain: 450 feet
Note: Reservations are required for this area of Park Loop Road so be sure to plan ahead to secure your spot.
The Beehive Trail is kind of like the Precipice’s cute little brother. It has similar exposure, with ledges and iron rungs, but less of it, as the trail is about half the distance and elevation gain of the Precipice trail. There is also a lot less scrambling and tricky rock elements to this hike.
Because it is “easier” than the Precipice Trail, it is quite a busy trail, and one of the most popular hikes in Acadia. Try your best to get here early to avoid a crowded trail along the ledges.
Some say that doing the Beehive first is a good way to test your nerves if you’re feeling less than confident about hiking the Precipice. However, just because it’s shorter does not mean it should be underestimated. There are still sections with narrow cliffside ledges that can still affect those afraid of heights or not used to exposure. And of course, as with the Precipice Trail, do not attempt this hike in wet conditions.
We loved this Acadia hike for the fun elements along the trail, but also for the gorgeous views back down over Sand Beach.
The hike back down to the car via the Bowl Trail is an easy walk along a beautifully wooded trail.
3. Great Head
Location: The Sand Beach parking lot
Distance: 1.6 miles
Note: Reservations are required for this area of Park Loop Road so be sure to plan ahead to secure your spot.
The Great Head trail is a popular hike in Acadia. It’s a fairly easy wooded path out to the tip of the short rocky peninsula that lines the west side of Sand Beach.
The trail starts at the far end of Sand Beach with some stone steps leading you up to the start of the wooded peninsula.
A short climb gives you a nice view back down to Sand Beach, with the Beehive behind it. And as you continue to loop around the peninsula, you’ll get picturesque coastal views and a chance to climb along the shoreline rocks.
4. Ocean Path
Location: Runs from Sand Beach to Otter Cliffs
Distance: 4.4 miles for the total out-and-back path
Note: Reservations are required for this area of Park Loop Road so be sure to plan ahead to secure your spot.
Ocean Path is one of Acadia’s most popular hikes. This easy trail is a walking path that runs along Park Loop Road between Sand Beach and Otter Point, the most popular section of Acadia National Park.
Sand Beach in Acadia National Park - the start of the Ocean Path
Starting at the Sand Beach parking area, it will take you along the picturesque coast of Acadia, giving you gorgeous ocean and cliffside views, and to popular points including the Thunderhole. The one-way trip from Sand Beach to Thunderhole is 0.7 miles. If you want to continue all the way to the scenic Otter Cliffs, you’ll be walking 2.2 miles each way.
However, the great thing about this trail is you can go as far or as short as you’d like before turning around. Plus, you don’t have to begin right at Sand Beach. Pullouts and parking areas along Park Loop road allow you to begin this trail at various points along its length.
Visitors along Ocean Path on a gloomy day in Acadia with climbers on the Otter Cliffs in the distance
Many portions of the hike simply follow Park Loop Road as it weaves its way around the coast, so a lot of what can be seen along this trail can be seen from the car, and there are designated parking areas for the main attractions. However, if you want an easy hike to stretch your legs and an opportunity to explore the rocky coastline, coastal cliffs, and some tide pools a bit more, then this hike in Acadia is a really good option.
5. Cadillac Mountain North Ridge Trail
Location: The trailhead is located right at the beginning of the one way portion of Park Loop Road.
Distance: 4.4 miles round trip
As the highest point in Acadia National Park, and actually along the entire eastern seaboard, a visit to Cadillac Mountain is one of the most iconic things to do in the park.
But it’s not just for its status as the highest point. It’s because the summit of Cadillac Mountain is one of the very first places in the U.S. to see the sunrise. And I don’t know about you, but I’ll endure an early wake up call to experience that!
There are several different ways to get to the summit of Cadillac Mountain. The first is the Cadillac Summit Road. Yes, you can drive the short 3 mile road to the summit, but that takes all the fun out of it, right?! Ok, yes, you do get to sleep in longer if you’re chasing the sunrise…
But let’s be honest, getting up early and making the hike will make that sunrise all the more rewarding!
With several different routes up to the summit, we chose the North Ridge route. It’s relatively short, has a gradual climb, and has great views out over Frenchman Bay most of the way up (well, you won’t be seeing these views until you’re making your way down if you’re doing this for sunrise!).
Expect rocky terrain and lots of stone steps, which is par for the course when hiking in Acadia. But on this hike, there are no crazy features, iron rungs, or tough scrambles, making this an ideal hike for a sunrise hike that begins in the dark. As you gain elevation, the trail begins to open up, giving you expansive views over Acadia and the harbor below.
Once at the top, enjoy some of the best views over Acadia! But don’t expect to have the summit to yourself. This is popular. Usually we say the earlier the better to get on the trails. This is not the case here! You’ll be sharing the sunrise views, but honestly, it still feels pretty special.
6. Jordon Pond Path
Location: Park at the large lot located at the south end of the Jordan Pond and begin the hike at the Jordan Pond boat launch.
Distance: 3.2 mile loop
The Jordan Pond area offers some of the best hikes in Acadia National Park.
The Jordan Pond Path is the first of a series of trails found in the Jordan Pond area, and it’s the easiest. This flat walking path will take you around the entire perimeter of the lake, giving you gorgeous views of both the lake and the surrounding mountains from every angle.
Because of its ease, it can get quite crowded, especially at particular points along the trail that offer those really picturesque views.
If you’re looking for some more challenging hikes that will leave the crowds behind, read on…
7. Jordan Cliffs Trail
Location: Park at the large lot located at the south end of Jordan Pond. From the boat launch, take the carriage road up to the Spring Trail. After 0.3 miles along the Spring Trail, you’ll start along the Jordan Cliffs Trail.
Distance: 1.4 miles point-to-point
If you’re looking for a more thrilling route around Jordan Pond than just a casual stroll around the lake, look no further than the Jordan Cliffs Trail!
The Jordan Cliffs trail is another one of Acadia’s unique iron rung routes and one of the most fun hikes in this area of Acadia. This trail runs along the rugged cliff side of Penobscot Mountain on the west side of Jordan Pond.
It’s much less popular than the more famous iron rung routes, the Precipice and the Beehive trails, and less crowded than the Jordan Pond Loop, so it’s a good way to get views of the lake while avoiding the masses.
We thought that this route was way less intense than either the Precipice and the Beehive iron rung trails. There are only a few places where you have to climb up and around boulders using iron rungs and with minimal exposure. There are a few places where you do walk by cliff edges, but the drop-offs weren’t as intense as the other iron rung routes. This makes the Jordan Cliffs Trail a good warm up for the more intense iron rung trails and to test your nerves to see how you do!
8. Penobscot Mountain
Location: Park at the large lot located at the south end of Jordan Pond. Follow the Spring Trail as you would to reach the Jordan Cliffs Trail. At the intersection with Jordan Cliffs, you can choose to take the Jordan Cliffs Trail for 1.2 miles and then take the summit trail up to Penobscot. Or you can head up the less intense but scenic Penobscot Mountain Trail.
Distance: about 3 mikes round trip on the Penobscot Mountain Trail, or roughly 3.5 miles for the loop.
Penobscot is the mountain that towers over Jordan Lake on the west side at 1194 feet tall. A huge exposed granite summit gives you awesome views of Jordan Lake, the ocean, and the surrounding mountains, including Sargent, the Bubbles, and Pemetic.
We hiked Penobscot as a detour off the Jordan Cliffs Trail. After 1.2 miles down this trail, you’ll come to the intersection for Penobscot. From here, it’s a short 0.4 mile climb to the top. This trail offers fun scrambles and exposed granite views.
When you get to the summit of Penobscot Mountain, you’ll be treated to some of the most expansive views of Acadia.
9. The Bubbles
Location: The shortest way to access the Bubbles is from the Bubbles Divide Parking lot along Park Loop Road. From here, it’s a short climb up to the saddle. However, the Bubbles Divide Trail also intersects with the Jordon Pond Path, giving access to the Bubbles via longer hikes from the Jordon Pond parking area at the south end of the lake.
Distance: The shortest route from the Bubbles Divide lot is 1 mile round trip for either South Bubble or North Bubble, or about 1.6 miles for both. However, there are many different routes you can take to get here to extend your hike.
The Bubbles are a popular hike in Acadia that consists of the two hills, the North Bubble and the South Bubble, that you see when looking across Jordan Pond from the Jordon Pond House. They’re a short and sweet (and steep!) climb up from either side of the Bubbles Divide Trail.
South Bubble is more popular, in part due to Bubble Rock, a giant boulder sitting precariously on the cliff’s edge. But the views from the small granite summit are pretty good, too! It’s a short summit, but sometimes that’s what gives the best up-close views.
North Bubble is a bit more of an uphill climb that South Bubble, but the views are certainly worthy! The summit block is tiny, but you’ll be sharing with a lot less people.
10. Pemetic Mountain
Location: This is another summit with tons of trails leading up to it. The two most popular ways are off Park Loop Road. The Northwest Ridge trail starts across from the Bubbles Divide lot, and the South Ridge trail is accessed from the lot at the south end of Jordon Pond, starting with a short walk along the south end of the lake.
Distance: 6.2 miles roundtrip using the South Ridge Trail, or 1.2 miles roundtrip along the much steeper and more challenging Northwest Ridge trail.
Pemetic Mountain lines the east side of Jordan Pond and is a gorgeous summit hike in Acadia. Slightly taller than Penobscot at 1248 feet, the views are arguably a little bit better (in our humble opinion). From the open granite summit, you get views of Penobscot and Sargent Mountains in the West, Cadillac Mountain in The East, the Bubbles and Eagle Lake in the North, and the Atlantic Ocean to the South, and of course, of Jordan Pond itself.
There are several trails that go up to Pemetic Mountain. The Northwest Ridge route is the steepest and most challenging of the bunch. You’ll climb through rock fields, scramble, and climb some wooden ladders as you climb over 700 feet in 0.6 miles.
The South Ridge trail is longer but a more gradual climb to the summit. However, still expect the usual rocky and rugged terrain that is so characteristic of Acadia mountains!
BONUS HIKE!
Can’t decide on which of these amazing Jordan Pond hikes you want to do? No problem…you can do them all in a single day on one epic day hike. Combining all these trails makes for one of the best hikes in Acadia National Park.
You’ll hike clockwise starting from the Jordan Pond House parking area, traverse the Jordan Cliffs Trail, detour up to Penobscot, head back down to the North side of the pond, head up the Bubbles Divide trail to hit both North and South Bubble, and then make your way back to the south end of the lake by hiking up and over Pemetic Mountain. Phew! That’s a lot!
There you have it, our list of the best hikes in Acadia. Which ones do you want to do? If you’ve done any of these Acadia hikes, which was your favorite?