Things to Do in Acadia & Coastal Maine
From dawn hikes up Cadillac Mountain to midnight stargazing over Jordan Pond — Acadia rewards every kind of explorer.
8 activities covered below
Hiking
113 miles of maintained trails
Acadia's trail system ranges from easy walking paths to challenging scrambles up exposed granite peaks. The park's 113 miles of maintained trails include routes for every fitness level.
Tip: Download the NPS Acadia app for offline trail maps and GPS tracking before your hike.
Highlights
Jordan Pond Loop
3.4 mi, flat, beginner-friendly, stunning views
Ocean Path
2.2 mi, flat, connects Sand Beach to Otter Point
Acadia Mountain Trail
2.5 mi, moderate, views of Somes Sound
Beehive Trail
1.6 mi, challenging, iron rungs on exposed granite
Cadillac South Ridge
7.0 mi, strenuous, summit panorama
Cycling
45 miles of historic carriage roads
John D. Rockefeller Jr.'s gift to Acadia — 45 miles of broken-stone carriage roads with 17 hand-cut granite bridges. Motor vehicles are prohibited. The network is ideal for road bikes and hybrids.
Tip: Rent bikes in Bar Harbor at Acadia Bike or Bar Harbor Bicycle Shop. Both are within walking distance of the Village Green.
Highlights
Eagle Lake Loop
5.8 mi, easy, follows the lakeshore
Witch Hole Pond Loop
3.6 mi, easy, classic autumn foliage ride
Jordan Pond–Bubble Pond
6.2 mi, moderate, connects two ponds
Around the Mountain
11 mi, moderate, the full carriage road loop
Whale Watching
Best June–October, Gulf of Maine
The Gulf of Maine's cold, plankton-rich waters draw humpback, finback, minke, and rare North Atlantic right whales. Bar Harbor whale watch boats travel 8–15 miles offshore to find feeding whales.
Tip: Book morning trips for calmer seas. Afternoon winds can make the crossing rough, especially in July and August.
Highlights
Humpback Whales
The acrobats — best known for breaching
Finback Whales
Second-largest animal on Earth, common in the Gulf
Harbor Porpoise
Spotted on most trips, especially near shore
Bald Eagles
Frequently seen along the coast on whale watch routes
Sea Kayaking
Guided tours and rentals available
Paddling the island-studded coast of Downeast Maine is a world-class experience. Multiple outfitters in Bar Harbor offer guided sunrise tours, sunset paddles, and multi-day island expeditions.
Tip: For beginners, book a guided tour rather than renting. Tides, currents, and fog make self-guided paddling risky without experience.
Highlights
Bar Island
Paddle to the island or walk the tidal bar at low tide
Porcupine Islands
Circumnavigate these uninhabited islands from Bar Harbor
Northeast Creek
Sheltered flat-water paddling ideal for beginners
Isle au Haut
Day trips to this remote Acadia island via sea kayak or ferry
Stargazing
Dark-sky programming, Acadia Night Sky Festival
Acadia was designated an International Dark Sky Park in 2021. The annual Night Sky Festival (September) brings astronomers, photography workshops, and ranger-led stargazing events.
Tip: Download the NightCap or SkySafari app. The Milky Way is visible on clear, moonless nights from late June through September.
Highlights
Cadillac Mountain Summit
Best elevation for stars, away from coastal fog
Seawall Campground
Southwest Harbor, less light pollution than Bar Harbor
Sand Beach at midnight
Milky Way reflects in calm tide pools
Night Sky Festival (Sept)
Annual event with equipment, programs, and experts
Birding
338+ species recorded in the park
Acadia sits in a critical Atlantic Flyway corridor. The park has recorded over 338 bird species, and the peregrine falcon nesting on Precipice Trail is one of Maine's most celebrated conservation success stories.
Tip: Visit Jordan Pond at dawn for loons. The quiet before the crowds is worth the early alarm.
Highlights
Peregrine Falcon
Nests on Champlain Mountain; Precipice trail may close during nesting
Common Loon
Jordan Pond and Eagle Lake in early morning
Atlantic Puffin
Best via boat tour to offshore islands (Petit Manan NWR)
Osprey
Fishing over every lake and harbor in the park
Tidepooling
Best 2 hours before/after low tide
Acadia's rocky intertidal zone is one of the richest in New England. A world of sea urchins, periwinkles, hermit crabs, anemones, and rockweed hides in plain sight at low tide.
Tip: Wear waterproof boots with ankle support. The rocks are slippery. Always check tide tables before visiting.
Highlights
Wonderland Trail
Short trail to exceptional intertidal habitat, Ship Harbor
Seal Cove
Cobble beach and rocky shores on the quiet west side
Frazer Point (Schoodic)
Calm, accessible tidal pools away from main-island crowds
Little Cranberry Island
Island tidal pools with minimal visitor pressure
Sailing & Boat Tours
Historic schooners, sunset sails, puffin tours
Bar Harbor's working harbor is home to historic windjammer schooners, whale watching boats, puffin tours, and charter fishing vessels. A sunset sail on a historic schooner is one of the great Maine experiences.
Tip: Book the Margaret Todd schooner's sunset sail early — it's one of the most popular activities in Bar Harbor and sells out.
Highlights
Margaret Todd Schooner
4-masted windjammer, sunset and daytime sails from Bar Harbor
Puffin & Petrel Tours
Seabird tours to nesting islands, early morning departures
Sea Princess Cruise
Northeast Harbor, scenic naturalist cruise around the Cranberry Isles
Charter Fishing
Striped bass, bluefish, and mackerel, July through September