Hiking at Acadia National Park
Links to Acadia National Park trail reviews are listed at the bottom of this page.
There are twenty-six mountains in Acadia National Park, all of which have trails to the top; I hiked fourteen of them. The funny thing is that most aren’t even a thousand feet tall, yet the trails to the top are without a doubt the most strenuous of all trails within National Parks on the east coast of the United States. The toughest hike at Great Smoky Mountains National Park wouldn’t even rank higher than the easiest mountain hike at Acadia National Park. The only other east coast park that has anything comparable is Chesapeake and Ohio Canal National Historical Park and its Billy Goat A Trail that runs along the cliffs above the Potomac River, and even it wouldn’t rank in the Top Five when considering Acadia trails.
The park is dotted with round balls of granite sticking out of the earth like the bump of a pregnant woman’s belly. There are sections of trails that are nothing but rockslides, forcing hikers to climb up and over boulders the size of cars and small trucks. Cliffs are often scaled with the help of iron rungs and ladders; this is mountain climbing for those without mountain climbing equipment. In places not deemed steep enough for ladders, you must get your fingers and toes into crevices to pull yourself up. When you reach the top you feel like you have accomplished something, whereas hiking in the Smokies is just walking up steep hills for miles on end.
View of the mountains on Mount Desert Island from Baker Island, Acadia National Park
Not every trail at Acadia National Park is for serious hikers. The Ocean Path is relatively easy and arguably has the best views of any trail in the park. It runs right along the coast, and there are plenty of overlooks that offer views of the cliffs, the rugged shoreline, and even Sand Beach. The Jordan Pond Path, Ship Harbor Trail, Wonderland Trail, and the Bar Island Trail are some of the other easier trails.
If you want solitude when hiking at Acadia National Park, try the Schoodic Peninsula trails or stick to the trails on the west side of Mount Desert Island, using Somes Sound as the dividing point (the exception is the Acadia Mountain Trail). It really is a pleasure to hike in peace and quiet, and the trails are just as good at Schoodic or the west side of Mount Desert Island as they are anywhere in the park. The east side of the island, on the other hand, is like hiking through Grand Central Station, and the more difficult a trail, the more people that flock to it. Parking lots are often full by 9 AM, and you may have to park along the road and walk as far as a half mile back to the trailhead. Because of this, the free Island Explorer Shuttle Bus is sometimes the best way to go.
Detailed trail maps are on sale at the Hulls Cover Visitor Center. All you get for free is a park brochure with a map that is way too small and lacks enough detail to use when hiking. You can also purchase a waterproof map at the park or get one in advance at various online bookstores. Furthermore, all trailhead parking lots are federally owned, and you need an Acadia National Park entrance pass to use them. Entrance passes can be purchased at the various visitor centers in the park.
For those looking for a more relaxing walk through the park, there are nearly fifty miles of carriage roads on Mount Desert Island that are open to pedestrians. These are well-maintained roads with a fine gravel surface, and while hilly, the worst of them is only moderate in difficulty. In most cases the hills are so gradual that you won’t even notice them. A free map of the carriage road system is available at the visitor centers.
Walking a carriage road at Acadia National Park
HIKING TRAIL REVIEWS
Hiking every trail within Acadia National Park is beyond the scope of National Park Planner. However, I did manage to hike 45 miles of the 127 miles of trails in the park and recommend any of the following trails and loop hikes.
MOUNT DESERT ISLAND
Acadia Mountain Trail Loop Hike
Acadia Mountain Trail and Man O’ War Brook Fire Road
Beehive and Bowl Trails Loop Hike
Bubbles Trail and Jordan Pond Path Loop Hike
Bubbles Trail, Bubble Divide Trail, and Jordan Pond Path
Flying Mountain Trail Loop Hike
Flying Mountain Trail and Valley Cove Road
Perpendicular Trail Loop Hike
Perpendicular Trail, Mansell Mountain Trail, Razorback Trail, Great Notch Trail, and Long Pond Trail
Precipice Trail Loop Hike
Precipice Trail, Champlain South Ridge Trail, Orange and Black Path, Schooner Head Path, and Murphy’s Lane
Six Mountain Summit Hike
Bald Peak Trail, Parkman Mountain Trail, Grandgent Trail, East Cliffs Trail, Jordan Cliffs Trail, Penobscot Mountain Trail, Sargent South Ridge Trail, Birch Spring Trail, Hadlock Brook Trail
ISLE AU HAUT
Southern Isle au Haut Loop Hike
Western Head Trail, Cliff Trail, Goat Trail, and Duck Harbor Mountain Trail
SCHOODIC PENINSULA
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Last updated on August 18, 2023
