Acadia National Park is one of the oldest National Parks in America, and for good reason! Sitting on Maine’s rocky, Atlantic coast, Acadia protects 47,000 acres of land on the Schoodic Peninsula and the surrounding islands. From it’s rocky cliffs, to the famed Sand Beach and towering mountains, Acadia offers something for everyone!

Bass harbor lighthouse Acadia — Bass Harbor Lighthouse perched on the rocky cliffs

Our Top-4 Hikes of Acadia National Park

Jordan Pond Path Loop

The Jordan Pond Path Loop is an excellent 3.4 mile loop around the magnificent Jordan Pond in the heart of Acadia National Park.

Jordan Pond Acadia — Parker enjoying the perfect weather on the banks of Jordan Pond

The Loop begins at the Jordan Pond House, which has food, restrooms, parking, and a gift shop. As Acadia is an extremely popular park, and the Jordan Pond House is located right in the heart of the park, parking fills up quickly, so it’s best to get there early in the day to snag a coveted parking spot.

The Jordan Pond Path loop can be navigated clockwise or counter-clockwise as the trailhead and trail terminus are at the same location. The trail is a mix of natural terrain and a log-style boardwalk that takes you completely around the perimeter of the gorgeous Jordan Pond.

The Jordan Pond Path Loop has minimal elevation gain, so it is an ideal trail for families with younger children. Also, the Jordan Pond Path Loop offers off-shoot trails that allow you to access more difficult terrain.

One such trail is the Bubble Rock trail. Bubble Rock can be accessed by 2 different trailheads. Taking the Jordan Pond trailhead to Bubble Rock provides for a very exciting, steep, and challenging rock scramble!

The Jordan Pond Path Loop is certainly a trail that should not be overlooked on any trip to Acadia. It may not have the exposure and thrill of some of the more famed hikes in Acadia National Park, but its beauty and serenity cannot be beat!

2. Bubble Rock Trail

The Bubble Rock trail is a moderate difficulty, 1.4 miles (out and back) trail with approximately 300 feet of elevation gain. The Trailhead is located conveniently off of Park Loop Road with a clearly marked parking area. The trail itself offers a relatively steep climb from the parking lot to the South Bubble summit, and primarily consists of natural terrain with some log and boulder steps throughout as you meander through the forest.

Bubble Rock Acadia — Trail marker on the Bubble Rock Trail

The trail is definitely another excellent choice for families as any fall exposure is minimal throughout the climb. Thanks to the dense forest throughout most of the trail, the hike itself remains generally cool even on warmer days.

Once you reach the South Bubble summit, take a breath and enjoy the view! The South bubble offers a fantastic view of Jordan Pond and the surrounding area.

From the summit, Bubble Rock is accessed by a short spur trail just off the summit. There is moderate exposure as you near Bubble Rock. As you begin down the spur trail, Bubble Rock is unmistakable. Get some pictures, enjoy the view, and simply make your way back down the trail to return to the parking lot!

3. Cadillac Summit Loop

Cadillac Mountain is the tallest peak within Acadia National Park, as well as the Eastern Seaboard. It is the first place to spot the sunrise each day, and any trip up Cadillac Mountain for sunrise (or even sunset) will cement that statement with the incredible crowds that make their way up to the summit each day. At this time, NPS has now required reservations to reach the summit, so be sure to check with NPS or Recreation.gov for more information.

Cadillac Mountain Acadia — Family picture atop Cadillac Mountain

The Cadillac Mountain Summit Loop is a paved trail that circles the summit. There is a large parking lot atop Cadillac Mountain, and the Loop trail is accessed from the parking lot. From the parking lot, simply access the paved trail and soak in the incredible views!

This is a trail of inspiration! Although it does not offer the intense thrill of hanging off a cliffside, it provides a full 360 degree view of the park! The short stroll around the summit will hopefully bring out the intrepid adventurer in you, and inspire you to tackle some of the more challenging trails Acadia has to offer!

4. Ocean Path Trail

The Ocean Path trail is an easy to moderate difficulty 4.4 (round trip) out and back trail which goes from Sand Beach to Thunder Hole. The Ocean Path trailhead is located at the Sand Beach parking lot and consists almost entirely of packed gravel and paved surface.

Ocean Path Trail Acadia — The many colors of the Pink Granite of Acadia

Sand Beach is an incredibly popular spot within Acadia National Park, and the parking lot, while very large, fills up very quickly. As with most everything with National Parks, arriving early will set you up for success!

Sand Beach Acadia — The rocky cliffs surrounding Sand Beach

Taking the trail from Sand Beach, you will hug the rocky and colorful coastline during the entire hike. If you are fortunate enough, the booms from Thunder Hole will be heard throughout your journey along the coast!

Thunder Hole, an underwater sea cave, provides a booming thunderous sound as the waves crash into it. Timing it just right, and having the correct wind and water conditions are key to being fortunate enough to hear the sound as many park goers have visited Acadia multiple times without having a chance to hear the power of Thunder Hole!

As you pass Thunder Hole, the Ocean Path Trail leads you to Otter Cliffs which also marks the terminus of the trail. At this point, its time to head back to Sand Beach as you feel the cool ocean air sweeping through the breeze!

3 Trails to Avoid for Families

Beehive Trail

The Beehive Trail is possibly one of, if not the most famous trail in Acadia. It sits directly across from Sand Beach, and offers stunning views of the area. The Beehive Trail is a very short 1.7 mile round trip trail consisting of steep scrambling, iron rung ladders, and full exposure. This combination of excitement, iron rungs, and short distance make this a very popular and crowded trail. For families, the exposure on this trail combined with the amount of traffic can make it an unnecessary headache to ensure your child’s safety while trying to navigate the hoards of hikers on the trail.

Precipice Trail

Simply put, the Precipice Trail is hard! Its a short 2 mile loop with over 1000 feet of elevation gain! Keep in mind this incredible, yet difficult trail is closed from March - August for Peregrine Falcon nesting. Be sure to speak to park ranger before beginning your journey up the Precipice. The Precipice Trail is both higher and far more exposed than the Beehive Trail, and is generally regarded as the hardest trail within Acadia National Park. The Precipice Trail has far more iron rungs and ladders as well as cliff walks than any other trail in the park. With that said, for families and hikers with a fear of heights, the Precipice Trail might not be worth it!

Beech Cliffs Trail

The Beech Cliffs Trail is not as well known as the Beehive or Precipice as it lies on the “Quiet Side” of Mt. Desert Island. The Beech Cliffs trail offers incredible views of Echo Lake. Whereas the Precipice and Beehive Trail are known for their iron rungs, the Beech Cliffs Trail makes extensive use of iron ladders….very long and very steep iron ladders. Due to being on the quiet side of Acadia National Park, traffic on this trail is minimal, so it does offer that much sought after peaceful tranquility of the wilderness, but with approximately 500 feet of literal climbing to reach the Cliffs, this trail is best suited for avid hikers and those without small children.

4 Must-Hike Trails at Acadia National Park (and 3 to stay away from)