Pink granite mountains rise straight out of the Atlantic on Maine's Mount Desert Island, with spruce forests, quiet ponds and a rocky coast of crashing surf. Trails here range from gentle shoreline strolls to iron-rung cliff climbs, and 45 miles of historic carriage roads are perfect for bikes. Two or three days covers the highlights. Start early: summer parking fills by mid-morning, and the free Island Explorer bus makes it easy to skip the car.
TRAILS
1 OF 8
Jordan Pond Path
Difficulty
Easy
Length
3.3 mi loop
Elevation gain
50 ft
Jordan Pond · Jordan Pond House — A flat loop around a clear glacial pond, with the twin rounded Bubbles standing at the far end. The east side is smooth gravel; the west side follows long wooden boardwalks through the woods. It's lovely in early morning when the water is still. Finish with tea and popovers on the lawn at the Jordan Pond House.
Photo: Victoria Stauffenberg, public domain, Wikimedia Commons
2 OF 8
Beehive Loop
Difficulty
Hard
Length
1.4 mi loop
Elevation gain
450 ft
Sand Beach · Beehive trailhead — Acadia's famous ladder trail climbs straight up a granite cliff on iron rungs and narrow ledges, with Sand Beach and the ocean right below. It's short, thrilling and very exposed, not a good choice for anyone uneasy with heights. Come down the gentler back side past a small pond called the Bowl. Skip it in rain; wet granite is very slick.
⚠︎ Iron rungs and steep drop-offs. Not recommended in wet weather or for young children.
Photo: James St. John, CC BY 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
3 OF 8
Cadillac North Ridge
Difficulty
Moderate
Length
4.4 mi
Elevation gain
1,100 ft
Cadillac Mountain · North Ridge trailhead — Hike to the top of the tallest mountain on the Atlantic coast of the US instead of driving it. The trail climbs open granite ledges with views of Bar Harbor, Frenchman Bay and the Porcupine Islands nearly the whole way. It's a favorite for sunrise if you start with a headlamp. Hiking up means you skip the summit road reservation.
Photo: Idawriter, CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons
4 OF 8
Ocean Path
Difficulty
Easy
Length
4.4 mi
Elevation gain
100 ft
Ocean Drive · Sand Beach — A mostly level path follows the rocky coast from Sand Beach past Thunder Hole and Otter Cliff to Otter Point. Pink granite ledges meet the surf, and you can step off the trail to scramble on the rocks. Time Thunder Hole for an hour or two before high tide, when waves boom into the chasm. Stay well back from the edge in rough seas.
Photo: John Manard, CC BY-SA 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
5 OF 8
Precipice Loop
Difficulty
Strenuous
Length
3.2 mi loop
Elevation gain
1,000 ft
Champlain Mountain · Precipice trailhead — The hardest and most famous of Acadia's ladder trails gains about 1,000 feet in under a mile, on iron rungs and ledges up the east face of Champlain Mountain. It's a true climb, not just a steep hike. The park recommends it only for experienced hikers ages 12 and up. Never descend the Precipice; come down the North Ridge or Champlain trails.
⚠︎ Closed in spring and early summer to protect nesting peregrine falcons. Check trail status before you go.
Photo: John Manard, CC BY-SA 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
6 OF 8
Penobscot and Sargent Mountains
Difficulty
Hard
Length
6–7 mi loop
Elevation gain
1,400 ft
Jordan Pond · Jordan Pond House — Climb from Jordan Pond onto the open granite ridges of two of the island's highest peaks, passing Sargent Mountain Pond, a tiny lake perched between the summits. The views stretch across the whole island and out to sea. It's quieter than Cadillac and feels much wilder. Some steep sections near the start use handrails and rungs.
Photo: John Manard, CC BY-SA 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
7 OF 8
Gorham Mountain
Difficulty
Moderate
Length
3.5 mi loop
Elevation gain
500 ft
Ocean Drive · Gorham Mountain parking — A climb up granite slabs to an open summit with views of Sand Beach, Great Head and the coastline. The loop returns along the Bowl trail and Ocean Path past Thunder Hole. It's a great first mountain in Acadia with big views for modest work. Take the short Cadillac Cliffs detour if you want a few rungs and ledges.
Photo: Victoria Stauffenberg, public domain, Wikimedia Commons
8 OF 8
South Bubble and Bubble Rock
Difficulty
Moderate
Length
1.5 mi
Elevation gain
400 ft
Jordan Pond · Bubbles Divide parking — A short, steep scramble to the summit of South Bubble, where a huge glacial boulder sits balanced right on the edge of the cliff. The view from the top looks straight down the length of Jordan Pond. Kids love the boulder, and the hike is over in an hour or so. The granite is slick when wet.
Photo: DrStew82, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons
Plan your Acadia trip
The Nova Bound app builds the whole trip around these trails: where to stay, where to charge, and what to see each day. Coming soon to the App Store.
Distances are round trip unless noted, from NPS.gov and rounded. Trails, permits and road openings change; always check nps.gov before you go. Trail write-ups by Nova Bound.