Hiking Acadia National Park – the East Side of MDI

The second in a series of articles featuring various hikes.    Let me start by saying that all of these hikes will be able to be completed 2-3 hours.   Acadia Park while large, is not a place where you can walk on one adventure for days and days.   There are plenty of places in New England, specifically the Long Trail in Vermont or the Appalachian Trail which starts in Georgia and ends in Maine.    However, that doesn’t mean that these hikes here in Acadia are not great adventures and worth your time.

These are easy day hikes.  This means you won’t find any strenuous cliff climbs in this article.   Most of these hikes are suitable for families with young children, but some are moderately difficult hikes bringing you to grand mountaintop vistas.

People have been hiking through Acadia’s paths for hundreds of years.

I also want to make sure to mention the zero impact rule right from the beginning.   Going into a wild area is like visiting a famous museum.   You obviously do not want to leave your mark on an art treasure in the museum.    Please pack out all garbage and trash.   Human waste must be disposed of carefully or it becomes a health hazard.   Use restroom facilities at trailheads or along the trail.   Stay on the trail.   Do not cut switchbacks or take short cuts.  Do not feed wild animals, never pick flowers or gather plants or insects.   Keep your impact to a minimum by taking only pictures and leaving only footprints.  Also play it safe   you should be prepared for any weather and trail conditions you may encounter.

Water – hikers generally need 1 or more quarts per person on these day hikes, depending on weather.   Do not count on finding water on any hike.  Sun – to protect yourself, wear protective clothing and especially a sun hat.   Always tell a reliable person your hiking plans, especially if you are hiking in more remote areas.   Check in upon your return.   Leave a plan in your car as a last resort.   dress in layers, do not hike alone.

Bar Harbor, Cadillac and Champlain Mountains area   This hiking area is one for photographers.   I’m sure you will see boats going by, sail and lobster boats around great head.   Bar Harbor has lots of photo opportunities.

Bar Island Trail.   This low tide walk is about 1.5 miles.   From the end of West street, you have about 1.5 hours either side of low tide to cross to Bar Island.   Once on the island you can hike about a miles or so, northeast up the gravel road behind the gate.   Once there the trail levels off at a grassy field.   after aother half mile, bear left at a trail sign, pointing into the woods toward Bar Island summit.   Retrace your steps to get back.

Beachcroft trail Stone steps lead much of the way.   2.4 miles long.   From downtown Bar Harbor, head south on Maine 3 for about 2 miles to the parks Sieur de Monts entrance.   Continue past the entrance for about 0.2 miles to the parking lot just north of the Tarn.   The trailhead is on the left (east) side of the road.

Bear Brook Trail is a 2.2 miles hike to the summit and back, or 5.2 miles to the trail’s end and back.  enter the park at the Sieur de Monts entrance, Turn right (south) on the one-way Park Loop Road.   The trailhead is 0.8 miles from the entrance on the right, (south) after the Bear Brook picnic area.

Jesup Path (Great Meadow Loop) 2 miles.   This woods and field walk takes you by the Great Meadow, Sieur de Monts Spring, the Wild Gardens of Acadia, the nature centre, Abbe Museum and the Tarn.   From the Park Loop Road, turn at the sign for Sand Beach.   Follow the one-way road for 1.7 miles to the trailhead which is on the right (south) soon after a road comes in on the left.

Sand Beach and Great Head Trail 1.4 miles  From the park loop road, turn left at the sign for Sand Beach.   Follow the Park loop road for 5.5 miles to the beach parking area.   The trailhead is down the stairs and on the far eastern end of the beach.   There is water and restroom facilities at the beach parking lot.    After climbing up keep right along the shore.  Because this trail is two interconnected loops, you can choose an easy hike along the east shore, or a more intense rock trail (pictured) up and over the top of the peninsula.

Ocean Path: 4 miles.   From sand beach parking, The trailhead is just before the stairs to the beach on the right.   This path goes by Thunder Hole, past the  Gorham Mountain trailhead, to Otter cliff and Otter point, then back again.

The Bowl Trail. This hike leads to a mountain pond nestled behind the Beehive.   1.6 miles.   the trailhead is across the park loop road from the beach.

Gorham Mountain Trail 3 miles    This hike features views of Great Head, Sand Beach, Otter Cliff, Champlain Mountain and the Beehive.   The start of the trail is on the right (west) side of the one-way park loop road.   No facilities.

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