• Home
• Things To Do
• Parks Natural Attractions
• Hiking In Acadia

Hiking in Acadia National Park

Peer through the trees or look upwards at the mountains of Acadia National Park and you’ll find them: trails, paths, tracks.

Acadia is webbed with places to hike. There are 120 miles of hiking trails within the park plus an additional 45 miles of Carriage Roads, the cultured pathways created by the Rockefeller family for horse and carriage but now enjoyed by hikers, cyclists and, yes, horses, too.

Hikes in Acadia range from casual strolls to the seaside to strenuous scrambles to Acadia summits, complete with iron hand-holds connected to granite walls. Have questions about a hike? Stop at the Hulls Cove Visitor Center and discuss them with a park ranger. Remember, always carry a map and drinking water when hiking. If you notice wet granite along your route, be careful. Wet granite can be incredibly slick.

Easy and Moderate Hikes

The Wonderland Trail is 1.4-mile round trip near the village of Bass Harbor. It meanders through forest to the ocean.

The Ocean Path runs a gentle 4.4 miles round trip between Sand Beach and the Otter Point parking area. Along the route are great ocean views and sites such as the famous Thunder Hole.

The Ship Harbor Trail wanders through the forest on a 1.2 mile loop before coming to a granite shore. This trail is suitable for strollers, wheelchairs, and those with mobility challenges.

More Strenuous Hikes

While Gorham Mountain isn’t the highest peak in Acadia, the 1.8 mile round-trip trail to its summit is very popular. It provides a great walk and terrific views.

The Jordan Pond Path takes you for a 3.2 mile loop around scenic Jordan Pond, the deepest of Acadia’s lakes.

The Acadia Mountain Trail is a 2.5 mile round trip through forest and crag ending with terrific views.

Climbing the Beehive requires that you to be comfortable with a 1.6 mile round trip that includes rock scrambling, climbing iron rungs embedding into rock faces, and steep grades. Summiting the sometimes-scary trail provides you with wonderful views.