Things to do in Acadia National Park
Top Things to Do in Acadia National Park - Acadia National Park Must-See Attractions
Things to Do in Acadia National Park
Check out must-see sights and activities:
Cadillac Mountain, Park Loop Road, Hiking Trails, Mountains. For personalised recommendations, try our AI trip-planning product.
Cadillac Mountain, Park Loop Road, Hiking Trails, Mountains. For personalised recommendations, try our AI trip-planning product.
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Book these experiences for a close-up look at Acadia National Park.
Historical Toursfromper adultR 1 691
Adventure Toursfromper adultR 3 583
Historical Toursfromper group (up to 5)R 12 731
Historical Toursfromper adultR 2 892
Audio GuidesfromR 309per group (up to 4)R 279
Adventure Toursfromper adult (price varies by group size)R 9 953
Adventure Toursfromper adultR 5 438
Historical Toursfromper group (up to 15)R 173
Spring Breakfromper adultR 1 166
Adventure Toursfromper adult (price varies by group size)R 11 753
Mountains
Coastal national park with panoramic vistas, renowned for sunrise viewing from the highest peak on the eastern seaboard. Reservations needed; features multiple trails and vibrant sunsets.
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Scenic Drives
Beaches
Scenic coastal beach surrounded by rocky cliffs and trails, providing picturesque views and opportunities for hiking and relaxation on its unique crushed shell sand.
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Historic Walking Areas
Tranquil carriage roads with shaded gravel paths ideal for biking and walking, showcasing diverse landscapes, serene ponds, and stunning mountain and ocean vistas.
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Hiking Trails
Hiking Trails
Moderately challenging mountain trail with panoramic views and varied terrains, including rock scrambles and coastal paths. Ideal for hikers ready for adventure.
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Geologic Formations
Scenic coastal trail with serene hikes along rocky cliffs and shoreline views, providing opportunities to observe seals and tidepools in a less crowded area of the park.
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Bodies of Water
Coastal trail with scenic ocean views and geological wonders, ideal for rock scrambling and catching the dramatic sounds of the waves during high tide.
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Other Top Attractions around Acadia National Park
*Likely to sell out: Based on Viator’s booking data and information from the provider from the past 30 days, it seems likely this experience will sell out through Viator, a Tripadvisor company.
What travellers are saying
- UNCtarheel84Raleigh, NC39 contributionsWe booked a 4:30 am first light sunrise shuttle with Cadillac Mountain Sunrise Shuttle. It was an easy, affordable way to get to experience the sunrise without stressing about finding our way. (You will need a park pass) We enjoyed a narrated ride on the way up and down. We lucked out with clear weather and not too cold. We live on the NC coast so see our fair share of beautiful sunrises and this one was worth the hype.Written 12 September 2024This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
- summertime66Bethlehem, PA175 contributionsThis is a fantastic way to see the park! We had a wonderful time and really enjoyed the time in the park!! Everything was so clear and easy to find!Written 12 September 2024This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
- BangkokSachseBangkok, Thailand51 485 contributionsWe went to the Sand Beach at 9.30am. We parked our car on the park loop road about 0.2 miles from the beach. The parking was almost full. You could wait for a parking in the lot or park on the road. Or you take a shuttle to Ssnd Beach from Hulls Cove Visitor Center. The beach is beautiful. Some people swam at the beach. There are change rooms and restrooms at beach.Written 22 August 2024This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
- Gina MNewtown, CT30 contributionsViews were stunning! Do not go on this if you’re afraid of heights; there is exposed-face climbing on rungs and rocks. My 9 year old is 4’4” and there were a couple of places it was a challenge for her to reach the next rung or foothold. Overall we loved it and it was an invigorating beautiful hike. Tip: 1) Once you cross the iron-rung bridge, you’re past the scariest narrow part! 2) You really can’t go back once you get to the rungs. You have to just keep going.Written 1 July 2024This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
- AGBWatertown, CT109 contributionsOur family loved this! We arrived after a long drive and we were worried about rain, but we went anyway. We parked on 233 at the north end of Eagle Lake and walked our bikes onto the carriage roads. Then, we planned to go to the Jordan restaurant at the southern tip of Jordan Pond or maybe around the lake! The trails were perfect gravel roads for our family, but my youngest (7) had yet to move up to a gear bike so the long hills were a bit hard on her. She made it though! We stopped for views and counting frogs, and the trails were easy to follow when combining the signs with the a photo of the online map. It was gorgeous!
A few tips: there isn't any cell reception on the trails, so download an offline map on Google maps before you go.
The Jordan Restaurant is packed. We didn't stay and opted for our own snacks instead.
It's more hilly than we thought it was going to be. Fine for adults, but my 7 and 10 kids were toasted after 10 mi.
Watch out for all the e-bike rentals. They go way too fast and don't have healthy respect or understanding for the kiddos struggling up a hill on their bikes. A couple times I was pretty scared we'd get knocked.
From the top of Eagle Lake to the tip of Jordan Pond and back took us about 2 hours with stops. We went about 9.5 miles by my watch.Written 3 August 2024This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews. - Marty BielickiStuart, FL15 470 contributionsLooking out from the Jordan Pond Restaurant, there are two ways to go. Going “right” is the easy part of this trail. Going left is a harder part due to the boulders which I would like to forget. Read on to see why.
Going right is easy, flat and has many vistas of the pond—more like a lake. You will not be the only ones on this trail though. We did see one Park Ranger who made her rounds around the lake.
The path is 3.1 miles long around the deepest and 2nd largest lake in the park. One can kayak and canoe on the pond, but no swimming allowed as Jordan Pond is a watershed for surrounding communities.
As you round the bend on the other side, the boulders will start increasing. It is on one of those “flat” boulders that my wife began to wobble. I caught her just in time before falling over towards the water—where there are more boulders.
As she was moving forwards, I stepped on the same boulder where she just wobbled from. I did not wobble. I just fell towards the lake.
Luckily, a number of hikers had bandages and wipes to help me. I fell right between a crevice of boulders. I was definitely bleeding.
Maybe it is from my college football days, I did not suffer any broken bones. My ego was shattered though—completely. How did I fall?
My wife insisted that we go back on the “easy” side of the pond. I had escaped a major tragedy. There is no cell service that far out.
We toasted with a beer at Jordan Pond restaurant (a review posted for that too) and had a delicious popover with strawberry jam and butter.
If you found this review to be helpful in any way, please press “Thumbs-up” to let me know.Written 6 September 2024This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews. - JenOSarasota, FL3 contributionsSpanning almost 6 years between visits, I have climbed and hiked Acadia National Park's famed Precipice Path Trail on 2 separate occasions.
In August 2022, when traveling with a hiking friend, we successfully hiked Precipice Path/Trail and Beehive Path/Trail on the same day.
Comparing the two hikes:
Precipice is a long hike with slippery rungs and moss, making for some scary areas.
Beehive has an area prior to the climb where the rocks are slick and several hikers slipped. These hikers were not at the edge of the mountain and were not in any danger or falling off the face of the cliff.
Beehive has far better views.
Both hikes (Precipice and Beehive) have routes down the mountain which are difficult to navigate. Hikers are discouraged from going down via the "climb" and rungs on both hikes.
Precipice is easier to navigate going down but you will need to walk along the road to get to your vehicle and trailhead. We were lucky enough on the hike in 2022 to catch the shuttle back to our vehicle.
Again I stress that the Precipice first rung series is the hardest. If you can do this, then all the other rungs will be easily managed.
This was my review in October 2016:
Preparation:
I watched the youtube videos and read the reviews well in advance. I prepared mentally and stayed in average shape prior to my trip to Acadia in September of 2016. Despite the foreboding elder at the trailhead warning me of the man who died earlier this year on the way down after reaching the summit, I remained confident that my boyfriend and I would make it to the top without any problems. It was an overcast day and we had been cautioned that the rocks could be slippery and we should tread carefully.
Toward the Summit:
Through the mist we made our way up the Precipice trail to the test rungs, which I only passed by throwing my pack up first then climbing up. I didn't have to throw my pack again which indicates the "test" is harder than any of the ladders and rungs along the trail. In my opinion, the rock scramble was the hardest part of this hike. I felt relatively safe throughout the hike and experienced no "fear of heights" (acrophobia). Reaching the summit was a rewarding experience.
Navigation skills required to hike down Champlain Mountain:
There are several ways to come down Champlain Mountain, the least recommended is the Precipice Trail. Reviews indicated the best route down would be via the Champlain Mountain North Ridge Trail (formerly Bear Brook Trail) which terminates on Park Loop Road just north of the Precipice Trailhead. There were several hikers we encountered who had planned the aforementioned route but took a wrong turn on the way down and ended up coming down Precipice Trail. I was convinced that I did not want to have the same fate and carefully read the signs and confirmed with my boyfriend who was following the trail on his Garmin. Bates' cairns and blue arrows guide the hiker in finding their way down and posted signs assist when selecting the correct route when there is a forks in the trail.
Highlights:
Climbing the ladders and rungs. Making the way to the summit and reaching the summit. Some say the view is amazing but we had too much mist/fog during our hike to have any photos worth posting. During my walk back to the car, I passed a large bird who quickly went into flight just as I noticed her. This bird was most likely a peregrine falcon. I have now learned that he females can be as large as 3 lbs.
Recommendation:
I am a beginner hiker but I have a few summits I have reached. I do not run or work out but I remain active throughout the year. I never recommend watching the sunset from the summit, as you will then be left coming down in the dark. This is a must do hike for the experience of the ladders and rungs.Written 26 January 2023This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews. - GoHawksAnkenyIowaAnkeny, IA645 contributionsModerate hike, slightly uphill , path is mixed with dirt , tree roots and rocks. If was foggy today when we hiked so didn’t have a great view…but rock was massive. Got there at 8:15 and parking lot was half full but when we left cars were waiting for spots.Written 29 July 2024This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
- Rebecca BBondurant, IA6 contributionsSo much fun! And the views are amazing! We took the Cadillac Cliff trail and enjoyed the little bit of challenge it provided. I would absolutely do this again!Written 12 September 2024This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
- joshandjenna117Charleston, SC38 contributionsThis is a really great trail. There are a couple more challenging points, but for the intermediate-skilled hiker this was perfect. We saw a small child also hiking with parents here, but not sure if they were able to navigate the most challenging point. There are several different ways to complete this trail, and we chose to start at the Schooner parking lot which worked out well for us. We hiked it counter-clockwise, but you could easily go the opposite way.Written 1 July 2024This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
- MBones7Westfield, NJ95 contributionsSmall parking area so get there early. Fairly easy walk down to Otter Point and the views are fantastic. Wish it were longer and on a loop but well worth it.Written 24 August 2024This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
- BraggadocioMinneapolis, MN52 contributionsTalk about crowds... try to go a little off-season, or at least arrive at this post early or later. Mid-afternoons this scenic spot is jam-packed. There's a small store that sells souvenirs and soft drinks just across the road -- small parking lot and port-a-potties. The steps down to the shore aren't bad, but down on the platform be careful because it can be slippery. (We saw a rambunctious someone slip and fall.) You might get splashed on the platform when the tide's coming in.Written 2 September 2024This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
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