Acadia - Park Loop Road

Day 1 · ~5.0 mi (8.0 km)

1. 

   1

   Sand Beach

   Newport Cove off the one-way loop; a beach made mostly of shell, between Great Head and the Beehive

   Morning · 60 min · $$

   Walk down to the beach, dip a toe in the cold Gulf of Maine, and look out to the ledge called Old Soaker breaking the surf.

2. 

   2

   The Beehive

   behind Sand Beach; 520-foot granite dome climbed by rungs and ladders

   Morning · 120 min · $$

   Look up at the dome from the Sand Beach lot; if you are fit and dry-footed, climb the 1.4-mile loop with its iron rungs and ladders and look straight down onto the beach.

3. 

   3

   Champlain Mountain

   Park Loop Road; 1,058-foot peak above the east shore, with the iron-rung Precipice Trail on its face

   Morning · 20 min · $$

   Stop below the east face to look up at the cliff, and watch for peregrine falcons, which nest on these cliffs.

4. 

   4

   The Tarn

   beside Route 3 south of Sieur de Monts; shallow pond between Dorr and Champlain Mountains, turning back into meadow

   Morning · 30 min · $$

   Walk the level Kane Path along the west shore, crossing the big stepping stones at the water's edge, and look for waterfowl and frogs.

5. 

   5

   Sieur de Monts Spring

   about two miles along the loop from Hulls Cove; the spring, nature center and Wild Gardens where Acadia began

   Morning · 45 min · $$

   See the spring under its Florentine-style canopy, then walk the Wild Gardens of Acadia, laid out to mimic the island's habitats; more than 70 bird species turn up here.

Day 2 · ~2.9 mi (4.7 km)

1. 

   1

   Gorham Mountain

   0.3 mile past Thunder Hole; 525-foot ridge over Frenchman Bay, with old sea caves on the Cadillac Cliffs

   Morning · 120 min · $$

   Hike the open ridge for views over Frenchman Bay and the outer islands; take the Cadillac Cliffs side trail to see small sea caves cut when the sea stood about 250 feet higher.

2. 

   2

   Thunder Hole

   just under two miles past Sand Beach; carved inlet where trapped air booms as waves rush in

   Any time · 30 min · $$

   Arrive one to two hours before high tide and wait at the rail for a wave to slam into the inlet; at low tide, take the stairs down to see the carved walls.

3. 

   3

   Otter Cliff

   past Thunder Hole on Ocean Drive; pink granite sea cliff, a climbers' favorite

   Morning · 30 min · $$

   Walk out from the overlook for the view down the cliff to the sea, and watch climbers working up the pink granite.

4. 

   4

   Otter Cove

   end of Ocean Drive; the loop road crosses the cove on a stone causeway

   Any time · 15 min · $$

   Pull over at the cove and look back across the causeway toward the mountains, especially as the light drops.