Walking & Hiking Trails

Round-Trip 

Trail 

Distance 

Difficulty 

Trailhead 

Description 

Time 

Elevation Gain 

Bar Harbor Shore Path 

A gravel trail with views of the four Porcu

1.0 mile 

very easy 

Bar Harbor town pier 

pine islands and, on the shore side, views 

30 minutes 

level 

of Bar Harbor. 

Jordan Pond Nature 

A self-guiding nature walk alongside Jor

1.0 mile 

very easy 

Trail 

dan Pond with views of The Bubbles. 

30 minutes 

level 

Jordan Pond North parking area off Park Loop Road 

Ocean Patch 

A gently rolling footpath following Park 

3.6 miles 

easy 

Sand Beach parking area 

Loop Road to Otter Cliffs with views of 

2 hours 

fairly level 

the rock-bound coast. 

Schoodic Head Trail 

A gentle trail offering views of Schoodic 

1.0 mile 

easy 

Schoodic Peninsula Loop 

Peninsula and Mount Desert Island. 

30 minutes 

440 feet 

Road opposite West Pond 

Ship Harbor Nature Trail 

A walk through spruce forests and along 

1.3 miles 

easy 

Ship Harbor parking area 

the salt marsh shore of Ship Harbor. 

40 minutes 

mostly level 

off Route 102A 

Great bird-watching. 

(some rocky areas) 

Beech Mountain Trail Beech Mountain parking area off Route 102 

Steep in some sections, this trail, on the western side of Mount Desert Island, offers views of both Long Pond and Echo Lake. A firetower crowns the summit. (not open to the public) 

1.2 miles 1 hour 

moderate 839 feet 

Great Head Trail 

This cliff walk loop provides views of 

1.4 miles 

moderate 

Eastern end of Sand Beach 

Frenchman Bay, Sand Beach and 

45 minutes 

145 feet 

off Park Loop Road 

Gorham Mountain. 

Gorham Mountain Trail 

A short but spectacular climb up 

2.0 miles 

moderate 

Gorham Mountain park-

an oceanside mountain offering 

1 hour 

525 feet 

ing area off Park 

continuous views. 

Loop Road 

Jordan Pond Shore Path 

This relatively level, but rocky, trail loop 

3.3 miles 

moderate 

Jordan Pond parking area 

boasts views of five mountains. 

1.75 hours 

level 

off Park Loop Road 

Cadillac Mountain 

This is the least demanding of four trails 

4.2 miles 

moderate 

North Ridge Cadillac parking area off Park 

up Acadia's highest peak with views of Frenchman Bay, offshore islands and 

2.5 hours 

1,530 feet 

Loop Road 

Schoodic Peninsula. 

The Beehive 

Bowl Trail offers a longer, gentler climb. 

1.8 miles 

strenuous 

Just north of Sand Beach 

45 minutes 

520 feet 

area off Park Loop Road 

Acadia Mountain Trail 

The park's best views of Somes Sound 

2.0 miles 

strenuous 

Acadia Mountain parking 

are to be had from this trail. 

1.25 hours 

681 feet 

area off Route 102 

Dorr Mountain Trail 

A steady and sometimes steep climb, the 

2.4 miles 

strenuous 

Sieur de Monts 

first section is terraced with granite steps. 

2.25 hours 

1,270 feet 

spring area 

Cadillac Mountain 

A long, sometimes strenuous, hike up Aca

7.4 miles 

strenuous 

South Ridge 

dia's tallest peak offers excellent panoramic 

4.75 hours 

1,530 feet 

100 ft. SW of Blackwoods 

views of the ocean and mountains. 

Campground entrance off 

Route 3