How to Use This Guide

This guide is designed to be simple and easy to use.

It’s divided into four sections: Mount Desert Island East of Somes Sound, Mount Desert Island West of Somes Sound, Isle au Haut, and Schoodic Peninsula. Hikes in the same geographic area are grouped together, allowing easy comparison.

The “Trail Finder” section lists hikes by characteristic, such as “Best Hikes for Children” or “Best Hikes for Great Views.”

Each hike is described with a map and a trail’s vital statistics including length, difficulty, and canine compatibility.

Directions to the trailhead are provided, along with a general description of what you’ll see along the way. A detailed route finder (“Miles and Directions”) sets forth mileage between significant landmarks along the trail. The trailhead is listed as the first key point at mileage 0.0. When part of another trail must be hiked before reaching the trailhead for the described hike, 0.0 represents the initial trailhead.

Trailhead GPS coordinates listed in the “Finding the trailhead” section of each hike description are based on data collected by us, provided by Acadia National Park, or gathered from other sources, such as the US Board of Geographic Names (http://geonames.usgs.gov). But as with any GPS data provided for recreational use, there are no warranties, expressed or implied, about data accuracy, completeness, reliability, or suitability. The data should not be used for primary navigation. Readers of this guide assume the entire risk as to the quality and use of the data.

Note: For hikes requiring traversing another trail to access the featured trail, the trailhead GPS coordinates provided are for the start point and the start of the featured trail.

Acadia National Park officials advise that visitors obey posted signs and park regulations, use common sense, and avoid accidentally traveling on private lands while using a GPS unit.

Difficulty Ratings

To aid in the selection of a hike that suits particular needs and abilities, each is rated easy, moderate, strenuous, or expert only. Bear in mind that even the most challenging routes can be made easier by hiking within your limits and taking rests when needed.

Easy hikes are generally short and flat, taking no longer than one to two hours to complete.

Moderate hikes involve relatively mild changes in elevation and will take one to two and a half hours to complete.

Strenuous hikes feature some steep stretches, greater distances, and generally take longer than two and a half hours to complete.

Expert only hikes are nontechnical climbing routes with near-vertical ascents or iron rungs, although taking it slow and being well prepared and comfortable with heights can make the trail more manageable.

These are completely subjective ratings—consider that what you think is easy is entirely dependent on your level of fitness and the adequacy of your gear. If you are hiking with a group, you should select a hike with a rating that’s appropriate for the least fit and prepared in your party.

Hiking times are based on the assumption that on flat ground, most walkers average 2 miles per hour. Adjust that rate by the steepness and difficulty of the terrain and your level of fitness.

Surf crashes against Otter Point, as well as along Great Head a couple of miles away (hike 9).