Hiking the Great Head Trail in Acadia National Park
Distance: 1.6 miles / 2.6 km
The Great Head Trail, also called the Great Head Loop Trail in Acadia National Park, is an easy day hike along the rocky shores of Acadia’s coastline off Park Loop Road, near the Beehive Trail and Sand Beach.
That being said, this area between the Precipice Trail and Gorham Mountain is one of the busiest and most congested areas in all of Acadia, meaning that it’s best to arrive first thing in the morning during the busy summer travel season to enjoy the area without the crowds.
This could be parking at the Beehive Trail and walking across Sand Beach to hike the Great Head Loop or vice versa, but either way, my top recommendation for any adventure along this stretch is to arrive early and have plans to explore elsewhere once you decide to leave.
Bar Island Trailhead Parking
The trailhead parking at Great Head is one of the smallest lots in all of Acadia National Park, and it comes with some of the strictest no-parking rules along Schooner Head Road near the trailhead. Park staff have told me that they are quick to ticket illegally parked cars here.
With that in mind, parking is significantly easier at the Schooner Head Overlook, which is only 0.6 miles (1.0 km) up the road.
Remember to purchase your National Park pass in advance and display your pass or entrance receipt here and at every trailhead in Acadia National Park, whether you went through an official entrance station or not. Yes, law enforcement officers check parked cars throughout Acadia, and I have seen tickets handed out to vehicles not following the rules of a U.S. fee area.
On a different note, be aware that Acadia National Park is one of the busiest parks in the country, and finding a place to park, even at less-known trailheads, can be incredibly challenging during the busiest times of the year.
Google Maps Directions: Great Head Trailhead
Hiking Checklist - Acadia
Here is a complete list of must-have things that you will want for any hike in Acadia National Park.
Hiking the Great Head Trail
This is the Great Head Trailhead, but, as previously mentioned, the Great Head Trail could begin at the path from Sand Beach shown below, or here, off Schooner Head Road.
Great Head Loop Trail
After less than 0.1 miles (0.2 km), the Great Head Trail splits into a 1.4-mile (2.3 km) loop around the peninsula.
Personally, I like to go right—the direction described in this article—because there are some rocky sections near Sand Beach that I prefer to climb up rather than descend by hiking clockwise.
For the most part, the Great Head Trail is fairly flat—outside of the few rocky areas near the water, as previously mentioned.
This split in the trail is nothing more than a faster path down to Sand Beach on the right, or, if you’d prefer to skip the beach, stay to the left.
I chose to go right.
Great Head Loop-Sand Beach Junction
This path down to Sand Beach is why I previously mentioned that parking at the Beehive Trail can be a great location to make one parking spot work for two adventures, which is something that can’t be understated in the incredibly popular area of Acadia National Park!
Sand Beach
Have you ever heard of J.P. Morgan?
Well, J.P. stands for John Pierpont Morgan, an American financier and Wall Street investment banker who once owned all of Sand Beach and Great Head until the National Park Service acquired the land in 1949.
Imagine all of this being off-limits to the public!
That being said, Sand Beach is one of the most popular destinations in Acadia National Park, and depending on the time of year, you can often find park-goers swimming during the warmest summer months.
Once back on the trail, the Great Head Loop begins to make its way toward the best viewpoint of the entire hike: the Beehive Overlook.
These are the rocky sections that were mentioned previously.
This isn’t quite the Beehive Overlook, but the views only get better and better as the trail ascends higher!
West Great Head Loop-Great Head Cut-Off Junction
At just over halfway from the start of the loop to the end of the peninsula, the Great Head Trail splits, with this shortcut over to the east side of the loop, the trail that leads back to the trailhead.
This 0.2-mile (0.3 km) shortcut can be a great option for those uninterested in completing the full hike, as it shortens the full loop by about 0.5 mile (0.8 km).
Beehive Overlook
This is the Beehive Overlook, and in my opinion, it is undoubtedly the most beautiful viewpoint on the entire Great Head Trail!
Some notable landmarks that can be seen include Gorham Mountain on the left, Beehive Mountain on the right, and, obviously, Sand Beach just below the trail.
After the Beehive Overlook, the Great Head Trail simply continues around the loop, passing by a handful of other viewpoints along the rocky Acadia coastline—some of which can make for a beautiful east-facing lookout to catch the sunrise!
This is the southernmost point on the Great Head Loop Trail and the start of the hike back to the trailhead.
As the Great Head Trail parallels the east side of the peninsula, the loop passes by a number of different overlooks along the shoreline, which is why I mentioned previously that areas like this can make for beautiful places to catch the sunrise.
On account of the loop’s fairly mild terrain, the Great Head Trail can make for one of the best trail runs in Acadia National Park, so long as the ground isn’t slippery and wet.
I say this because slipping on wet granite is one of the leading causes of injury in Acadia.
That being said, I’ve linked my favorite trail-running shoes below, which can be great for both running and hiking on countless trails across the park.
This is an even closer area to hike out to for sunrise!
Great Head
Just before the trail re-enters the forest, the loop passes by the summit of Great Head at roughly 141 ft. (43 m), according to the National Park Service.
East Great Head Loop-Great Head Cut-Off Junction
Not long after the summit, the Great Head Loop Trail meets the other side of the shortcut shown previously.
Here, go right to return to the trailhead if you decided to hike the full 1.4-mile (2.3 km) loop.
Great Head Loop Junction
This is where the Great Head Loop Trail returns to the beginning, with the trailhead located less than 0.1 miles (0.2 km) away to the right.
Overall, the Great Head Trail is a fairly easy, kid-friendly Acadia adventure, and as previously mentioned, it can make for one of the best trail runs in the park, so long as the granite isn’t wet and slippery.
