I finally made it to Maine in 2021 – my first trip since January 2020 – and it was an absolute blast! For anyone who hasn’t been, I highly recommend it. Fun little coastal towns, lots of breweries, blueberries, kayaking, all of the wonderful things in life. Also, Portland is creeping up there on my favorite cities list. But today, the topic is hiking. Specifically, hiking in Acadia.

I LOVE hiking/nature walking. In fact, that is the main reason we decided to go to Acadia (and Maine in general). It did not disappoint. Obviously, we were not able to do ALL the amazing hikes in the park, but we got a good start. For those of you interested in the timing, we had about two full days devoted to hiking.

Fellow Maine travelers might notice the lack of two of the most popular trails, the Beehive and the Precipice. We did fully intend to do at least one of these, however they were so busy we knew we would have to get there VERY early, and since we were staying about an hour outside the park, well, it was just not to be. That’s why we go back, right?

Without further ado, here we go!

Five Epic Hikes in Acadia

1. Ocean Path

We’re starting off with a nice, gentle walk along the Ocean Path, a little trail that runs about two miles from Sand Beach to Otter Point. We didn’t do the full four mile round trip. Instead, we stopped about halfway at the famous Thunder Hole. The trail itself is paved and flat, but there are a lot of little side trails you can take. I personally enjoyed scrambling down to the rocks along the water and doing a little climbing! For those of you wanting a relaxing little jaunt and lots of photo opportunities, this one is for you!

2. Cadillac Summit Loop

This was actually the first hike we did. Okay, hike is maybe a strong word, but it is a lovely walk and definitely worth it. Cadillac Mountain is a popular place to go in the morning, since it is one of the first places you can actually see the sunrise. When I say popular, I mean POPULAR. You need a reservation to drive up and park at the summit in the summer (May – October), and you need to purchase it in advance. They do reserve some spots that you can get 48 hours before, but they sell out so fast. We weren’t able to get one, but we were still able to get up there early enough for spectacular views.

Once you drive up, you can walk the short loop (about half a mile) to the summit for some incredible scenery. Even with very little coffee on board, I enjoyed just wandering along the rocks and looking at the water down below. Definitely worth checking out!

When I first planned this trip, I thought “pffff I don’t need to drive up to the top, I’ll walk. So there!” Of course, I later realized that if one wants to hike up a mountain and reach the top at sunrise, one needs to hike in the dark. Bit of a deal breaker for me, since I’m lucky if I don’t trip and fall during the day. So I can’t comment on the various hiking trails that lead to the summit, but the drive is lovely.

3. Bubble Rock and the South Bubble Trail

This was the second-most strenuous hike we did on our trip. The Bubbles are two little mountains that stick up north of Jordan Pond. There are a bunch of trails up and around the Bubbles providing ample opportunity for exploration. We parked at the Bubble Pond parking lot and took the trail up to the peak of the South Bubble, which is home to Bubble Rock. This big boulder perches on the edge of a cliff and is a popular photo spot. We then went down the South Bubble trail, which consists of scrabbling down a cliff and lots of rocks.

You can opt to go the opposite direction and climb up the rocks for a relatively easy downhill trail back to the parking lot. I’d much rather climb down – gravity is our friend – and when I trip and fall, at least I’m going the right direction.

4. Jordan Pond Path

If you are going to destroy every eccentric muscle you have in your body going down the South Bubble Trail, it is a good idea to walk it off on the lovely, flat, and picturesque Jordan Pond Path. This trail heads about four miles around Jordan Pond, providing excellent an view of the water and the Bubbles. We stopped for a little picnic lunch on the way, but if you feel inclined you can make a reservation at the swanky Jordan Pond House.

There are a few boardwalks and steps, but otherwise it’s a pretty flat and easy walk. Well worth it.

5. Beach Cliff and Canada Cliffs

This was the last hike we did in Acadia, and we did it on the same day as the South Bubble and Jordan Pond. I wanted to do this trail because I was determined to climb one ladder on a hike (I’m still a bit sad about Beehive and Precipice). Unfortunately, I didn’t read my directions well and we ended up in the wrong parking lot (Beach Mountain instead of Echo Lake) walking on the wrong trail.

It was amazing. Definitely the best views of the park. The Beach Cliff trail is on the western side of Acadia, which gets far less crowds. We ended up walking the Beach Cliff Loop overlooking Echo Lake. At this point, we realized we were actually at the top of the trail we had intended to take (The Beach Cliff Ladder Trail). It was late in a day full of hiking, and ultimately we didn’t feel confident to walk all the way down to Echo Lake and back up. Yet I refused to leave the ladders behind.

It was late enough that the ladder trail was pretty much deserted, so me and my friend decided to wander down the trail a little ways and back up. We enjoyed the view and wandered a little ways along the gorgeous Canada Cliffs Trail before turning back. When I go back, I will start at Echo Lake and go up the ladder trail before winding down the Canada Cliffs trail back to the lake. I have grand plans.

The Beach Cliff Loop is really amazing, though, however you choose to get up there. Check it out!

Bonus: Maiden Cliff Trail

This hike, our first in Maine, is not in Acadia but is definitely worth a side trip. This hike is part of Camden Hill State Park, located just outside (you guessed it) Camden, ME. We did this one-mile trail to break up our long drive from Boston to Bar Harbor. A chance to stretch our legs, you say.

Wow. One mile STRAIGHT UP. Well, one mile of switchbacks. This was definitely the hardest hike of the trip. But it was so worth it. The trail gets you about 800ft above Megunticook Lake and has incredible views of the area. There is also a large memorial to the trail’s namesake, a young girl who died falling from the cliff in 1862.

After taking in the views, we spent the evening in Camden, a fun little coastal town. I recommend Sea Dog Brewing Company if you are in the area. Great beer, better food. And well-earned after that mad scramble.

So that’s my outdoor adventure in Maine. What are your favorite hikes in the area? Or where else have you been that has Maine-level hiking? Comment below!