Top Things to do in Acadia National Park
5 Things to do Good for Adrenaline Seekers in Acadia National Park That You Shouldn't Miss
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1. Cadillac Mountain
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 3,467 reviews
The East Coast's highest mountain at 1,530 feet and Acadia's best known sight.
Reviewed By 866TaylorB - Chicago, United States
Cadillac Mountain in Acadia National Park on Maine's Mount Desert Island is, at 1, 532 feet, the highest point along the North Atlantic Seaboard and the first place in the United States to be touched by the light of a rising sun from October 7 through March 6 of each year. How's that for a notable piece of trivia? It also is the only mountain on Mount Desert Island--there are more than 20 of them--that has a road that travels all the way to the summit. The 3.5-mile road to the top opened in 1931. Cadillac Mountain is composed largely of pink granite, giving it a strong reddish appearance at sunrise or sunset. Spruce and pitch pine are the dominant trees on the mountain combined with tiny subalpine plants and wild blueberries. Views? Look in every direction. To the East, there is the Schoodic Peninsula on the mainland. There are several islands off the coast of Mount Desert Island, including Sheep Porcupine and Bald Porcupine. To the Northeast is the business district of Bar Harbor. To the North is Trenton. To the South is Islesford. To the Southwest is Southwest Harbor. To the West is Eagle Lake and Blue Hill Mountain. Yes, it is more scenic than a trip to the top of Pike's Peak in Colorado.
2. Precipice Trail
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 251 reviews
Half-mile long trail for experienced hikers at Acadia.
Reviewed By SteelCity13 - Austin, United States
Really enjoyed the workout that I got this morning but I didnt expect to climb a mountain when I set out to do some hiking. This trail is INTENSE! Dont go if its raining or has been raining, get there early! Like 7 AM early. You dont want to do this trail when tons of people are on it. Its challenging but do able. You CANNOT be afraid of heights and do this trail. I think this trail is the craziness hike i have every done or will ever do. The one great thing about the hike is that there are metal rails everywhere to help you get up the straight up parts of the hike. If you want a challenge a big challenge then try this hike. Also remember that this hike is only one way!
3. Champlain Mountain & Beehive Loop Trail
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 564 reviews
Reviewed By 130ashleyb - Yountville, United States
Fun hike! After reading many reviews, my husband and I took this hike on our recent trip to Acadia. We knew that we needed to get there early, and so glad we did! If you get there any later than 10am you'll be less likely to find parking and the trail starts filling up- which means you'll be hanging on the side of a mountain waiting for 200 other people to scramble up the ladders. Quick warning for the fair skinned - this trail is 75% exposed to the sun, so make sure to apply sunscreen before you go.
4. Pemetic Mountain
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 23 reviews
Reviewed By jamieleigh84 - London, Canada
There are 4 routes up to the summit, and we chose the most difficult, the Northwest route, up from the Bubbles parking lot. This was a very challenging hike/climb, with a lot of scrambling over rocks. We took the ravine path going up (which was very cool), and came down the ledge route (which I slid down on my butt). This was quite a hard hike, but we were rewarded by the amazing views at the top.
5. Bubble Rock
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 358 reviews
Reviewed By danihawk - New York City, United States
We combined the nature trail around Jordan Pond with the Bubbles Trail up to the South Bubble (and Bubble Rock) and the Bubbles Divide Trail on the way down. We arrived around 11am, waited half an hour for parking and made it to Jordan Pond House for Popovers around 3pm, with lots of stopping to take pictures. We're in decent shape but pretty inexperienced hikers and this route gave us a good mix of adventure and leisurely hiking through the woods, but it's not for everyone. You definitely need hiking boots. The hike from Jordan Pond up to the South Bubble is steep and involves puling yourself up large boulders up near the summit. My husband had to give me a boost up one of them, and we saw a family with two girls around 8 and 10 who turned around because there was a point they couldn't get past. I do not recommend going down this trail, although we saw a few people doing it. The views of Jordan Pond are absolutely stunning-definitely stop to take them in and get some photos! Bubble Rock is also pretty cool and makes for some fun photo opps. Taking the Bubbles Divide trail down is much more gentle and we saw people of all ages (and pups!) taking that trail up and down. Bubble Rock + Jordan Pond are on my "must-see" list for your first visit to Acadia, along with Ocean Trail.
