20 Best Things to Do in Acadia National Park
Renowned for its rugged coastline, breathtaking granite peaks, and a seemingly endless number of trails to explore, Acadia National Park is, without a doubt, one of America’s most beautiful national parks!
That being said, it should be no secret from the map below that Acadia National Park is, by and large, a hiking destination.
The National Park Service boasts that there are more than 150 miles (241 km) of hiking trails, ranging from very short and easy coastal walks to much longer adventures when you begin to link two or more together.
For this reason, many of the best things to do in Acadia National Park involve hiking! It is also because Acadia’s trail network is so large and intricate that my route up one peak, such as Sargent Mountain, may differ from yours.
This is all to say that, to see and enjoy the best that Acadia National Park has to offer, come prepared to hit the trails, which is why I recommend using my hiking checklist below to prepare.
What is the Best Time of Year to Visit Acadia National Park?
The answer to this question is easy: fall time—specifically mid- to late October, depending on the season for fall colors!
I may be biased because that’s when I planned my first trip to Acadia, but after hearing from numerous long-time residents about how crazy busy the summers are, I knew I made the right decision.
When nights get cooler, the leaves start changing, and restaurants begin closing for the season, you know you’re visiting at the perfect time—and yes, many restaurants on Mount Desert Island are seasonal. This means it can become more difficult to find places to eat if you’re visiting in mid-October for the changing leaves.
That being said, everything from parking in Acadia, driving around, finding accommodations, and more becomes much easier when the park slows down. This is why, if you have flexibility, I recommend planning a visit around the peak fall foliage, which you can track using the map linked below.
Explore Fall: Fall Foliage Map
Hiking Checklist - Acadia
Here is a complete list of must-have things that you will want for any hike in Acadia National Park.
20 Best Things to Do in Acadia National Park
The following list is written in no particular order of best or worst.
However, I highly recommend reading through the safety section at the end of this article, as some adventures are only best during certain times of the year, due to the park’s seasonal weather conditions.
On a different note, you can save time when you arrive by purchasing your National Park pass, along with your other outdoor gear, at REI before traveling to the park!
1. Beehive Trail
Distance: 1.5 miles / 2.4 km
Known for its steep cliffs, iron rungs, railings, bridges, and ladders, the Beehive Trail is arguably the best day hike in Acadia National Park, and I say this for a number of reasons.
The first is that the Beehive Trail is incredibly scenic, with views above Sand Beach, Gorham Mountain, Champlain Mountain (where the Precipice Trail is located), and it’s one of the most beautiful places to catch the sunrise in Acadia!
However, some who have hiked the Beehive Trail may not agree with this sentiment because, among its many great qualities, it is also the single most popular day hike in all of Acadia!
For this reason, I highly recommend reading through the introduction of my separate article at the very least, as I share my thoughts on the trail overall, the Beehive Trail compared to the Precipice Trail, and my advice regarding how to visit Acadia’s busiest day hike.
Read My Separate Post: Beehive Trail
2. Precipice Trail
Distance (Precipice-North Ridge Loop): 2.0 miles / 3.2 km
The Precipice Trail is, without a doubt, one of the most beautiful day hikes in Acadia National Park!
That said, the Precipice Trail is also regarded as the most challenging trail in Acadia, due to a number of narrow, highly exposed ledges that the steep trail ascends up Champlain Mountain.
I highly recommend checking out my separate article to learn more, as I have included photos from every steep, challenging, and exposed section on the Precipice Trail to the top of Champlain Mountain.
Read My Separate Post: Precipice Trail
3. Sunrise on the Otter Point Cliffs
From Sand Beach to Otter Point, there’s no shortage of places off the Ocean Path to walk out and enjoy the sunrise!
This is why I recommend parking somewhere that you plan to see afterward, in order to secure a hard-to-come-by parking spot on this busy stretch. This could be the Beehive Trail or Great Head, and walking the Ocean Path along the coast from there, as there’s truly an endless amount of secluded little places to catch the sunrise along the 2.2-mile (3.5 km) Ocean Path.
Google Maps Directions: Otter Point Cliffs
4. Bubbles Trail (Bubble Rock)
Distance: 1.5 miles - 4.8 / 2.4 - 7.7 km
Much like the Precipice and Beehive Trail, the Bubbles Trail is also one of the best and most beautiful day hikes in Acadia National Park!
I say this because there are beautiful and unique views throughout the entire trail—not just at the popular spots, like Bubble Rock and the summits.
That being said, visitors often hike the Bubbles Trail in a variety of ways, which mainly center around visiting both the North and South Bubble. However, I highly recommend reading my separate post to understand why I suggest hiking the entire trail from the South Bubble to Connor’s Nubble, as there are amazing—not to mention quiet and secluded—places to enjoy views beyond the popular Bubble Rock.
Read My Separate Post: Bubbles Trail
5. Triad Trail (Sunset)
Distance: 0.8 - 3.2 miles / 1.3 - 5.1 km
The Triad Trail is a true hidden gem in Acadia National Park!
This is because few think of Triad Peak as one of the best places to hike for sunset, but that’s what sets this hidden viewpoint apart from other, more popular day hikes, like Cadillac Mountain.
In fact, I think of the Triad Trail as one of the best places to hike up with a bottle of wine and maybe some food, as there’s truly nothing better than enjoying the sunset in Acadia without the crowds that other areas inevitably attract.
Read My Separate Post: Triad Trail
6. Jordan Pond Path
Distance: 3.3 miles / 5.3 km
The Jordan Pond Path is the quintessential day hike in Acadia National Park.
By this, I mean that the loop around Jordan Pond is easy, beautiful, and makes for a great place to start hiking with the intention of connecting to other nearby trails, like The Bubbles, Pemetic Mountain, or Penobscot Mountain, to name a few.
However, the Jordan Pond Path is also one of the busiest and most popular day hikes in Acadia National Park, meaning that parking is among the most difficult at Jordan Pond of any place in the park, similar only to the hikes off Park Loop Road, like the Precipice Trail and south of the Gorham Mountain Trail.
That being said, there are more than a few places to try and find parking for the Jordan Pond Path, some of which are hidden, inconspicuous places to park, which is why I highly recommend checking out my separate article to learn more about the full hike as well as the places to look for parking!
Read My Separate Post: Jordan Pond Path
7. Anemone Cave
Distance: 0.4 miles / 0.6 km
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.
However, just because the Anemone Cave is nearby, it does not mean that it’s accessible. There are some things to know before planning a visit, including information about the best route into the cave and the ideal ocean conditions for visiting safely.
For this reason, I highly recommend checking out my separate article, where you can find all the details about the trail and this hidden gem in Acadia!
Read My Separate Post: Anemone Cave Trail
8. Cadillac Mountain (Summit Road & Trail)
Distance (Roundtrip): 4.4 miles / 7.1 km
Cadillac Mountain is the highest summit in Acadia National Park. For this reason, the summit of Cadillac Mountain is one of the most sought-after destinations in the park, whether by road or by trail.
However, because the summit is so popular, the National Park Service implemented an advanced vehicle reservation system, as parking at the summit is limited. This, in turn, made the Cadillac North Ridge Trail the most popular hiking route to the summit, at just 2.2 miles (3.5 km) each way.
Furthermore, you can learn more about the full hike, including the advanced vehicle reservations, in my separate post. Or, to avoid the competitive reservation system altogether, you can book through one of the local operators who have commercial access to the summit road, taking away all the hassle of visiting Cadillac Mountain.
Read My Separate Post: Cadillac Mountain North Ridge Trail
9. Egg Rock Overlook (Sunrise)
The Egg Rock Overlook off Park Loop Road is one of Acadia’s best drive-up overlooks to catch the sunrise.
That said, sunrise is truly the only time of day I recommend visiting the Egg Rock Overlook, but what makes it so special is its proximity to some of Acadia’s busiest trails, including the Beehive Trail, the Precipice Trail to Champlain Mountain, the Great Head Trail, and the Gorham Mountain Trail.
Therefore, catching sunrise here, followed by a hike on one of these trails, is one of the best ways to enjoy one of Acadia’s busiest areas early without the crowds, while branching out to other, less popular parts of the park later, such as trails near Southwest Harbor, like Flying Mountain.
Google Maps Directions: Egg Rock Overlook
10. Acadia Mountain Trail
Distance: 1.8 - 3.0 miles / 2.9 - 4.8 km
Acadia Mountain has a special place in my heart, as the view from the summit easily makes the Acadia Mountain Trail the best day hike near Southwest Harbor!
On top of this, Acadia Mountain is also the best all-around sunrise and sunset hike in Acadia National Park because the south-facing viewpoint at the summit aligns perfectly with the sun rising or setting from either direction.
To learn more, including information about the full loop, I highly recommend checking out all the details in my separate post!
Read My Separate Post: Acadia Mountain Trail
11. Bar Island Land Bridge
Distance: 1.8 - 3.0 miles / 2.9 - 4.8 km
Bar Island in Acadia National Park is an adventure unique to Bar Harbor, Maine, as the trail is only accessible by way of a land bridge that emerges for only a few hours each day on either side of low tide.
That being said, there’s a few things to know about timing low tide, among the risks involved with spending too much time on the island, which I encourage you to learn more in either of my separate posts, to include the Bar Island Trail to the summit and the Bar Island Loop Trail around the perimeter of the island. This is why the distances above vary.
Read My Separate Posts: Bar Island Trail / Bar Island Loop Trail
12. Bike the Carriage Roads
Other than Acadia’s massive trail network, there is a different network of trails, known as the Carriage Roads.
These roads wind their way throughout Acadia National Park, most often circling the many peaks of Mount Desert Island and the Schoodic Peninsula. However, in some cases, these roads climb to the summit of various lookouts, such as Day Mountain.
In any case, the endless miles of Carriage Roads throughout Acadia, along with the +150-mile (241 km) trail network, can be a great way to combine different adventures that most who aren’t biking don’t have as easy access to, allowing for a new and, truthfully, less busy way to enjoy an otherwise busy National Park.
13. Beech Cliffs Trail
Distance (Beech Cliffs & Loop): 1.6 miles / 2.6 km
The Beech Cliffs Trail is one of the best hidden gems in Acadia National Park because of the four ladders that must be climbed to reach this beautiful viewpoint on the Beech Cliffs Loop Trail at the top!
That being said, the Beech Cliffs Trail certainly isn’t the only way to reach this viewpoint, but the ladders above Echo Lake make for a great and easier alternative to the much more challenging Precipice Trail, as the Beech Cliffs Trail has nowhere near the same amount of exposure or climbing as the Precipice Trail to the summit of Champlain Mountain.
Read My Separate Post: Beech Cliffs Trail
14. Sundew Trail
Distance (One Way): 0.9 miles / 1.4 km
The Sundew Trail is one of Acadia’s most unique day hikes because the short 0.9-mile (1.4 km) trail, or 1.2-mile (1.9 km) loop, allows visitors the unique opportunity to see some of the park’s rare carnivorous plants growing right alongside the trail!
Yes, this one-of-a-kind adventure is the best place in Acadia National Park to see these evolutionary anomalies, which is why I highly recommend checking out the Sundew Trail, along with a number of other amazing destinations, like the Anvil-Schoodic Head-Alder Loop and Lower Harbor, when visiting the Schoodic Peninsula.
Read My Separate Post: Sundew Trail
15. Bass Harbor Light Station (Sunset)
Bass Harbor is one of the best and most beautiful drive-up places to catch the sunset in Acadia National Park!
However, sunset at the Bass Harbor Head Light Station cannot be discussed without first addressing the crowds and the parking situation.
Without trying to be dramatic, the Bass Harbor Light Station is the single most difficult place to find parking during the busy summer and fall travel season on a clear evening. The light station is located down a very narrow road, with very limited parking at the end in the official lot, and the city has even gone as far as making roadside parking on all the surrounding streets illegal because the traffic has become such a problem over the years due to the area’s inherent popularity.
This is all to say that if you want to watch the sunset at Bass Harbor, arrive early! I would even say arrive more than an hour before sunset to be safe, so that you can enjoy the best of Bass Harbor without having to fight for a parking space and risk missing the sunset, as visitors often do!
Google Maps Directions: Bass Harbor Head Light Station
16. Gorham Mountain Trail
Distance: 1.8 - 3.0 miles / 2.9 - 4.8 km
The Gorham Mountain Trail is the best of the four busiest trails off Otter Point to enjoy sunrise without the crowds!
This is not to say that Gorham Mountain isn’t popular, but it is nowhere near as busy as the Beehive Trail, just up the road.
Furthermore, the reason I enjoy catching sunrise from Gorham Mountain over others is that the upper elevations of the trail are much less congested than both the Precipice and Beehive Trails, making Gorham Mountain a much better and quieter place to spread out and enjoy the sunrise compared to these other busy adventures.
Read My Separate Post: Gorham Mountain Trail
17. Ship Harbor Trail
Distance: 1.4 miles / 2.3 km
The Ship Harbor Trail is one of two flat, easy coastal day hikes in Acadia National Park that make for a great place to explore some of the best of the park’s rugged coastline.
The other of these two is the Wonderland Trail just down the road, but I personally think the Ship Harbor Trail is better of the two, at roughly the same distance.
In any case, both the Ship Harbor Trail and Wonderland Trail are two of the best easy trails to hike for sunrise in Acadia National Park, as both are almost entirely flat out to the best viewpoints at the far southern end of each trail.
Read My Separate Post: Ship Harbor Trail
18. Beech Mountain Trail
Distance: 1.2 miles / 1.9 km
Separate from the Beech Cliffs Trail mentioned above, the Beech Mountain Trail is one of the most scenic day hikes in Acadia National Park, and the two are often combined into one longer adventure.
This is the option I recommend, beginning from the Beech Cliffs Trail at Echo Lake, because starting from the bottom to hike to the summit makes more sense than parking in the middle above the Beech Cliffs and having to hike down the ladders to combine the two.
On top of this, parking at Echo Lake will always be easier than the trailhead parking for Beech Mountain between the two trails.
Read My Separate Post: Beech Mountain Trail
19. Penobscot Mountain Trail
Distance: 3.0 - 4.1 miles / 4.8 - 6.6 km
Between the three major summits that surround Jordan Pond, including Sargent Mountain, Pemetic Mountain, and Penobscot Mountain, Penobscot is, in my opinion, the best and most beautiful day hike!
I say this because the Spring Trail to Penobscot Mountain from the Jordan Pond House is the most fun route of any to the summit of all the peaks named above, comparable only to the Jordan Cliffs Trail, which also ascends Penobscot Mountain.
This is all to say that regardless of the route you choose to hike, Penobscot Mountain, from all the routes off the Jordan Pond Path, is one of the best taller summits in Acadia National Park, behind only Cadillac Mountain for obvious reasons.
Read My Separate Post: Penobscot Mountain Trail
20. Acadia Private Tour Guide
Between the crowds and the vast network of interconnecting trails, Acadia National Park can seem overwhelming to plan if you’re visiting the park for the first time.
However, there are a number of guided tour options to consider if you’d prefer to learn about the park from one of several locally-based tour guides.
These include options ranging from small groups to private tours for just your party, so that you can truly customize the experience you’re looking to have!
10 Best Things to Do Near Acadia National Park
As far away as Acadia National Park is from other Northeast destinations, like the Adirondacks, there are seemingly endless things to do within just a few minutes’ drive—or even a few hours—of the park!
Therefore, I highly recommend extending your trip beyond Acadia National Park to include some of the best places to eat on Mount Desert Island, as well as those adventures within a few hours’ drive of the park.
1. Mt. Katahdin: The Highest Peak in Maine
Distance (Dudley-Knife Edge-Saddle Loop): 11.2 miles / 18.0 km
The highest peak in Maine, commonly referred to as Katahdin, is no small feat, regardless of the route you choose to take to the top.
That being said, the difficulty only increases if you choose to hike the Knife Edge, as I’ve outlined in my separate article, but that’s not to say there aren’t 'easier' routes to the summit.
To learn more about the climb, the advanced parking reservations required, and the different routes for such an adventure, I highly encourage you to check out my separate article.
Read My Separate Post: Mt. Katahdin (Knife Edge Trail)
2. Jordan’s Restaurant
Jordan’s Restaurant is the best local breakfast diner in Bar Harbor, ahead of only the Sunrise Café listed below.
That said, I recommend stopping in after catching sunrise somewhere in the park, such as one of the busy trails off Park Loop Road, in order to get ahead of the crowds!
Yelp: Jordan’s Restaurant
3. Sunrise Café
The Sunrise Café is a very close second behind Jordan’s Restaurant, which is exactly why I listed them back to back.
Considering these options, you can’t go wrong with either for breakfast, but again, I highly recommend stopping in after visiting one of Acadia’s busy trails early, such as the Beehive Trail.
Yelp: Sunrise Café
4. Little Moose Pond Loop Trail
Distance: 4.1 miles / 6.6 km
The one thing I continually mention time and time again regarding trails across the Northeast, such as the Day Mountain Trail in Acadia, is that there truly is a sweet spot to enjoy the changing leaves when it comes to elevation or height above the trees.
To enjoy them the most, it’s best not to hike too high or too low, which is exactly why the Little Moose Pond Trail is one of the best hikes for fall colors across all of Maine!
At less than three hours away from Portland and Bar Harbor, I could not recommend the Little Moose Pond Loop more!
Read My Separate Post: Little Moose Pond Loop Trail
5. Rosalie’s Pizza
I’ve tried a lot of the pizza places across Mount Desert Island, and nothing comes close to Rosalie’s Pizza in downtown Bar Harbor!
I suspect it’s the sauce, but either way, the long wait during the busiest times of the year truly speaks for itself!
Yelp: Rosalie’s Pizza
6. New England Lobster Boil
I mean, did you even visit New England if you didn’t try a traditional lobster boil?
All jokes aside, this recommendation isn’t restaurant-specific, as there are truly a number of different places that serve amazing lobster in Bar Harbor, and the experts who work there can walk you through all the options regarding sizes, the quality of the meat, and any other questions you might have if it’s your first time!
That said, we asked some locals, and these were the top recommendations they suggested to us!
Yelp: Stewman’s Lobster Pound / Galyn’s / Fish House Grill / Bar Harbor Lobster Co.
7. Shop Small Business National Park Gear
A few of my good friends based right outside of Zion National Park design their own National Park gear from parks around country.
My camera strap, made by my friends at WildTree, has been my longest-standing camera strap that I’ve owned, and I encourage you to check them out over any of the overpriced souvenirs in or near Acadia National Park.
Shop: WildTree
8. Clark Point Café
Outside of all the recommendations I’ve outlined in Bar Harbor, Southwest Harbor has a number of amazing options of its own, and in terms of breakfast, none is better than Clark Point Café!
With that being said, there aren’t as many options for dining in Southwest Harbor as there are in Bar Harbor—especially for breakfast.
I say this to emphasize: expect it to be busy unless you arrive first thing in the morning, before setting out on one of the many nearby adventures, like Mansell or Saint Sauveur Mountain.
Yelp: Clark Point Café
9. The Upper Deck
After catching the sunset at Bass Harbor, mentioned above, there’s truly nothing better than heading back into Southwest Harbor to eat at The Upper Deck.
They serve craft beers and amazing seafood, among countless other options to make anyone in your group happy!
Yelp: The Upper Deck
10. Portland, Maine Tours
Portland, Maine, is only a three-hour drive from Acadia National Park, and it’s likely the city you would pass through, along with Boston, if you’re flying to the Northeast.
That said, Portland is a beautiful city that’s absolutely worth exploring, whether on your way to or from Acadia National Park.
This is why I wanted to include a variety of options to consider when in town, or at the very least, I recommend going for a walk on the Eastern Promenade Trail along the waterfront from Fort Allen Park.
Either way, getting out to see the best of Portland is a must-do on a trip to Acadia!
6 Things to Know Before Visiting Acadia National Park
1. Acadia National Park is one of the busiest National Parks in the country!
The crowds and congested traffic in Acadia are nothing to take lightly.
This is why I consistently say throughout my writing that some of the busiest and most popular areas, like the Beehive Trail and the Precipice Trail, should be hiked either before or shortly after sunrise— and no, one hour after sunrise isn’t shortly after.
This can even translate to unsuspecting areas, like Beech Mountain, which is why planning for early mornings is one of the best ways to enjoy Acadia hassle-free.
2. Hike lesser-known trails
Going off my first tip, exploring Acadia’s massive trail network and hiking lesser-known trails is the best way to escape the crowds!
I say this to say: use the map and link together any number of adventures, as this can be a great way to visit a busy area, while parking somewhere that is much easier to find a spot.
3. Fall colors in Acadia National Park change much later than areas further inland.
Every year, timing the peak is a tricky thing in the northeast—especially if you don’t have flexible travel dates.
Nevertheless, the most important thing to keep in mind is that fall colors always change later on the coast!
To learn more about how to time the fall colors, I highly recommend checking out the fall foliage map linked below, as peak season is typically trickier to time in Acadia compared to areas further inland.
Explore Fall: Fall Foliage Map
4. Falling is the leading cause of injury in Acadia National Park.
Acadia National Park is known for its beautiful granite mountains, steep and dramatic cliffs, and rugged undeveloped coastline.
That being said, all this dramatic beauty truly does come at a cost, as trails in Acadia, particularly the Beehive and Precipice Trail, can be extremely dangerous for those who aren’t ready to hike such an exposed trail.
This is not to say that the Beehive and Precipice Trails are the only places where this is true, as the same could be said about The Bubbles. However, this warning is just something to keep in mind when choosing what adventures you and your group are most interested in.
5. Pack a hooded sun shirt.
The sun exposure on Acadia’s open granite peaks is nothing to take lightly.
I say this because, if you plan on spending a few hours hiking around the park, sunscreen alone is not enough protection, and shade is minimal across many Acadia trails—especially on taller peaks like Pemetic, Penobscot, Norumbega, and Cedar Swamp Mountain, to name just a few.
6. Book your lodging as soon as you know your travel dates.
Of any National Park in the lower 48, Acadia National Park is one of the few where I can confidently say that affordable lodging is one of the biggest barriers to visiting. The limited options on and near Mount Desert Island, combined with the park’s popularity, significantly drive up prices.
I say this to emphasize: start looking at options early and consider alternatives, such as Airbnbs, campgrounds, and traditional hotels.
