10 Best Easy Hikes in Acadia National Park
Ready for an easy hike in Acadia National Park? This guide will have you out on the trail in no time!
While Acadia is known for its challenging, mountainous hikes like the Beehive, the park also has many trail that are much easier.
So, if you’re short on time, hiking with younger children, or just don’t want to challenge yourself too much during your time at Acadia, these are the hikes you’ll want to add to your itinerary.
These hikes will show you all of the beauty of coastal Maine without requiring you to overexert yourself.
In the guide below, you’ll find everything you need to know in order to pick the perfect easy hike while in Acadia National Park. I’ve included trails that generally don’t have much elevation gain, nor do they require any specific technical skills.
If you’re looking for something slightly more challenging than a flat trail, but don’t want to hang off the side of a mountain, I also have a few suggestions there. I’ve rated each of the following trails and included a full description so you’ll know exactly what you’re getting into.
The Camping Kiddos hiking on the Cadillac Summit Loop Trail
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Easy, Kid-Friendly Hiking Trails in Acadia National Park
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While my kids and I love to hike, there are plenty of times when we opt for shorter trails.
Sometimes, we’re just looking for a quick trip between tours, or we’re not feeling super motivated to do a half day hike.
Other times, we want to pack in many different experiences despite having a short amount of time in a location.
Whatever the reason, I know that you and your family also want some easier hikes in your itinerary.
The suggested hikes below are all incredible for kids visiting Acadia National Park, and I’ve selected them for their incredible views, ties to Acadia’s history, educational aspects (or, most of the time, a combination of all three!).
Sundew Trail
Location: Schoodic Peninsula
Length: up to 1 mile loop
Difficulty: very easy
The Schoodic Peninsula is the best kept secret in Acadia National Park. While most visitors flock to the Mt. Desert Island part of the park, the Schoodic Peninsula is about a 45 minute drive north. It’s worth every minute.
Here, you’ll find a scenic drive that rival the Park Loop Road in Mt. Desert Island, a hands on educational center that’s perfect if you’re visiting Acadia National Park with kids, and, of course, some great hikes.
The hike that I want to focus on is the Sundew Trail, which is made up of two loops (a smaller one inside a larger one) and takes hikers through a beautiful longleaf pine forest.
The shorter loop is only 0.3 miles and nearly all flat, so it makes for a quick stretch of the legs before you head onto the next stop in your itinerary.
If you do the larger loop, you’ll hike for a mile, passing through the forest and a pitcher plant bog, and past so many wildflowers. The latter are most prevalent in the late spring and summer, so don’t miss this trek if you’re visiting then.
The pitcher plants are one type of carnivorous plant, which means they eat bugs! These are always fun to show kids, since it’s usually the bugs that eat the plants.
There’s also a vault toilet and picnic area near the trailhead.
As you’re driving from trail to trail, be sure to have the GuideAlong audio tour for Acadia National Park playing! We love these audio tours as they add so much context and depth to our visits.
Once the guide is downloaded to your phone, you don’t need wifi, and the guide plays automatically as you reach points of interest. You’ll learn about the park’s history, important figures, suggested activities, wildlife, geology, and much more.
Jordan Pond Trail
Location: Mt. Desert Island
Length: 3 mile loop
Difficulty: easy
On a portion of boardwalk on the Jordan Pond Trail
After you’re done eating at Jordan Pond and want something to do post-popover, head down to the carriage road on the shore and hop onto the Jordan Pond Trail.
This trail is so pretty, and it’s unlike any of the other trails in the park thanks to the many small boardwalk sections along the way.
And by “boardwalk,” I really mean, “narrow walking area made from 2 boards,” so don’t think it’s somewhere you’ll be able to take a stroller or wheelchair onto.
That being said, my kids loved maneuvering along each section of boardwalk area, and then having to pause on one of the small side platforms to let hikers heading in the other direction pass us.
The loop follows the entirety of the pond’s edge. Do the entire thing if you want a good workout without hardly any elevation, or commit to just a section and then return to Jordan Pond House when you’re ready for another adventure.
As I mentioned before, the trailhead is just off of a carriage road, so this makes for a fun stop if you’re also biking around the park.
Ocean Path Trail
Location: Mt. Desert Island
Length: 2.2 miles one way (4.4 miles round trip)
Difficulty:
Acadia is known for its beautiful rocky shores and pounding surf, and this trail is perfect for taking in all of those views.
This trail, which is mostly flat, follows the coastline for 2.2 miles each way. You’ll hike alongside the shore, wander through patches of trees, and even have the opportunity to linger on Sand Beach.
There’s a trailhead at Sand Beach to the north, and another at the southernmost point of the trail near Otter Point. There are also access points along the trail, including at Thunder Hole and the Gorham Mountain Trailhead.
Keep in mind that the trailheads are all along the one-way section of Park Loop Road, so don’t miss them, or you’ll have to do the entire loop over again.
If you hike the entire thing, you’ll also pass by Thunder Hole, a crevice in the rocky shoreline that causes a plume of water to be flung up as the water rises to high tide, and Boulder Beach, which is filled with large, smooth stones instead of the sand or small rocks you’ll find elsewhere in the park.
Explore more of Acadia National Park with these posts:
Cadillac Summit Loop
Location: Mt. Desert Island
Length: 0.5 miles round-trip
Difficulty: easy
Some of the incredible views from the Cadillac Summit Loop
Located on the very top of Cadillac Mountain, the Cadillac Summit Loop is a must-do. You’ll get long range views of Bar Harbor, the Cranberry Islands, Egg Rock, Sutton Island, and the Schoodic Peninsula.
Of all of the trails, this one is my pick for the best views!
The loop takes you around a portion of the summit here, and the entire trail is paved.
There’s only about 65 feet of elevation gain throughout the hike, making this one an excellent option for families with young kids who want some incredible vacation photos of the gorgeous park without doing the Beehive or Precipice Trails.
I know a lot of people plan to see the sunrise from this part of the park, but we opted for a slightly later start around 8 AM. The crowds from sunrise had moved on, but the main crowds that build up later in the day hadn’t yet arrived.
If you’re visiting with younger kids or teens who just won’t get out of bed at 4 AM for a sunrise, consider those mid-morning hours. The fog that’s often on the water will also have mostly burnt off by this point, too.
There is parking near the trailhead, and there’s a small convenience store nearby, too. You’ll find sweatshirts, drinks, postcards, and other park items here.
If you need to use the restroom before or after hitting the trail, there are facilities attached to the convenience store.
Keep in mind that you will need to get reservations to access any part of Cadillac Mountain. Learn more about the Cadillac Mountain vehicle reservations here.
Compass Harbor Trail
Location: Mt. Desert Island
Length: 0.8 miles
Difficulty: easy
Acadia National Park is fascinating for many reasons, one being the fact that it doesn’t cover a continuous area. The main parts are scattered over Mt. Desert Island, including a couple of small pockets on the other side of Bar Harbor, the Schoodic Peninsula, and on several islands.
Compass Harbor Trail is in one of those outlying pockets. It’s located about a mile south of Bar Harbor on Main Street/Route 3.
There isn’t even a sign out by the road to let you know that you’re back in the national park, just a gravel parking area.
Because of this set up, this trail stays much quieter than any of the ones in the main Mt. Desert part of the park.
It’s also one of the most important parts of the park, in my opinion, as the Compass Harbor Trail follows in the footsteps of the man who advocated for Acadia as a national park, using up much of his personal fortune in the process.
Although the government sadly tore down George Dorr’s house decades ago, despite his pleas that it be used in perpetuity, you can still see several elements of the Oldhouse property.
There are carefully cut blocks in the inlet that once served as part of his swimming area, the long brick staircase that led from the shore to his house, and the foundation of Oldhouse.
Along the way, you can scan QR codes for an audio walking tour that teaches you about Dorr, the beginnings of Acadia, and why he felt this place specifically needed protection.
Pitcher Plant Trail
Location: Schoodic Peninsula
Length: 1 mile loop
Difficulty: very easy
If you’re interested in seeing more of the carnivorous pitcher plants that are found on the Sundew Trail (also on the Schoodic Peninsula, see above), add this to your itinerary.
You’ll see hundreds of the funnel shaped pitcher plants in the bog at the center of this trail.
You can complete the full 1 mile loop or just walk along the boardwalk if you have babies in strollers or a family member in a wheelchair. The boardwalk lasts for about 1/4 of the overall loop and is easily accessed from the parking area.
After the end of the boardwalk, you’ll find a flat dirt trail. On this section, you’ll also be able to hike through a longleaf pine forest before returning to the car.
Keep in mind that the longer Turkey Creek Trail shares part of the Pitcher Plant trail, so be careful not to take either of what look like offshoots from the Pitcher Plant trail.
Bar Island Trail
Location: Mt. Desert Island
Length: 1 mile round trip on the land bridge, additional 0.9 miles round trip on island
Difficulty: easy
My daughter waiting for the land bridge to Bar Island to slowly reveal itself
This is the most unique hike we’ve ever come across.
Each day, you can walk from Bar Harbor over to Bar Island on an exposed sand bar! In fact, this is the sand bar that gave Bar Harbor its name.
The sand bar/land bridge will begin revealing itself a few hours before low tide, and then it is fully exposed for about 3 hours total on either side of low tide.
This is something very fun and very odd about hiking across a small land bridge that was just hidden from view by the tide.
Once you’re on Bar Island, there’s a dirt trail for you to explore even more. Just watch the time!
There’s no way to get back to Bar Harbor if you don’t cross when the land bridge is exposed, and you’ll have to wait around on the island—which doesn’t have any amenities—until the next low tide 9 hours later.
Carriage Roads
Location: Mt. Desert Island
Length: up to 45 miles
Difficulty: easy
Back before this area was a national park, it was a playground for the rich and famous of the late 1800s.
These families, like the Carnegies, Astors, and Vanderbilts, called themselves “rusticators” as they attempted to rough it in their “cottages” in Bar Harbor. In reality, they were living in mansions that were more than 10,000 square feet, waited on constantly by a full staff, and living a life most of us can’t imagine.
So, it probably comes as no surprise that the carriage roads through what is now the national park are another remnant from that time period.
The 45 miles of carriage roads allowed the rusticators to get to scenic lookouts and places like Jordan Pond for picnics and summer gatherings.
Today, they’re excellent for a long hike or bike ride. While I doubt that you and your family want to take on the entire 45 mile road system during your trip, you can easily hike along one for a bit to see the parts of the park that are inaccessible to vehicles.
There are entrances to the carriage roads all over the park. See this map of the park’s carriage roads for more information on where to park and where to find access points.
Pretty Marsh Trail
Location: Mt. Desert Island
Length: 1 mile round trip
Difficulty: easy
The shoreline accessible by the Pretty Marsh Trail | source
With a trailhead located near the Pretty Marsh Picnic Area on the quiet side of Mt. Desert Island, this trail is perfect for those looking for more solitude than the Ocean Path Trail or others along Park Loop Road can provide.
While the Park Loop Road is on the Bar Harbor side of Mt. Desert Island, Pretty Marsh is one of the areas of the park on western Mt. Desert Island. Far fewer visitors venture out this year, which is a pity since there are some beautiful coastal villages and sea views in this area.
You’ll find the Pretty Marsh Trail behind a barrier along the fire road in the picnic area.
Follow the fire road down to the rocky shore. You’ll have about 65 feet of elevation loss as you head to the beach area.
Wonderland Trail
Location: Mt. Desert Island
Length: 1.4 miles round trip
Difficulty: easy
Also located on the quieter west side of Mt. Desert Island, the Wonderland Trail is an excellent option for families who want to get in a scenic hike without too much of a time commitment.
Much like the Pretty Marsh hike, above, the Wonderland Trail takes visitors through a forest down to a beautiful area of the Maine coast.
You’ll find a pebbled beach to walk along and many tide pools to explore at low tide.
The coast where we’re from is so different than the Maine coast, so tidepooling in Acadia was one of my kids’ favorite activities. Learn more about tidepooling in Acadia National Park here.
Challenge: North or South Bubble Trail
Location: Mt. Desert Island
Length: 1.5 miles round trip
Difficulty: moderate
The Camping Kiddos at the precipice of North Bubble Trail with Jordan Pond below
If you want something a little more challenging than the other trails on this list, you can try the North or South Bubble Trails. South Bubble tends to be more popular, but North Bubble provides just as pretty of views.
(Both North and South Bubble share the same trailhead, so you could do both at the same time if you’re up to it.)
What makes this more difficult than the others on this list is the elevation gain. There are several points in the trail where you’re climbing stairs made out of rock, and we definitely had to take a few breaks along the way.
However, both of my kids did just fine with this hike, and we saw several other families on the trail at the same time as we were there.
The trailhead is just north of Jordan Pond on the Park Loop Road.
Final Thoughts on Easy Hiking in Acadia
You cannot go wrong with any of the hikes I’ve recommended above!
There’s something for every family, whether that’s incredible long range views, historical artifacts, or natural wonders.
These hikes are perfect examples that you don’t need to go on multi-hour hikes to truly delve into a place, and Acadia is no exception.
You’ll still want to wear comfortable hiking shoes, and bring the basics for hiking beginners, so that you’re ready for whatever the trail throws at you.
Wherever you find yourself in Acadia National Park, have a great time with these fun hikes!
