George B. Dorr worked tirelessly through the early 1900s to found what we know today as Acadia National Park. His former family estate, known as Oldfarm, is situated along the Compass Harbor Trail, less than a mile from downtown Bar Harbor on State Route 3. The short walk beneath forest canopies leads to foundation remnants of his former cottage, demolished in 1949, and ends at Dorr Point with views of Compass Harbor and the Porcupine Islands.
Head towards the west side of the island to visit an example of 1800s island life at Carroll Homestead, a time capsule of early Euro-american settlement before Mount Desert Island became a tourist destination and Acadia National Park came into being.
Explore a historic site near Bar Harbor and enjoy a dramatic shoreline with views of Frenchman Bay and Ironbound Island.
30-45 Minutes
This forested path continues to a boardwalk with multiple interpretive signs and benches. It opens up to a meadow before looping back on an old fire road. Views of Dorr Mountain are interspersed in this walk along a birch and hemlock forest.
30-60 Minutes
Echo Lake Beach is a popular, freshwater swimming area on the southern end of Echo Lake. It is accessible off Route 102 in Southwest Harbor.
Gaze in awe at Acadia's night sky from the highest mountain summit in the park.
Explore rocky tidepools at the far end of this coastal forest trail on the west side of Mount Desert Island.
Rising over 1,000 feet in 0.9 miles, the Precipice Trail requires physical and mental strength. It is a rugged, non-technical climb with open cliff faces and iron rungs, and reaches the summit of Champlain Mountain.
2-3 Hours
Cadillac Mountain is a popular destination for visitors to Acadia National Park. Accessible by car, it is the highest point on the eastern seaboard of the U.S., and offers magnificent views of a glaciated coastal and island landscape. The short, paved Cadillac Summit Loop Trail, interpretive waysides, restrooms, and gift shop are located at the summit.
2 Hours
Embark on an exciting journey through time to discover how glaciers have shaped Acadia National Park. Using your GPS unit and a set of clues obtained from this website and hidden along the journey, you can guide yourself to a series of sites in the park.
Winding through the heart of the park, the 45 miles of historic carriage roads have crushed rock surfaces perfect for miles of bicycling.
Wind your way through forests, past lakes and mountains, and along the shoreline on scenic Park Loop Road. The 27-mile (43 km) road also provides access to popular areas such as Sieur de Monts, Sand Beach, Otter Point, Jordan Pond, and Cadillac Mountain.
1-4 Hours
The Gorham Mountain Loop is 3.5 miles featuring mountains and a rocky coastline with panoramic views of Mount Desert Island, Frenchman Bay, and the outlying islands.
1-3 Hours
Eat at Acadia's only restaurant, the historic Jordan Pond House, or bring your own picnic. This popular spot on Park Loop Road is a crossroad for historic carriage roads and hiking trails, as well as a launch point for canoeing and kayaking.
Explore Acadia's longest pond by boat.
Explore Eagle Lake by canoe or kayak.
Launch at Ikes Point to explore Echo Lake by boat.
Paddle Jordan Pond in the center of Mount Desert Island.
This 1.7 mile trail has spectacular ocean views along a coastal headland with some wooded sections. This historic trail also includes the ruins of an early 1900's tea house.
2-4 Hours
Ship Harbor Trail is a 1.3 mile figure-8 loop near Seawall. Great for families and birders, and a variety of habitats can be seen along the shore.
30-60 Minutes
Many carriage roads intersect with hiking trails. They can be incorporated into a hike to create a loop, add distance, or provide opportunities for more even terrain to gain or lose elevation.
Enjoy excellent birding opportunities from Acadia's highest point. In the fall (late August-October), join park rangers and volunteers daily at the Cadillac Mountain Hawkwatch.
In the early 1880's members if the Champlain Society documented bird species breeding on Mount Desert Island. Follow along the same trails they took and observe what birds we find in those places. Are they the same, or different?
Enjoy Acadia's rugged coastline along Otter Point and search for passing seabirds and listen for songbirds in the nearby forest.
This is a 1.4 mile loop trail that ascends a 450 ft cliff face. Exposed cliffs, iron rungs, and granite staircases climb this trail revealing scenic ocean views.
1-3 Hours
Explore the night sky from the west side of Mount Desert Island while enjoying the ocean soundscape.
Explore tidepooling opportunities on the rocky shoreline off this easy figure-8 coastal forest trail.
Walk along a gravel sand bar during low tide to reach Bar Island. Once on the island, hike another mile to the highest point on the island for views of Bar Harbor and Frenchman Bay.
45-90 Minutes
Explore migratory shorebirds, terns, and gulls (August-October) on the mudflats of Mt. Desert Narrows.
The ocean path is a spectacular 2.2 mile long out and back trail takes you along the bold coast of Maine with ocean views, granite slabs, and rocky cliffs. This trail is a great way to access Thunder Hole and Otter Point from the Sand Beach parking area.
2-4 Hours
This out and back trail is the longer option for hiking Cadillac Mountain with spectacular views of the Atlantic Ocean and outlying islands before reaching the summit.
2-4 Hours
This 1.4 out and back trail on an old gravel fire road is family-friendly and provides direct access to the coastline with birding opportunities.
30-60 Minutes
This 7.5 mile network of hiking trails leads across the peninsula, from Winter Harbor in the north through spruce-fir forests, pine woodlands, and a shrubland, terminating on the southern end at Blueberry Hill. Enjoy views from the Anvil and Schoodic Head, as well as some challenging steep climbs from the East Trail.
The Jordan Cliffs Loop offers a challenging 5 mile hike across steep slopes, iron rungs, and a strenuous climb up Sargent Mountain. Hikers are rewarded with panoramic views from two mountain summits and Jordan Pond nestled between the mountains.
3-4 Hours
Grab a bike and binoculars and take a ride. Just about everywhere you go you can find a feeding flock of songbirds. Great starting locations and loops: Eagle Lake, Witch Hole Pond Loop, Aunt Betty Pond, Jordan Pond, and Bubble Pond.
Explore the Wild Gardens of Acadia and Great Meadow, or take a walk on Jesup Path, Hemlock Trail and Stratheden Trail for birding opportunities.
The Beachcroft Path is an historic memorial pathway, constructed in 1915. Take this trail to reach Champlain Mountain for panoramic coastal mountain views of Mount Desert Island, Frenchman Bay, and the outlying islands.
1-2 Hours
A moderate out-and-back hike to the highest point both in Acadia and on the eastern seaboard. The trail is mostly exposed, providing hikers with sweeping vistas of Bar Harbor, Frenchman Bay, and the Schoodic Peninsula.
2-4 Hours
Gorge Path follows a narrow, rocky gorge separating Dorr and Cadillac Mountains. It crosses streams, climbs steep, granite steps, and intersects other trails leading to either summit.
2-3 Hours
This loop hike traverses a forest before ascending Beech Mountain, where there is a fire tower and views of Long Pond, Mansell Mountain, and the west side of Mount Desert Island.
1-2 Hours
This loop hike offers a short, relatively steep hike to the top of a small mountain with spectacular views of Somes Sound and descends to a quiet ocean cove with a rocky beach.
1-2 Hours
This 3.9 mile challenging loop summits two mountain peaks and offers stunning views of Somes Sound, the surrounding mountains, outlying islands,and the ocean.
2-4 Hours
This short, moderate loop on the west side of Mount Desert Island provides hikers with views of Long Pond and Mansell Mountain on the way up and access to one of the few remaining fire towers in the area.
1-2 Hours
A challenging hike up a rugged ravine to excellent views atop Mount Desert Island's second highest peak, Sargent Mountain, and other summits.
2-4 Hours
A short, challenging loop hike to the summits of Bald Peak and Parkman Mountain, each over 900 feet.
1-2 Hours
The Norumbega Loop Trail features a steep hike up to the summit of Norumbega Mountain, then a gradual descent in the forest before hiking along the western shore of Lower Hadlock Pond.
2-3 Hours
Enjoy boardwalks, wooden bridges and some uneven terrain on this 4.1 mile figure eight trail that includes both Lower and Upper Hadlock Ponds.
2-4 Hours
The loop features a gravel shoreline path along Long Pond and a steep ascent on granite staircase of over 300 stone steps built by the CCC to reach the summit of Mansell Mountain.
1-2 Hours
This hike traverses the summits of North Bubble, South Bubble, and Connors Nubble and crosses varying terrain of forest paths, steep granite sections, and a level carriage road. Visitors can enjoy views of Eagle Lake, Jordan Pond, Pemetic and Sargent Mountains, and the Cranberry Isles.
1-2 Hours
This hike reaches the summit of Pemetic Mountain from Jordan Pond, providing panoramic views of the ocean and surrounding islands.
2-3 Hours