Mount Desert Island, with a major portion of Acadia National Park's 40,000 acres located on it, offers hikers of all skill levels a variety of exciting hiking opportunities. There are close to 200 miles of Park maintined hiking trails along with over 20 miles of car-free carriage trails that crisscross Acadia National Park. Many of these offer the hiker some of the most beautiful 360 degree vistas in Maine or along the Eastern seaboard. The trails work their way up and down mountain slopes, through breathtaking valleys and along miles of rocky coastline.
Proper preparation is important to any enjoyable hiking experience. Because the trails are so easy to find and access they often entice unprepared hikers to set off on a hiking adventure. This can result in a less than enjoyable experience and worse it can result in injury for the unprepared. It is easy to be prepared! Consider the following simple steps and you will do fine.
No matter how warm it may seem at the trail head, be sure to pack a windproof and waterproof jacket. It is also a good idea to wear a hat. Pay special attention to your feet. Many trails have sections that can become slippery, especially if they get wet. Wear hard-soled shoes (or hiking boots if you are trying one of the more challenging trails) that provide good ankle support. Many experienced hikers like to wear a polypropylene sock under a heavier boot sock. This technique helps prevent blisters and wicks moisture away from your feet.
Bring along some fresh clean drinking water. Even though it is safe to drink from most of the streams on the island there have been some evidence of the parasite that causes "beaver fever". Most experienced hikers do not drink soda and for obvious safety reasons you should never drink alcoholic beverages when hiking.
Insects can make "a walk in the park" an uncomfortable experience. Insects are less of an issue later into the summer season but it is always a good idea to have some effective insect repellent just in case you encounter some pesky flying critters. Black flies and mosquitoes are the most common and they are at their prime in May and June. Ticks are not much of an issue in the Park and if you stay out of grassy fields it is very unlikely you will encounter them at all. Do not let these critters keep you from enjoying the beauty of the trails! During May and June may want to select trails that are exposed to the winds (they keep the flying bugs away) and leave the valley and inland trails for later in the year.
As with any outdoor activity you must protect yourself from sunburn. Use your favorite sunblock lotion with an SPF of 15 or greater.
This "guide" is not intended to provide enough information to guide you through a day of hiking in Acadia National Park. Our goal is to give you an idea of the variety and scope of the hiking trails available in the Park. There are a wide variety of opportunities for hikers of all skill levels. You can take a leasurely stroll along the beautiful coast or challenge your mountain climbing skills on some of the most difficult trails on the East Coast. The options are many! The trails listed here are but a few of the hundreds of trails available. They were chosen to show the wide variety and the potential rewards. If you are like most people who have enjoyed a visit to Mount Desert Island and Acadia Natiuonal Park you will come to enjoy it again and again.
Various rating systems are used to describe the difficulty of the trails on the island. For purposes of this "guide" the following rating system applies:
All distances are round trip.
The trail starts at the end of Bridge Street. From there you can drive or walk across the rocky bar onto Bar Island. Once on Bar Island a trail takes you inland and eventually to a treeless hill at the eastern end of the island where you can look out onto Bar Harbor. The views are worth the effort but don't linger to long as you must get back before the bar becomes covered with water. You will be well served to check local tide charts before starting this hike!
The views are breathtaking. You can see Sand Beech, the Otter Cliffs as well as Cadillac, Dorr and Champlain Mountains in the distance. And the views of the Atlantic ocean are something you will remember for a long time. Stay awhile and enjoy the view. You can return the way you came up or you can go north and descend a steep trail to the valley between Halfway Mountains and Gorham Mountain.
You will want to sit and enjoy for awhile. Deciding to come down is not easy. As you walk up this wooded trail you will smell the balsam trees and think you are in a gift shop. There are several rather uneven rock stairs you must work your way over before you emerge from the trees to an open flat rock summit with few trees and great panoramic views. Pack a snack! Brin your binoculars and your camera. Late day and early morning are the best times for photography.
Sand Beach will appear after a short distance and you will then reach the most difficult section of this trail. It really is easy but the smooth rock surface and the shear nature of the rocks in this area make it feel a lot more difficult than it is.
You will want to stop in several place and look back at Sand Beach. You can also see the Park Loop Road across the inlet where the cars and campers look like hot wheels toys. You can also see The Beehive, a very popular mountain with trails that are a little more difficult than the Great Head trail.
Once at the top, on the Sand Beach side of Great Head the trail bends in and out of the trees as it takes you around the point to the ocean side. You will find yourself saying "wow" often and will want to stop and enjoy the view from many spots along the way. Take your time and enjoy the panoramic views back toward the mainland. This is not a long trail so don't rush!
After you round the southern most tip of Great Head the trail is mostly in the open with clear views of the ocean to the East. This section of the trail travels up and down as it brings you along the eastern edge of Great Head.
Schoodic Point can be seen in the distance and you will surely see a lobster boat or two and sailboats are a very common sight. There are many spectacular views of the ocean that is about 100 feet below.
Eventually you will start to work your way back toward the mainland and will start down on a trail that gradually brings you back down to the sign post where you started. The last few minutes will be spent in a wooded section with the possibilty of some wet spots where boardwalks have been placed to help keep your feet dry.
The Beech Mountain Trail is a short half mile walk up a steady ascent to the summit. Another, more difficult (but still relatively easy trail even though it has some steel ladders) is the Canada Cliff Trail. This trail may not be accessible due to the nesting of Peregrine Falcons in early summer.
The views are spectacular and the trails are not real long. One of the easier trails is called the Beech Cliff Trail. No matter how you do it, Beech Mountain is a great choice and you have several ways to go - from easy to very challenging.
Even though you can drive to the top, many still prefer the satisfaction and pleasure of walking to the top. You can do it in a number of ways (and they are all difficult); The North Ridge Trail, the South Ridge Trail, the West Face Trail, the Pond Trail, the Canon Brook Trail, the Murry Young Path, and the Gorge Path. Many of these trails intersect one another and offer a wide variety of routes to the top. There are many places to stop along the way and you can easily make a day of it.
The South Ridge trail is a good way to go down the mountain because you will be walking toward some fantastic vistas. If you want to get to the top in the shortest distance then take the West Face Trail. The Gorge Path is one of the faster routes to the top and it offers more shade than most of the other trails.
This trail starts (after a short walk over ledge and rocks) with a 5 foot step to the first rung of a steel ladder. This first step will usually cause those who should not be attempting this to turn back. If you do venture on, be sure someone knows where you are going and when to expect you back. Iron ladders, handrails and foot catching guardrails are provided in many locations to help prevent serious accidents or falls.
When you get to the top you are at 1058 feet in elevation on Champlain Mountain and have traversed one of the most dangerous trails on the island (and the East Coast). It is uncommon for anyone to be seriously hurt on this trail but it is often that assistance is needed by a hiker who has ventured out beyond their capabilities. The views of Frenchman Bay will keep you there for a long time.
Sit down, catch your breath and prepare for your decent. It is strongly recommended that you go down a different route (it is safer and keeps the trail one-way on the way up) to benefit those coming up behind you. You may want to take the North Ridge which offers great views of Bar Harbor.
You climb over stepping stones, across open ledges, over narrow footbridges, and up steel rung ladders. Footguards and handrails are provided in many locations. Your views include Sand Beech, Great Head and Ocean Drive. If you continue on, after reaching the top of Beehive, you will find The Bowl, a nearly round pond that is a great place to stop and enjoy the beauty around you.