If You Only Do One Hike: The Beehive Loop. It delivers Acadia’s signature thrill, iron rungs bolted into pink granite and big views over Sand Beach and Frenchman Bay, in under 90 minutes. No other hike in the park packs this much payoff per mile.
| Trail | Distance | Elevation | Difficulty | Time |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| The Beehive Loop Trail | 1.4 mi loop | 450 ft | Hard | 1-2 hrs |
| Precipice Trail | 1.6 mi RT | 1,000 ft | Hard | 1-2 hrs |
| Jordan Pond Loop Trail | 3.3 mi loop | 200 ft | Easy | 1.5-2 hrs |
| Schoodic Peninsula Trail | Varies | Minimal | Easy | 1-3 hrs |
| Gorham Mountain Trail | 3.6 mi RT | 525 ft | Moderate | 2-3 hrs |
| Dorr Mountain via Ladder Trail | 3.4 mi RT | 1,270 ft | Hard | 2-3 hrs |
| Cadillac Mountain Loop | 7.4 mi RT | 1,530 ft | Hard | 4-5 hrs |
| The Bowl via Bowl Trail | 2.8 mi RT | 580 ft | Moderate | 1.5-2.5 hrs |
| Thunder Hole to Sand Beach | 2.0 mi RT | 100 ft | Easy | 1 hr |
| Ship Harbor Trail | 1.3 mi loop | 50 ft | Easy | 45 min |
| The Bubbles Trail | 1.6 mi RT | 500 ft | Moderate | 1-1.5 hrs |
| Bass Harbor Head Light Trail | 0.5 mi RT | 100 ft | Easy | 20 min |
| Wonderland Trail | 1.5 mi loop | 100 ft | Easy | 1 hr |
| Great Head Trail | 1.8 mi loop | 200 ft | Moderate | 1-2 hrs |
| Ocean Path Trail | 4.4 mi RT | 250 ft | Easy | 2-3 hrs |
Acadia was one of the first national parks I ever visited, and it remains one of my favorites. It is the most charming park I know, and it is a genuinely great hiking park, with everything from flat coastal strolls to cliff trails where you pull yourself up on iron rungs. This is my personal ranked list of the best hikes in Acadia National Park, built from years of returning to the same trails in every season.
Acadia National Park Map
6 trails mapped — click a pin to learn more
Acadia National Park at a Glance
2 alertsThe signature feature here is the coastline, a run of jagged pink granite that meets the Atlantic head on. Most of the hikes on this list either follow that edge or climb above it for the view. For broader trip planning, see our full Acadia National Park guide.
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Located on Maine’s coast, this roughly 49,000-acre park packs a lot of variety into a small footprint. The fifteen hikes below are ranked from a relaxed coastal walk up to the cliff climbs that draw people to Acadia in the first place.
Things to Know Before You Visit Acadia National Park
Entrance Fees and Reservations
The standard entrance fee is $35 per private vehicle, valid for seven days, or $20 per person on foot or bike. Children under 16 are free. An America the Beautiful annual pass covers entry to Acadia and every other federal recreation site.
International visitors ages 16 and up pay a $100 per person non-resident surcharge on top of the entrance fee (effective 2026). The surcharge is waived if you hold an Annual or America the Beautiful pass, so for most foreign visitors the annual pass is the cheaper option.
To drive the Cadillac Summit Road you need a separate timed vehicle reservation ($6), required from late May through late October. Reservations sell out fast, so book on recreation.gov before you arrive if a Cadillac sunrise is on your list.
Sunscreen and Water
Use plenty of both. The granite reflects a lot of sun and there is almost no shade on the exposed summits. We like this reef-safe sunscreen and never leave the car without water.
Cell Service
Cell service is fairly reliable across most of the park, though it drops out in valleys and on the back side of the bigger peaks.
Guide Book and Map
Our preferred guide book for Acadia is this one, which we have marked up and highlighted over many trips. For trail navigation, this map is the one we carry.
Ticks and Bugs
Insect repellent matters here. Ticks are a real factor at Acadia, including deer ticks that carry Lyme disease. We carry an eco-friendly insect repellent and do a tick check after every hike.
Dogs
Dogs are allowed on most Acadia trails on a leash no longer than six feet, which is unusually generous for a national park. The exceptions are the rung-and-ladder trails like Precipice and the Beehive, plus ladder sections of others, where dogs are not permitted for their safety and yours.
Best Time to Visit
The best time to visit Acadia is fall, when the foliage turns and the summer crowds thin. Peak color usually lands in mid-October, later than most people expect. Note that the Park Loop Road closes to vehicles from mid-December to mid-April, which limits trailhead access in winter.
Crowds and Parking
Acadia is a small, busy park. Spring, summer, and fall bring heavy traffic, and the popular trailhead lots (Bubble Rock, Jordan Pond, Sand Beach) fill by mid-morning. The free Island Explorer shuttle runs late June through mid-October and is often the easiest way to reach a trailhead without circling for parking.
Where to Stay in Acadia
Visiting Acadia National Park? If you haven’t decided where to stay yet, check out our favorite hotel in Bar Harbor.
15. Ocean Path Trail
Distance 4.4 mi RT Elevation Gain 250 ft Difficulty Easy Time 2-3 hrs Trailhead Sand Beach Parking
Season & Conditions: Year-round. Very crowded Jun-Sep.
Easy and nearly flat. The most popular walk in the park, and it earns it.
The Ocean Path follows a dramatic stretch of coastline between Sand Beach and Otter Point, stringing together Acadia’s greatest hits along the way: Thunder Hole, Monument Cove, and Otter Cliff. The path is level, well maintained, and gentle enough for a family with young kids or a quiet sunrise walk before the lots fill.
Because it runs parallel to the Park Loop Road, you can shorten or extend it easily and bail out at any of the pullouts. Time your visit for an incoming tide if you want to see Thunder Hole put on a show.
14. Great Head Trail
Distance 1.8 mi loop Elevation Gain 200 ft Difficulty Moderate Time 1-2 hrs Trailhead Sand Beach
Season & Conditions: Year-round. Some rocky scrambling.
Moderate with a few short scrambles. The ocean views are the reason to come.
The Great Head Trail loops around a rocky headland on the eastern edge of Sand Beach, with open views across the Gulf of Maine and a wooded interior that feels remote for a trail this short. The footing is uneven in places and there is light scrambling on the seaward side, so wear real shoes.
You can start from the Sand Beach lot or from a smaller pullout off Schooner Head Road, which is usually quieter. The mix of surf, granite, and a bit of route-finding is what lands it on this list.
13. Wonderland Trail
Distance 1.5 mi loop Elevation Gain 100 ft Difficulty Easy Time 1 hr Trailhead Wonderland Parking (Rt 102A)
Season & Conditions: Year-round. Best tide pooling at low tide.
Genuinely easy and great with kids. Time it for low tide.
Wonderland is a short, well-groomed loop on the quieter west side of Mount Desert Island that ends at a cobble shoreline. It is not as dramatic as the Ocean Path or Great Head, but it is flat, easy to manage with young kids, and reliably good for birding and tide pooling.
Pair it with the neighboring Ship Harbor Trail (next on this list) for an easy half-day away from the Park Loop Road crowds.
12. Ship Harbor Trail
Distance 1.3 mi loop Elevation Gain 50 ft Difficulty Easy Time 45 min Trailhead Ship Harbor Parking (Rt 102A)
Season & Conditions: Year-round. Roots and rock near the shore.
A short, easy loop out to the open ocean. Quiet by Acadia standards.
Ship Harbor is a figure-eight loop that hugs a tidal inlet before opening to the ocean at a rocky point. It sits next to Seawall Campground on the southwest side of the island, so it is easy to reach and rarely as packed as the trails near Bar Harbor.
Add it to your day if you want a low-effort coastal walk with good tide pools and a real sense of the open Atlantic.
11. The Bubbles Trail (South and North Bubble)
Distance 1.6 mi RT Elevation Gain 500 ft Difficulty Moderate Time 1-1.5 hrs Trailhead Bubble Rock Parking
Season & Conditions: May-Oct. Parking fills by 9am in summer.
Short but steep. The view from South Bubble over Jordan Pond is one of the best in the park.
The Bubbles are the two rounded domes you see reflected at the north end of Jordan Pond. A short, steep climb from the Bubble Rock lot puts you on top of South Bubble, where Bubble Rock, a glacial erratic balanced on the cliff edge, looks out over the pond and the surrounding peaks.
You can tag both summits in a tidy loop. The climbing is real but brief, and the payoff per minute of effort is hard to beat. Start early, because the small lot fills fast and the roadside has little overflow.
10. Thunder Hole to Sand Beach
Distance 2.0 mi RT Elevation Gain 100 ft Difficulty Easy Time 1 hr Trailhead Thunder Hole Parking
Season & Conditions: Year-round. Best near half-tide for Thunder Hole.
An easy coastal walk, paved for much of the way. A shorter slice of the Ocean Path.
Thunder Hole is a narrow granite inlet that booms when an incoming wave traps and compresses the air inside it. This short out-and-back links it with Sand Beach and Monument Cove, giving you the best of the Ocean Path in half the distance.
For the loudest show, arrive about an hour or two before high tide. A small staircase near Otter Cove opens up views toward Cadillac and Dorr Mountain.
9. Bass Harbor Head Light Trail
Distance 0.5 mi RT Elevation Gain 100 ft Difficulty Easy Time 20 min Trailhead Bass Harbor Head
Season & Conditions: Year-round. Best at sunset. Small, crowded lot.
Barely a hike. A short set of stairs down to the most photographed lighthouse in Maine.
This is a quick out-and-back rather than a long trail. A short path and a steep wooden staircase drop you to the rocks below Bass Harbor Head Light, where the classic view of the lighthouse on its cliff opens up. It is one of the best sunset spots in the park.
The lot is tiny and fills fast at golden hour, so arrive early or use the shuttle in season. The stairs make it unsuitable for wheelchairs, but the upper viewing area near the light is accessible.
8. The Bowl via Bowl Trail
Distance 2.8 mi RT Elevation Gain 580 ft Difficulty Moderate Time 1.5-2.5 hrs Trailhead Bowl Trail Parking (Rt 3 near Sand Beach)
Season & Conditions: May-Oct. Wet and muddy in spring.
Moderate is accurate. A steady climb to a quiet mountain pond, and the standard approach to the Beehive.
The Bowl is a small glacial pond tucked in a basin below Champlain Mountain. The Bowl Trail climbs steadily through forest to reach it, gaining a manageable 580 feet over rocky but non-technical terrain. It is a peaceful destination on its own and a swimming spot on hot days.
This is also the trail most people use to reach the Beehive, and the standard descent route off the Beehive loop. Start early, since the shared trailhead near Sand Beach is one of the busiest in the park.
7. Cadillac Mountain (North Ridge Trail)
Distance 7.4 mi RT Elevation Gain 1,530 ft Difficulty Hard Time 4-5 hrs Trailhead North Ridge Parking
Season & Conditions: Year-round on foot, but icy Nov-Apr. The summit auto road and timed reservation run late May to late October.
The length is what makes this hard. The terrain itself is moderate. You can also just drive to the top.
At 1,530 feet, Cadillac is the highest point on the eastern seaboard and one of the first places in the country to catch the sunrise for part of the year. The North Ridge Trail climbs open granite ledges with views the entire way, which makes the steady grade feel easier than the numbers suggest.
If you would rather not hike it, the Cadillac Summit Road drives to the top, but it requires a timed vehicle reservation in season. Hikers do not need that reservation. For a quieter climb, the South Ridge Trail is longer and far less trafficked.
6. Dorr Mountain via the Ladder Trail
Distance 3.4 mi RT Elevation Gain 1,270 ft Difficulty Hard Time 2-3 hrs Trailhead Sieur de Monts (Rt 3)
Season & Conditions: Late spring through fall. Iron rungs and stone steps ice over early and late.
A steep, rocky climb with iron rungs and ladders. Strenuous but not as exposed as Precipice.
The Ladder Trail climbs the east face of Dorr Mountain on a remarkable staircase of stone steps and iron rungs hand-built into the rock. It gains around 1,270 feet to the summit, where you get open views across to Cadillac and out to the Atlantic.
Most people climb the Ladder Trail and descend a gentler route to make a loop. It is a strenuous outing with real stair-climbing in the legs, but the engineering of the trail itself is half the reason to do it.
5. Gorham Mountain Trail
Distance 3.6 mi RT Elevation Gain 525 ft Difficulty Moderate Time 2-3 hrs Trailhead Gorham Mountain Parking
Season & Conditions: Year-round. Icy patches Nov-Apr.
Moderate is fair. Some scrambling, nothing technical, and constant ocean views.
The Gorham Mountain Trail is the best moderate hike in the park if you want big coastal views without the rungs and ladders. It climbs open granite from near Monument Cove, with the ocean in view almost the whole way up.
An optional spur, the Cadillac Cliffs Trail, adds a short rocky detour past a sea cave for hikers who want a bit more challenge. From the summit you look out over Sand Beach, the Beehive, and the coastline running south.
Time it for early morning or late afternoon and you can catch sunrise or sunset from the top without the exposure of the harder summit trails.
4. Schoodic Peninsula Trails
Distance Varies Elevation Gain Minimal to moderate Difficulty Easy Time 1-3 hrs Trailhead Schoodic Point
Season & Conditions: Year-round. Much quieter than Mount Desert Island.
More of a coastal ramble than a single hike. The reason to come is the quiet.
Schoodic is the only part of Acadia on the mainland, about an hour’s drive from Bar Harbor, and it sees a fraction of the crowds. A network of short trails and a one-way loop road lead to wave-battered granite at Schoodic Point, with views back across the water to Cadillac.
For a real summit, the climb up Schoodic Head adds some elevation and a wider view. Bring a picnic and plan to linger; this is the part of the park where you can still find a stretch of coast to yourself.
3. Jordan Pond Loop Trail
Distance 3.3 mi loop Elevation Gain 200 ft Difficulty Easy Time 1.5-2 hrs Trailhead Jordan Pond House
Season & Conditions: Year-round. The boardwalk section can be icy Nov-Apr.
Genuinely easy. Flat, well maintained, and beautiful the entire way around.
The Jordan Pond Loop circles the clearest body of water in the park, with the twin Bubbles framing the view at the far end. The west shore is a long wooden boardwalk over wet ground; the east shore is rockier but still easy. It is the best flat hike in Acadia and the one I recommend most often to families.
End at the Jordan Pond House for tea and popovers on the lawn, a park tradition that is worth the wait. The lot fills early, so start before 9am or take the shuttle.
2. Precipice Trail
Distance 1.6 mi RT Elevation Gain 1,000 ft Difficulty Hard Time 1-2 hrs Trailhead Precipice Trailhead (Park Loop Road)
Season & Conditions: Closed each spring and summer for peregrine falcon nesting, typically from March until mid-to-late summer. In 2026 it remains closed along with Jordan Cliffs and Valley Cove. Always check current conditions before you go.
This is the real deal. Exposed cliff faces, iron rungs over open air, and serious consequences if you slip. Not for beginners or anyone uneasy with heights.
The Precipice climbs roughly 1,000 feet up the near-vertical east face of Champlain Mountain on a route of iron rungs, ladders, and narrow ledges. It is the most exposed trail in the park, closer to non-technical climbing than hiking, and it is one-way up by design.
The trail closes for several months most years so peregrine falcons can nest undisturbed on the cliffs, and the parking area closes with it. If you are set on this one, we wrote a full safety breakdown in our guide to whether the Precipice Trail is really that dangerous. For most people, the Beehive below is the right introduction to Acadia’s rung trails.
1. The Beehive Loop Trail
Distance 1.4 mi loop Elevation Gain 450 ft Difficulty Hard Time 1-2 hrs Trailhead Bowl Trail Parking (near Sand Beach)
Season & Conditions: Best May-Oct. Iron rungs are slick when wet, so skip it in rain. Portions can close in some years for peregrine nesting, so check current conditions.
The NPS calls this a strenuous ladder and rung trail, and we agree. If you have a real fear of heights, take the Bowl Trail to the same summit instead.
The Beehive Loop is the best hike in Acadia, full stop. In about a mile and a half it gives you everything the park is known for: a steep climb on iron rungs and granite ledges, exposure that gets your attention, and a summit view over Sand Beach and Frenchman Bay that feels far bigger than the effort.
Think of it as a shorter, slightly tamer version of the Precipice. It is still a real cliff climb, and it is one-way up the rungs, so do not start it if the rock is wet or if you are second-guessing the exposure. The standard route climbs the rungs, crosses the summit, and descends the gentler Bowl Trail to close the loop. Go early; the trailhead near Sand Beach is one of the first lots to fill in the park.
The Best Hikes in Acadia, Ranked
- The Beehive Loop Trail
- Precipice Trail
- Jordan Pond Loop Trail
- Schoodic Peninsula Trails
- Gorham Mountain Trail
- Dorr Mountain via the Ladder Trail
- Cadillac Mountain (North Ridge Trail)
- The Bowl via Bowl Trail
- Thunder Hole to Sand Beach
- Bass Harbor Head Light Trail
- The Bubbles Trail (South and North Bubble)
- Ship Harbor Trail
- Wonderland Trail
- Great Head Trail
- Ocean Path Trail
The best hike at Acadia National Park is the Beehive Loop Trail, a short but steep rung-and-ladder climb above Sand Beach. A close second is the Precipice Trail when it is open, or the Bowl Trail if you want the same summit without the exposure.
The best time to hike in Acadia is early fall, with comfortable temperatures, thinner crowds, and peak foliage usually in mid-October. Note that the Precipice and Jordan Cliffs trails close each spring and summer for peregrine falcon nesting.
Helpful Related Links
Maine National Parks: The national park sites worth visiting across Maine.
East Coast National Parks: The top 10 East Coast national parks, ranked.
All 63 National Parks Ranked: Every US national park, ranked by our team.
Most Visited National Parks: The 10 most visited national parks in the country.
Acadia National Park Guide: Our full guide to planning a trip to Acadia.
What to Bring to Acadia
Gear we recommend for Acadia. Affiliate links support our work at no cost to you.
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More Than Just Parks Film Watch our 4K film of Acadia We spent weeks in Acadia, one of our favorite public lands destinations, capturing it the way it deserves. Take a few minutes and see it for yourself.
