Acadia Trail & Visitor Guide
Acadia · United States · About 49,000 acres across Mount Desert Island, the Schoodic Peninsula, and Isle au Haut in Maine.
Why Visit Acadia
Acadia National Park preserves 49,000 acres of the highest rocky headlands along the US Atlantic coast on Mount Desert Island. Cadillac Mountain (1,530 feet) is the first place in the US to see the sunrise from October through March. The park's 45 miles of carriage roads, built by John D. Rockefeller Jr. between 1913 and 1940, wind through the forest with granite bridges and are closed to motor vehicles.
Free Acadia Audio Guide with Roamee Pro
Roamee Pro offers a free, self-guided Acadia audio guide. It narrates trails, viewpoints, geology, and wildlife as you explore — Cadillac Mountain, Precipice Trail, Jordan Pond Path, plus quieter spots like Carriage Roads and Ship Harbor Trail. No guide, no schedule, works offline.
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Signature Trails
- Precipice Trail2.1 miles round trip · Strenuous
Iron-rung and ladder climb up the east face of Champlain Mountain; closed roughly mid-spring to mid-August for peregrine falcon nesting.
- Beehive Loop1.5 miles round trip · Strenuous
Iron rungs and exposed ledges climbing about 450 feet, with views over Sand Beach and Frenchman Bay.
- Jordan Pond Path3.3 miles loop · Easy
Shoreline loop with boardwalk sections around Jordan Pond, facing the twin hills known as the Bubbles.
- Cadillac North Ridge Trail4.4 miles round trip · Moderate
Open granite ridge climb to the 1,530-foot summit of Cadillac Mountain, the highest point on the U.S. Atlantic coast.
- Ocean Path4.4 miles round trip · Easy
Coastal walk from Sand Beach to Otter Point past Thunder Hole and granite sea cliffs.
Must-See in Acadia
- •Cadillac Mountain — drive or hike to the 1,530-foot summit for sunrise views over the Atlantic and Frenchman Bay
- •Precipice Trail — a strenuous 1.6-mile climb with iron rungs and ladders up a sheer cliff face
- •Jordan Pond Path — a 3.3-mile loop around a crystal-clear glacial lake with views of the Bubbles
- •Ocean Path — a 4.4-mile coastal trail from Sand Beach to Otter Point along granite cliffs and rocky shore
Best Viewpoints
- •Cadillac Mountain summit (1,530 ft), among the first U.S. spots to see sunrise in fall and winter
- •Jordan Pond with the Bubbles in the background
- •Thunder Hole on Ocean Drive, loudest about 1-2 hours before high tide
- •Sand Beach and the overlook on Park Loop Road
- •Schoodic Point on the Schoodic Peninsula for surf-on-granite views
Quieter Corners of Acadia
- •Carriage Roads — 45 miles of car-free gravel roads with 17 stone bridges, perfect for walking and cycling
- •Ship Harbor Trail — a 1.3-mile figure-eight loop through spruce forest and along the rocky shore with tidal pools
Wildlife You May See
Entrance Fee
$35 per private vehicle, valid for 7 days. Motorcycle $30; individual (foot/bike) $20. The Acadia Annual Pass is $70. From late May through October a separate timed-entry vehicle reservation ($6) is required to drive Cadillac Summit Road.
Getting There
Nearest airport is Hancock County-Bar Harbor (BHB), about 15 minutes from the park; Bangor International (BGR) is about 1 hour away and Portland (PWM) about 3 hours. The main entrance is on Mount Desert Island via Route 3 through Bar Harbor. The free Island Explorer shuttle serves the park and surrounding towns from late June through mid-October.
Where to Stay
Two NPS campgrounds on Mount Desert Island: Blackwoods (near Bar Harbor) and Seawall (seasonal, west side); Schoodic Woods Campground is on the mainland peninsula. Reservations through recreation.gov. Bar Harbor has the most hotels, inns, and B&Bs; Southwest Harbor and Northeast Harbor are quieter bases.
Best Time
Late September to mid-October brings peak fall foliage and smaller crowds than summer. July and August are busiest. Park Loop Road and many facilities close in winter, and Cadillac Summit Road typically closes December through mid-April.
Safety
The main hazard is falling on the exposed iron-rung trails (Precipice, Beehive, Jordan Cliffs), which are steep, slick when wet, and have caused fatalities; do not attempt them in rain or if afraid of heights. Rogue waves at Thunder Hole and Schoodic Point have swept visitors off the rocks. Tides change quickly, so check tide tables before walking the Bar Island land bridge.
Scenic Drives
- •Park Loop Road (27-mile loop past Sand Beach, Thunder Hole, Otter Cliff, and Jordan Pond)
- •Cadillac Summit Road (3.5 miles to the summit; timed reservation required late May-October)
- •Schoodic Loop Road (about 6 miles around the mainland Schoodic Peninsula)
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