Acadia National Park, located along Maine’s rugged coastline, is known for its dramatic cliffs, granite peaks, and scenic ocean views. The park features Cadillac Mountain, the highest point on the U.S. East Coast, as well as carriage roads, hiking trails, and rocky beaches. One of the best and easy thing to do in the park is drive the Park Loop Road.
Drive the Park Loop Road – This scenic 27-mile road winds its way through forests, past lakes and mountains, and along the shoreline. The road also provides access to popular areas such as Sand Beach, Jorden Pond, the Bubbles, and Cadillac Mountain. Along the way, you’ll find picnic areas, scenic overlooks, and trailheads.
Sand Beach – Sand Beach is a popular summertime destination on Park Loop Road. Surrounded by rocky shores, this small stretch of coast is the largest sandy beach in Acadia.
As we drove around park, we came across a wide variety of birds near the water, adding to the park’s rich natural beauty and wildlife experience.
Hiking in Acadia National Park – The park is primarily a hiking destination, with more than 150 miles of trails ranging from easy coastal walks to challenging mountain routes. Because the trail network is so extensive and interconnected, hiking routes can vary greatly from person to person. To truly experience the best of Acadia, visitors should come prepared to spend time on the trails.
- Beehive Trail – This 1.5 mile round trip hike, is one of the most popular and exciting day hikes in Acadia National Park, known for its steep cliffs, iron rungs, ladders, railings, and bridges. The trail offers stunning views over Sand Beach, Gorham Mountain, and Champlain Mountain, and is also a fantastic spot to catch the sunrise.
- Precipice Trail – This 2.5 mile round trip hike, is one of the most scenic and adventurous hikes, climbing steeply up Champlain Mountain. Known as the park’s most challenging trail, it features narrow, highly exposed ledges that require caution and comfort with heights. While incredibly rewarding, this hike is best suited for experienced hikers seeking a thrilling and unforgettable experience.
- Bubbles Trail (Bubble Rock) – This 1.5-2.5 mile loop hike, is another scenic day hikes in the park, offering beautiful views throughout the entire hike, not just at the summits or the famous Bubble Rock. Many visitors focus on hiking to the North and South Bubble, but the trail can be explored in several ways. Hiking beyond the popular spots reveals quieter, less crowded areas with equally stunning views, making the experience even more rewarding.
- Jordan Pond Path – This 3.3 mile hike is an easy and scenic loop that circles Jordan Pond and is a great starting point for connecting to nearby trails such as The Bubbles, Pemetic Mountain, and Penobscot Mountain. Because of its popularity, parking around Jordan Pond can be challenging, so planning ahead and exploring alternative parking options is highly recommended.
- Anemone Cave – The Anemone Cave is a little-known secret in Acadia National Park, as most who hike the Anemone Cave Trail to the Schooner Head Overlook miss out on this beautiful cave that’s right beneath their feet. That being said, the easy trail down to the coast is not a good reflection of the challenging rocky scramble from the end of the paved path to enter Anemone Cave, as it requires good weather—specifically, low tide and calm ocean conditions—to make it possible.
- Egg Rock Overlook (Sunrise) – off Park Loop Road is one of Acadia’s best drive-up overlooks to catch the sunrise.
- Acadia Mountain Trail – This 1.8–3.0 miles hike is one of the best day hikes near Southwest Harbor, offering stunning summit views. Its south-facing viewpoint makes it an excellent spot for both sunrise and sunset, with clear views in either direction. With options to hike shorter or longer loops, it’s a rewarding and scenic trail for visitors to the park.
- Bass Harbor Head Light Station (Sunset) – This is a drive-up spots to watch the sunset in the park. However, it is extremely popular, and parking can be very challenging, especially during the busy summer and fall seasons. The lighthouse is accessed by a narrow road with limited parking, and roadside parking is prohibited.