Acadia National Park Hikes off the Beaten Path

If you prefer views without the crowds, this post is for you. But first, let's talk about the difference between Acadia, Bar Harbor, and Mount Desert Island. This can be confusing, even for someone who lives in Maine. Here's the simple breakdown:

Mount Desert Island is the largest island in Maine at 108 square miles. It's located off the north-central coast and includes four towns - Bar Harbor, Southwest Harbor, Northeast Harbor, and Tremont. Bar Harbor, located on the northeast coast of the island, is where you'll find all of the shops and restaurants...and the summer tourists. On the west side of the island is Southwest Harbor, known as the "quiet side," where visitors can experience the park's natural beauty withouth the large crowds. This is where we like to hike.

Acadia National Park is a 49,000-acre recreation area that occupies about half of Mount Desert Island. It also includes Schoodic Peninsula (about an hour drive to the northeast) and parts of Isle au Haut, south of Mount Desert Island.

A park pass is required when hiking in the park and finding a parking spot can be tricky for the most popular hikes like Cadillac Mountain, Thunder Hole, Sand Beach, Jordan Pond, and the Beehive Trail. I won't be sharing those hikes with you today, because we prefer the lesser known, less crowded hikes on Mount Desert Island. If you're seeking views without the crowds, here are three hikes to explore:

1. Beech Cliff Trail via Beech Cliff Loop, Southwest Harbor

This 1.4 mile loop trail with an elevation gain of 547 feet. The trail offers stunning views of Echo Lake and connects with the Beech Mtn Trail for a longer hike. There are four ladders on this trail, so be prepared to test your fear of heights! Dogs are not allowed here and Acadia National Park fees are required. Find details on park passes here and updates on trail closures due to falcon nesting and storm damage here.

2. Beech Mountain Trail, Southwest Harbor

This hike includes a 1.2-mile loop with an elevation gain of 351 feet. The summit is a great spot for sunsets, and a quick and easy alternative to Cadillac Mountain, which now requires reservations. This loop leads to one of the remaining fire towers in the area, with views of Long Pond and Mansell Mountain.

3. Bald Peak and Parkman Mountain Loop, Acadia National Park

If you're looking for a family-friendly hike in Acadia, this 2.8-mile loop offers two peaks with panoramic views from open granite summits, some fun rock scrambling, and easy parking with an outhouse at the trailhead. Scrambling over large sections of rock is required, but kids will welcome the challenge and tackle it effortlessly. We did this hike with 15 family members ranging in age from 9 to early 50's and it was enjoyed by all.

Other favorite hikes in the park include the Penboscot Mountain and Gorham Mountain Loop. Although parking can be more challenging at these trailheads during the peak season.

I've decided there's no bad hike on Mount Desert Island...just bad crowds in certain areas. We usually visit in late May or early June, before the busy tourist season and although we only come for a couple of days, we never leave without squeezing in a hike!