10 Best Sights in Acadia National Park and Mount Desert Island, Maine

This easily accessible 4.4-mile round-trip trail runs parallel to the Ocean Drive section of the Park Loop Road from Sand Beach to Otter Point. It has some of the best scenery in Maine: cliffs and boulders of pink granite at the ocean's edge, twisted branches of dwarf jack pines, and ocean views that stretch to the horizon. Be sure to save time to stop at Thunder Hole, named for the sound the waves make as they thrash through a narrow opening in the granite cliffs, into a sea cave, and whoosh up and out. It's roughly halfway between Sand Beach and Otter Cliff, with steps leading down to the water to watch the wave action close up. Use caution as you descend (access may be limited due to storms), and also if you venture onto the outer cliffs along this walk. Easy.

If you're up for a challenge, this is one of the area's best hikes. The 3.9-mile round-trip loop summits both St. Sauveur and Acadia mountains. Ascents and descents are steep and strenuous, but the views of Somes Sound and beyond are grand. The hike begins at the Acadia Mountain trailhead. For a shorter excursion, follow the fire road that connects with the Acadia Mountain Trail section of the loop. Difficult.

Popular with birders, the Alder trail heads inland, passing fruit trees and alder bushes on an easy 1.2-mile out-and-back hike, but many hit the grassy path as part of a near-loop with the challenging 1.1-mile Anvil Trail, since trailheads for both are near the Blueberry Hill parking area on the loop road (you must cross the road to get to them). Steep and heavily rooted in sections as it climbs Schoodic Head, Anvil requires lots of rock climbing but rewards with wonderful water and island views from the rock knob overlook (side trail) for which it's named. After connecting with Schoodic Head Trail from Alder or Anvil, it's not far to the top of Schoodic Head, where expansive views of the surrounding seascape and landscape await.

A unique payoff awaits on this 1.2-mile round-trip hike: a fire lookout tower where you can enjoy views of Somes Sound, Echo Lake, Acadia Mountain, and beyond from its platform. The forested and rocky trail is popular with sunset seekers, who are reminded to carry appropriate clothing and headlamps for the descent. Moderate.

The mostly exposed 4.4-mile round-trip summit hike rewards with expansive views of Bar Harbor, Frenchman Bay, and the Schoodic Peninsula for much of the way. The trail is worth undertaking at either sunrise or sunset (or both!). Parking can be limited, especially in high season, so park officials recommend taking the Island Explorer bus for access via a 0.1-mile section of the Kebo Brook Trail. Moderate.

Just beyond Bar Harbor proper, this easy 0.8-mile round-trip trail through woods to the shore passes through land that belonged to George B. Dorr—Acadia National Park’s first superintendent and a key player in its creation. Views extend to Ironbound Island across Frenchman Bay, and you can check out remnants of Dorr's estate, including the manor house's foundation, remains of a saltwater pool, stone steps to the ocean, and old gardens and apple trees. Easy.

You can drive up or walk up to the 440-foot summit —the highest point in these Acadia lands—along a narrow 1-mile gravel road. It's unmarked, so watch for it 2½ miles from the start of the one-way portion of Schoodic Loop Road. Prefer an actual hiking trail? You've got options: plot your course for an easier or longer way up, or down. Starting at Schoodic Woods Campground, Buck Cove Mountain Trail—Schoodic's longest at 3.2 miles—summits its namesake before climbing Schoodic Head’s north face. On the southeastern side, the challenging 1.1-mile Anvil trail links with 0.6-mile Schoodic Head Trail to the summit, as does the easy 0.6-mile Alder Trail. Trailheads for both are along the loop drive near the Blueberry Hill parking area; hikers often combine them. A bit farther is a terminus for the ½-mile East Trail; this challenging, steep climb up Schoodic Head’s east face connects, near the summit, with Schoodic Head Trail. Regardless of your route, on a clear day atop Schoodic Head, spectacular views flow across the forested peninsula and island-dotted Frenchman Bay to Cadillac Mountain.

Popular with families and birders, this 1.3-mile figure-8 trail loops through woods and follows a sheltered cove where you may spot great blue herons feeding in the mudflats during low tide. Easy

Located at the southern tip of remote Isle au Haut, Western Head is accessible by foot or bicycle from the Town Landing. There are no amenities, so be sure to pack plenty of water and snacks. Western Head Trail is most often hiked as a loop that includes Western Head Road and Cliff Trail (bicycles are not allowed on trails). Starting from Duck Harbor (the ferry doesn’t drop bikes off here, only at the Town Landing) on the unpaved road, it's approximately 4 miles round-trip. Once off the wooded road, the trail alternates between forest and volcanic rock clifftop, with opportunities to go off-course and explore the rocky shoreline. Dramatic coastal cliff views are your reward for visiting perhaps the most remote corner of Acadia National Park.