Acadia National Park Things to Do

In the fall of 1915, construction was completed of a unique entertaining space for Satterlee family’s guests. A circular stone and cement teahouse structure was modeled after round defensive fortresses called Martello towers built by the English Empire in the 1700s-1900s. This tea house was a place the Satterlees could go exploring with their guests through the rocky coastline and coastal forest of the estate and then break for tea and snacks at the teahouse. When the teahouse structure was completed, it stood 15 feet tall with a diameter of 18 feet. Within the tower was a space for entertaining guests. The observation deck at the top of the tower, accessible by an interior ladder, boasted panoramic views of the Frenchman’s Bay, the dramatic coastline, and surrounding mountains on a clear day. The teahouse structure did survive the Fire of ’47, as discussed in an upcoming stop, but was eventually torn down by the National Park Service in the 1960s due to safety concerns.

Located near the intersection of Schooner Head Road, the entrance station along Acadia's Park Loop Road is open year-round and offers full-service sales and information about park entrance fees, the Acadia Annual Pass, and all federal recreational lands passes. Staff can provide basic information, the Unigrid brochure and other park publications. Nearby destinations include several trailheads, Sand Beach, Thunder Hole, Otter Cliff and the Fabbi Picnic Area.

The Flying Mountain Trailhead is located north of Southwest Harbor, ME off State Route 102 via Fernald Point Road. It directly serves Flying Mountain and Valley Cove Trails with connections to Valley Peak Trail and Saint Sauveur Mountain Trail.

George B. Dorr devoted most of his adult life and fortune to securing and protecting the lands that would later become the park. He was Acadia National Park’s first superintendent.

Hadlock Brook Bridge (1926) was the eighth of 17 bridges constructed along 57 miles of carriage road on Mount Desert Island between 1917 and 1940.

Hulls Cove Visitor Center is Acadia National Park's primary visitor contact station. Hundreds of thousands of visitors a year take their first 'hike' in Acadia up the 52 steps to the main visitor center entrance.

Islesford Historical Museum is located on Little Cranberry Island, accessible by mail boat or tour boat from Northeast Harbor or Southwest Harbor. Exhibits tell the story of changing island life, schooner empires, summer residents, and the fishing industry. The museum is open seasonally and has interpretive exhibits, ranger programs, restrooms, and a gift shop.

Morris K. Jesup and Maria DeWitt Jesup. Both were philanthropists who gave generously to projects that benefited both the park and the community of Mount Desert Island.

John D. Rockefeller Jr. was a businessman and philanthropist, responsible for many creations of and contributions to national parks across the country.

John Godfrey Moore purchased over 2,000 acres on Schoodic Peninsula, and built roads and trails on the peninsula.

The Jordan Pond Dam Bridge (1920) was the third of 17 bridges constructed along 57 miles of carriage road on Mount Desert Island between 1917 and 1940. The bridge carries Asticou-Jordan Pond Road across Jordan Stream adjacent to a small dam at the southwest corner of Jordan Pond.

Jordan Pond Gatehouse, and its counterpart, the Brown Mountain Gatehouse, were built in 1932 to mark the entrance to Acadia's historic carriage road network. Though never put into practice as actual 'gatekeepers' to the carriage roads, these impressive structures are a whimsical and quaint introduction to the near-fantasy beauty of the carriage paths.

Jordan Pond House is located on the picturesque southern end of Jordan Pond. It has been a scenic, recreational, and dining destination since the nineteenth century.

Joseph Allen was a member of Hancock County Trustees of Public Reservation and chairman of Seal Harbor Village Improvement Society Roads and Paths Committee.

Built in memory of Kurt Diedrerich, a grandson of Boston artist William Hunt, and a gift of his aunt, Mrs. Hunt Slater, the Climb was the first of several memorial paths created by George Dorr in conjunction with Bar Harbor via members. The 700-step climb contains the largest rocks ever used on any Acadian trail and a bronze marker.

The Little Harbor Brook Bridge (1919) was the second of 17 bridges constructed along 57 miles of carriage road on Mount Desert Island between 1917 and 1940. It is located on Little Harbor Brook Road for a section of carriage road connecting Jordan Pond with Brown Mountain Road over a shallow and rocky brook deep in the woods.

Little Hunters Beach is a cobblestone beach located off the Park Loop Road, southeast of Otter Point and Otter Cove.

A description of Ocean Path including accessibility information, and general orientation.

Oldfarm House

A Place of Historic Repose

Welcome to Oldfarm, a historic cultural landscape that encompasses the Dorr Family Estate site, including the remains of the family's main home. This video tour will give you a sense of the life and motivations of George Bucknam Dorr, the founder of Acadia National Park who lived here on the Oldfarm estate until his death in 1944.

Transition from City Life to Island Life

Early Preservation of Mount Desert Island

Origins of Acadia National Park

Hospitality & Importance of Oldfarm

Dorr's Family Inheritance

Sieur de Monts National Monument

Passion for Gardening

Robert Abbe was a physician, friend of George Dorr, and a summer resident of Bar Harbor. He assembled a collection of early Native American artifacts found in the Frenchman Bay area and established the Lafayette National Park Museum of Stone Age Antiquities.

The Rockefeller Welcome Center at historic Rockefeller Hall offers exhibits on the naval history of Schoodic Peninsula as well as park information and souvenirs.

Samuel de Champlain was a navigator and explorer. He is credited with naming Mount Desert Island.

Sand Beach, the largest sandy beach in Acadia, is a popular destination on Park Loop Road.

Long before the dunes moved in to cover it up, the Schooner Tay shipwrecked on Sand Beach.

The Satterlee Estate was a generous land donation made to Acadia National Park after the Fire of 1947. Today, visitors recreate on these lands and make memories with their families much like the Satterlee sisters did as they were growing up here.

Eleanor Morgan Satterlee donated land to Acadia National Park in 1949 after the Fire of 1947.

The Acadia Gateway Center is a new intermodal transit and welcome center that serves visitors to Downeast Maine and Acadia National Park. It is located on Route 3 in Trenton three miles north of Mount Desert Island. Visitor facilities include an Island Explorer bus stop, day-use parking, and an 11,000-square-foot welcome center with park and tourism information, Park Store, waiting area, and restrooms. The AGC will promote ridership on the Island Explorer from there and throughout the bus system and assist visitors in planning their trip to Downeast Maine. The National Park Service will staff the welcome center to provide visitors with a sense of arrival and orientation to the park, encourage use of the Island Explorer to visit the park, and ensure visitors have a park entrance pass and Cadillac Summit Road vehicle reservation. The AGC is owned by the State of Maine and operated by the Maine Department of Transportation in partnership with the National Park Service, Downeast Transportation Inc., and Maine Office of Tourism.

An accessible description and transcript of the Great Head Parking Loop in Acadia National Park. (February 2025)

An accessible description and transcript of the Old Soaker Parking Loop in Acadia National Park. (February 2025)

An accessible description and transcript of the Otter Cliff Parking Lot in Acadia National Park. (February 2025)

An accessible description and transcript of the Otter Cliff Parking Lot in Acadia National Park. (February 2025)

Amphitheatre Bridge (1931) is the largest of 17 bridges constructed along 57 miles of carriage road on Mount Desert Island between 1917 and 1940. It carries Amphitheatre Road (Asticou-Jordan Pond Road) -- which itself had been abandoned for ten years due to the objections of summer residents -- near the Little Harbor Brook waterfall.

The Beehive and many of Acadia’s other mountains are examples of a geologic feature called a “roche mountonée.” Roches mountonée always have this distinct shape: a gradual slope leading up to a steep drop-off. This shape was created by glaciers, which covered Acadia from 35,000 to 16,000 years ago. As they made their way over mountains like the Beehive, glaciers had to fight against gravity as the mountain pushed them up toward the sky. This created a lot of pressure on the surface of the mountain. Not only were the glaciers working against the force of gravity, but the glaciers here were over a mile thick! That ice adds up to a lot of weight. The pressure from the combined weight of the ice and the gravity pulling it downwards meant that the glacier smoothed the surface of the mountains it traveled over, much like sandpaper. When we look at the Beehive and see the gentle slope leading up to its summit, we are looking at the path that the glaciers created as they passed over the mountain. But if glaciers have smoothed one side to a gentle slope, why does the other side look so steep? After the glacier reached the summit, there was a large release in the pressure that we previously talked about. Now, gravity was helping to pull that heavy ice back down the mountain. As the ice moved back down the mountain, changes in pressure meant that some of the ice at the base of the glacier melted – and that water seeped into cracks of the mountain’s surface. Eventually, that water would refreeze, breaking chunks of rock loose from the mountain as it expanded into ice. The glacier continued “plucking” rocks from the surface, making a steeper slope each time. This process happened over and over again as the glacier continued sliding over the mountain; eventually, it created the famously steep path up the Beehive that Acadia visitors know today.

Located on private land outside park boundaries on the Gardiner-Mitchell Hill-Jordan Stream Road, Cobblestone Bridge (1917) was the first of 17 bridges constructed along 57 miles of carriage road on Mount Desert Island between 1917 and 1940.

Hemlock Bridge (1924) was the fourth of 17 bridges constructed along 57 miles of carriage road on Mount Desert Island between 1917 and 1940. It carries the Jordan-Sargent Mountain Road over a deep, rocky ravine created by the Maple Spring Brook. The difficult, yet spectacular site conditions necessitated careful ground inspection and preliminary staking to ensure that the site was not adversely affected by construction.

Jordan Pond Road Bridge (1932) is one of 17 bridges constructed along 57 miles of carriage road on Mount Desert Island between 1917 and 1940. It carries the Seal Harbor (formerly Jordan Pond) road over the Day Mountain Carriage Road to provide a greater separation and sense of seclusion for the carriage road. As such the underside was faced with stone but the deck above for the town road was not ornamented.

The Quiet Beauty of Island Life

A memorial to Ranger Karl Jacobson who was killed while on duty at Acadia National Park in November of 1938.

The circular shaped stone in front of you is not a remnant of an ancient civilization or a sign from alien spacefarers who once visited this place… it is an old mill stone also commonly known as a grinding stone. Long before automated machines ground grain into flour, humans for millennia turned their grain into flour with stones. You might have seen “stone ground” labels in your local grocery store aisles. The local mill would be the location one would take grain to get ground into flour. Within the mill was a built system of wooden wheels, shafts, and gears designed to harness waterpower from a water wheel or wind power from the blades of a windmill. The system of wheels, shafts, and gears were attached to the top stone and provided power to the stone. Mill stones or grinding stones were always in pairs of two. The stationary stone on the bottom was called the bed stone while the stone that moved suspended above or on top of the bed stone was called the runner stone. There are different ways the stones were oriented depending on the era in history or the location in the world. As the runner stone turned over top of the bed stone the grain was slowly dribbled from a spout (or hopper) into the hole in the center of the runner stone. Both the runner stone and the bed stone had grooves (also referred to as furrows) cut into them. The grooves/furrows were cut and angled in a way that acted like a scissor action cutting or grinding the grain into flour. The stone surfaces were angled in a way that allowed the grain to move outward as the stones turned. The flour was caught by a wooden case surrounding the bed stone. The flour would be ground again if a different coarseness or fineness was desired. Historically, there was never a gristmill (building where grain is ground) here at the Sand Beach / Great Head area. The Satterlee estate. While we can’t confirm with 100% certainty, we know through historic newspaper articles and personal primary source diary entries that a Schooner named the Abbott wrecked on Baker’s Island in December 1896. The cargo of the Abbott consisted of 160 tons of grindstones. Many of these grindstones eventually were salvaged and brought to Mount Desert Island. Some stones found their way to local mills on the island and others found their way to the gardens and estates of the wealthy summer residents. Through these historically written clues it is a safe bet that one of those “7 foot x 14 inch” grindstones found its way onto the Satterlee estate where it was used as a bench, a flagpole base, and a conversation piece by the Satterlee family.

Leading from the Beehive towards Sand Beach, a freshwater stream approaches the beach to meet the ocean. Areas like these ones are called estuaries: where freshwater from rivers and streams mix with saltwater as it meets the ocean. When water mixes like this (freshwater + saltwater), it is sometimes known as “brackish” water. Estuarine waters are usually protected from the harsh waves of the ocean by beaches, barrier islands, or even reefs. This one is protected by Sand Beach and Old Soaker beyond it. Estuaries are important natural places. They are incredibly productive environments, giving life and habitat to many different animals. Many species of fish rely on estuaries for habitat: where they live, eat, and have offspring. Because so many fish call estuaries home, these locations also become useful areas for birds that eat the fish. Estuaries are especially important to birds during migration season when they need a place to stop, rest, and eat. Estuaries are very delicate, so be gentle as you explore this area. Keep your eye out for fish, grasses, and birds – all common to estuarine ecosystems.

In 1900, the wealthy financier J.P. (John Pierpont) Morgan purchased 117 acres, including all of Sand Beach and Great Head as a wedding gift for his oldest child and daughter Louisa Peirpont Morgan’s (1866-1946) wedding. Louisa married Herbert Satterlee (1863-1947) in New York City on November 15th, 1900. Louisa and Herbert had two daughters, Mabel born in 1901 and Eleanor born in 1905. The two daughters grew up exploring the landscape and making connections to the rockbound coast of Mount Desert Island. Construction of the Satterlee Estate buildings commenced in 1911. The Satterlees began summering at their summer estate named ‘Satterlee Field’ that very summer. The first summer for the Satterlees was certainly filled with adventure. The estate grounds and buildings provided safe shelter for the displaced crew of the shipwrecked Schooner Tay that wrecked on Old Soaker and was washed ashore onto Sand Beach, as discussed during the second stop on this hike. According to a park conducted interview with one of the estate superintendents children , Dayton Salisbury, the “Staff on the estate included 2 chauffeurs,, 2 cooks, a kitchen girl, a parlor maid, a ladies maid, the housekeeper and 5 local men working on the grounds.” The Satterlee family usually visited for 6 weeks each summer. The family stayed in “rustic” Adirondack style cottages and the staff stayed in smaller bungalows. The estate also had a barn and cows which provided fresh dairy products, gardens for fresh vegetables, and a nursery to assist in growing assorted plants for the estate gardens designed by renowned landscape architect Beatrix Farrand. Farrand designed the estate gardens to have a natural flow that blended the plantings/gardens with the surrounding landscape. Little benches, footpaths, and bridges led the visitor throughout the gardens. The family summered at Satterlee Field between 1911 and 1946. After the Fire of ’47, discussed just a few stops ago, the youngest daughter Eleanor summered one last summer in 1948 before the daughters decided to donate the estate land to Acadia National Park, as discussed in the very first stop of this hike.

The Gulf of Maine is an extremely productive body of water, and many creatures call it home. Part of the reason why it is so productive is because it’s so cold. Colder water can hold more oxygen, and that oxygen gives life to many marine animals like lobsters, urchins, fish, and many more. Because these waters are filled to the brim with these critters, many marine predators also come to the Gulf of Maine for the abundance of food. Predators like Ospreys, Double-crested Cormorants, seals, porpoises, and even sharks can be found in the waters around Acadia. Look out into the ocean here, about halfway across the cove: do you see a rock ledge? This rock is known as Old Soaker, the same ledge that caused the demise of the Schooner Tay. Old Soaker, along with the two headlands that surround it, all help to protect the sand on Sand Beach from the heavy waves of the Atlantic. Without protection from Old Soaker, the sand could be easily carried away from the beach by strong waves. Sand Beach is a unique beach in Maine. It is mostly composed of tiny pieces of broken shells. It is unusual to see a shell beach in an area with such cold water – shells are made of calcium carbonate, which dissolves easily in cold water. Beaches like these are much more common in warmer parts of the world like the Carolinas or Florida, where the water isn’t cold enough to rapidly dissolve shells. The shell-fragment sand of Sand Beach is a testament to how productive the waters of Maine are: the cold, oxygen-rich water produces more shelled creatures than it can dissolve, making Sand Beach possible.

An accessible description and transcript of Otter Creek Cove parking in Acadia National Park. (February 2025)

Stop five on the Acadia Geocache course.

The fourth stop on Acadia National Park's Geocache course.

The third stop of Acadia National Park's Geocache Course.

Stop Two on the Acadia Geocache Tour.

The first stop along Acadia's Geoacache course.

The Hulls Cove Visitor Center is Acadia’s main visitor contact station and transportation hub from May into October. The building sits atop a hill above a large parking lot. Visitors must climb 52 steps to reach the main entrance. There is a separate accessible entrance behind the facility. To get there, drive straight at a four-way intersection off Route 3 rather than turn into the main parking lot. This entrance has an automatic door and an elevator to the main floor.

An accessible description and transcript of the Keyhole Parking Area in Acadia National Park. (February 2025)

This is the trailhead for Acadia Mountain, a 681 ft mountain located on the west side of Mount Desert Island. The trailhead is on Maine Route 102, about 3 miles south of Somesville and just after Ikes Point Boat Launch.

This memorial plaque is dedicated to Ruth and Tris Colket. Both were philanthropists who saw the need for an endowed trail system and made a gift of $5 million to Friends of Acadia for restoration and maintenance of Acadia’s historic trail system.

An accessible description and transcript of Bass Harbor Head Light Station in Acadia National Park. (February 2025)

An accessible description and transcript of the Brown Mountain Parking Lot in Acadia National Park. (February 2025)

An accessible description and transcript of the Compass Harbor Parking Lot in Acadia National Park. (February 2025)

An accessible description and transcript of Duck Brook parking in Acadia National Park. (February 2025)

An accessible description and transcript of the Eagle Lake Boat Ramp in Acadia National Park. (February 2025)

An accessible description and transcript of the Eagle Lake Carriage Road Entrance in Acadia National Park. (February 2025)

A description of Fabbri Picnic Area and Memorial including accessibility information, amenities, and general orientation.

An accessible description and transcript of the Gorham Mountain Parking Loop in Acadia National Park. (February 2025)

An accessible description and transcript of the Gorham Mountain Parking Lot in Acadia National Park. (February 2025)

An accessible description and transcript of the Parkman Mountain Parking Area in Acadia National Park. (February 2025)

An accessible description and transcript of the Pretty Marsh Entrance Acadia National Park. (February 2025)

A description of Sand Beach including accessibility information, amenities, and general orientation.

An accessible description and transcript of the Schooner Head Overlook in Acadia National Park. (February 2025)

An accessible description and transcript of the Ship Harbor Parking Lot in Acadia National Park. (February 2025)

An accessible description and transcript of the Sieur de Monts Parking Area in Acadia National Park. (February 2025)

An accessible description and transcript of the Tarn Parking Lot in Acadia National Park. (February 2025)

A description of Thunder Hole including accessibility information, amenities, and general orientation.

An accessible description and transcript of the Wildwood Stables Entrance in Acadia National Park. (February 2025)

Alessandro Fabbri is most remembered at Acadia for establishing the Otter Cliffs Radio Station in 1917.

Andrew Murray Young was a member of the Bar Harbor Village Improvement Association’s Roads and Paths Committee.

This memorial plaque is dedicated to Atwater Kent who donated 62 acres known as Bliss Field off Schooner Head Road to Acadia. It is now designated as Atwater Kent Field.

The Bass Harbor Head Light Station is located in Tremont, Maine, marking the entrance to Bass Harbor and Blue Hill Bay on the southwest corner of Mount Desert Island.

Located between Long Pond and Echo Lake, Beech Mountain rises to an elevation of 839 feet with a fire tower located near the summit that was used as a lookout from 1941 to the mid-1950s.

This beach is not protected by any landforms and gets hammered with waves all day. Only the cobbles remain because their larger size makes them resistant to these strong waves.

The Blue Duck Ships store was first constructed as a store to sell essential supplies to the residents of Islesford, Little Cranberry Island, Maine in the 1850s. It also served the 'maritime highway' of trade. Today, the store is used by Islesford Boatworks, a non-profit that continues the tradition of boat building by teaching boat building skills to Island youth.

Brown Mountain Gatehouse, and its counterpart, Jordan Pond Gatehouse, were built to mark the entrance to Acadia historic carriage road network. Though never put into practice as true 'gatekeepers' to the carriage roads, these architectural marvels are a beautiful and whimsically quaint introduction to the near-fantasy of the carriage roads.

Bubble Pond Bridge (1928) was the tenth of 17 bridges constructed along 57 miles of carriage road on Mount Desert Island between 1917 and 1940. It carries the Bubble Pond Road over a portion of the Jordan Pond/Eagle Lake motor road that was abandoned when that road was realigned in 1962-1964. This bridge is now a relic with no function. Access to a parking lot along the shore of Bubble Pond remains.

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. In the summer, reservations are required to drive to the summit.

The Carroll Farm represents changing farm life during the 19th and early 20th century on Mount Desert Island. The house was built by John and Rachel Carroll in 1820 and remained in the family until its purchase by the Maine Coast Heritage Trust and later by the park.

Charles William Eliot was a founder of the Hancock County Trustees of Public Reservations and his preservation efforts were largely inspired by the death of his son, who founded the Champlain Society.

Chasm Brook Bridge (1926) was the seventh of 17 bridges constructed along 57 miles of carriage road on Mount Desert Island between 1917 and 1940. It carries Jordan-Sargent Mountain Road over Chasm Falls. It was the last of four bridges required along the Jordan-Sargent Mountain Road.

The Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) helped improve park areas including construction, forestry work, roadside cleanup and revegetation.

Cliffside Bridge (1932) is one of 17 bridges constructed along 57 miles of carriage road on Mount Desert Island between 1917 and 1940. It carries Amphitheater Road (Asticou-Jordan Pond Road) over a ravine on the flank of Jordan Mountain along a road between Amphitheater and West Branch bridges.

Deer Brook Bridge (1925) was the sixth of 17 bridges constructed along 57 miles of carriage road on Mount Desert Island between 1917 and 1940. The bridge carries the Jordan-Sargent Mountain Road over Deer Brook at a waterfall near the north end of Jordon Pond.

Duck Brook Bridge (1929) was the 11th of 17 bridges constructed along 57 miles of carriage road on Mount Desert Island between 1917 and 1940. It carries the Witch Hole Pond Loop portion of the Hulls Cove Road over Duck Brook to connect with New Eagle Lake motor road. John D. Rockefeller, Jr. considered this area the “grand northern terminus” of his carriage road system and planned magnificent vistas of Frenchman Bay from this road and the adjacent Paradise Hill Loop Road.

Eagle Lake Bridge (1927) was the ninth of 17 bridges constructed along 57 miles of carriage road on Mount Desert Island between 1917 and 1940. It carries Route 233 over the Hulls Cove carriage road. Its completion made possible the construction of new carriage roads on lands north of Eagle Lake, where John D. Rockefeller, Jr. planned magnificent views of Frenchman Bay.

Echo Lake is a Great Pond located on the west side of Mount Desert Island. Visitors can swim, boat, kayak, fish, and view wildlife.

A plaque dedicated to early Acadia National Park botanist, map maker and trail builder, Edward Lothrop Rand.

The trail follows the shore of Jordan Pond, providing iconic views of steep, glacially sculpted mountains and the glacially carved valley that is now Jordan Pond.

Beginning at the Village Green in Bar Harbor and ending at the Sieur de Mont Area this hike includes the Great Meadow Loop, the Hemlock Road Trail, and the Jesup Path. With virtually no elevation gain it traverses a Bar Harbor neighborhood, crosses the Great Meadow, and finishes with a boardwalk at the Nature Center.

The hike up and over Pemetic takes hikers to the shores of both Bubble and Jordan Pond and summits Pemetic Mountain. Nearly 360-degree views look out over Cadillac, Sargent and Penobscot peaks, the Atlantic Ocean and the Cranberry Isles. Hiking this peak with use of the Island Explorer Bus offers hikers a bus-stop-only starting point for a strenuous hike with minimal mileage.

The trek to summit both Bubbles and Conners Nubble summits three peaks and accesses iconic park locations. Hikers will be treated to views of lakes and mountains while exploring woodlands. By hiking with the use of the Island Explorer Bus, these trails are accessible in a unique way and helps hikers overcome the crowds while exploring popular viewpoints.

This is a great option for hiking to the summit of Cadillac Mountain. It follows Kebo Brook which cuts deeply through the granite bedrock with views of steep canyons walls from the gorge below. The final portion of the path ascends a steep rock face and gives hikers vistas of Dorr Mountain, Frenchman Bay, the Atlantic Ocean, as well the deeply cut gorge itself. The summit of Cadillac Mountain provides a 360-degree view out over Mount Desert Island.

Acadia Mountain Trail follows up the east and west side of the mountain with views of the surrounding mountains and bodies of water. With the Island Explorer bus, visitors won't need to park along the road and can ride to the trailhead stress-free.

The trails from Sieur de Monts to Jesup Path are located adjacent to the Nature Center and the Wild Gardens of Acadia in a wooded area.  

The trek from Sieur de Monts to Sand Beach connects four trails and summits Champlain Mountain. Hikers will be treated to views of lakes, mountains and ocean while exploring woodlands, ponds and bare summits. By hiking with the use of the Island Explorer Bus, these trails are transformed from out-and-back hikes to a scenic trek across Acadia National Park.

The Beech Cliff Trail climbs a steep rock face from the southern end of Echo Lake to the top of the cliffs. Continue north along the short and fun Beech Cliff Loop to be treated to even more views from the top of the cliffs. The descent is more gradual and goes down a forested area via the Canada Cliffs Trail back to the beginning of the hike.

Great Head Trial provides visitors a chance to hike a shorter trail and get amazing views of the ocean and forest in the same hike. Enjoy the views while relaxing on the beach afterward.

Ocean Path follows atop Acadia’s granite cliffs along the Atlantic Ocean. While exploring the Ocean Path, visitors can enjoy scenic vistas and iconic park locations including Sand beach, Thunder Hole and Otter Cliffs. Combining this hike with Acadia’s Island Explorer bus gives hikers flexibility in trail distance on what would otherwise be an out-and-back hike.

The trails up Sargent and Penobscot Mountains are located a short distance from the Jordan Pond House restaurant and gift shop.     

If looking for a way to relax, to take in some magnificent views, or to just burn some of the calories from the popovers consumed at the Jordan Pond house, the Jordan Pond Path is a great choice. Even just walking along the eastern shoreline is a certain way to enjoy some scenic vistas of one of Acadia’s iconic locations.  

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.