Acadia Hiking Tips

For Hiking Safety & Enjoyment

Our Acadia hiking tips will help keep you safe, happy, and having fun while hiking at Acadia!

One of the best things about Acadia is that almost anyone can hike there. There are trails suitable for nearly any ability, age, and preference. But that accessibility can also fool people into hiking beyond their abilities...

Hiking is a great recreational sport. It provides unmatched opportunities for bonding between family members, as well as great exercise. And there's nothing like experiencing nature in all her glory and breathing in fresh air for hours.

But, if you take on a hiking trail that you're not in shape for or you don't bring the right kinds of gear or wear the right clothing, you could be putting yourself—and others—in danger.

So, make sure you follow these basic hiking tips...

Stay Safe at Acadia: Hiking Tips

One of the best ways to see the "real" Acadia is to go hiking. Even though Acadia can be a very busy place in the summer months, we always found that once we got off on the hiking trails, it got pretty quiet. The solitude is great, but it also means that help may not be "just around the corner" if you get in trouble. So go prepared...

Wear the right shoes.
I never get over the people I've seen hiking rocky paths in heeled sandals or flip flops. My best Acadia hiking tip is that—if you plan to hike much—you invest in a comfortable pair of real hiking boots.

Ankle high boot provide good heel and ankle support that is important when you're climbing up and down steep rocky trails. But if you don't want boots, you might try "low hikers."

I bought a pair of those when I went on a hiking trip to Scotland, because I didn't want to have to lug a heavy pair of boots across the Atlantic. Low hikers look like running shoes, but they provide more rigid support and are usually made from water resistant materials. I've worn mine all kinds of hikes out in the foothills of the Rockies, and they provide comfort along with solid support.

If you don't think you'll be hiking much beyond your Acadia vacation, then you can probably get away with a good pair of comfortable sneakers or walking shoes. Just be sure they have a good tread on the bottom (no smooth soles!) and that they fit well.

Wear/bring the right clothes.
Weather can change quickly in Acadia (like most places), with fog rolling in unexpectedly and temperatures dropping suddenly. Did you know that you can die of hypothermia in temperatures as high as the 50s? It can also be super windy at the top of all the Acadia mountains and that wind is cold even in mid-summer!

So, no matter how warm it might seem when you start out at the trailhead, it's a good idea to follow this hiking tip and bring along a jacket or sweatshirt... just in case. Rain gear can also be extremely helpful. It rains a lot in Acadia.

Get more packing tips here...

Plan your hiking route carefully.
Two things that make Acadia hiking fun for beginner hikers are that trails are well-marked and the park just isn't that big. So getting completely lost in the wilds is fairly unlikely. But... you can still get off track and if you do, spending even a few hours lost can be unpleasant and scary.

So, another important hiking tip is to get yourself a good guidebook, a topographical map, or detailed route instructions. Our absolute favorite Acadia hiking book is A Walkin' the Park, by Tom St. Germain. We bought our first edition on our first trip in 1992, and we bought 2 newer additions since then. Booklovers, we've bought other hiking books too... but NONE have been as good as that one that's also a favorite of locals.

You can find detailed descriptions and hiking tips for some of our favorite hikes here on Discover Acadia too.

Pick hiking trails that are right for you.
There are some extremely challenging trails at Acadia, either because of their length, the amount of climbing up and down, or more difficult features such as ladders, huge steps, and wooden bridges on cliff edges. These trails aren't going to be right for the casual hiker.

I remember the day before we arrived for our Acadia vacation in the year 2000, someone got disoriented on Beehive Trail—one of the shortest, but most challenging trails on the island—and fell off a cliff to his death. You wouldn't think it could happen at Acadia... but it can... and does.

Some trails meander along a ridge or through a meadow. Others climb up a steep incline that you nearly have to crawl up. Others may require you to scramble over couch-sized boulders for a half mile. Choose the trail that is right for your abilities and fitness level. Hiking isn't much fun if you're gasping for breath or your muscles are screaming in pain.

Hike safely.
Don't take unnecessary risks or perform daredevil stunts while hiking. It's not worth it. And remember these 2 things about rocks:

• They're slippery when wet, even with hiking boots on.
• They often shift suddenly.

Be a Conscientious Hiker

In the Acadia autotour, the narrator talks about the "fragile ecosystem" in Acadia, which might sound overdramatic to some. But the truth is that hikers are honor bound to be guardians of the environment on the trails they traverse. So take my hiking tip and do your part... and learn how to Leave No Trace when you hike.

I think there are certain courtesies that should be followed on the trail too...

• Always be friendly to those whom you meet along the way. A pleasant smile and at least a brief greeting go a long way towards keeping the trail ambience a positive one.

• Yield to faster or older hikers... or younger ones. Or heck, yield to anyone, if it seems like the nice thing to do. Some trails are too narrow to allow comfortable passing, so if you're meeting someone head on, one of you will need to "pull off" while the other party passes. If someone faster is trying to overtake you from behind, always yield to them.

• Restrain your dog. No matter how friendly you know he is, some people are not "dog people" and they won't appreciate your dog jumping up on them or even sniffing at them. (More tips for hiking with dogs)

Feed Your Soul... and Your Belly

Hiking is a fun activity, and great for families. But you'll enjoy it even more if you have something to look forward to. We call it the "reward" for the hike, and looking for your hiking reward is one of the best Acadia hiking tips we can give you.

Rewards are pretty easy to find on Acadia hiking trails if you look for them... from the view at the top of rocky peak... to waves crashing against the rocks... to the lonely buoy bells in the bay... to tide pools teeming with life... and so on.

The trails we've reviewed above all offer ample rewards for your efforts. But, as you start choosing and planning your own Acadia hiking trails loops, make sure you look for the rewards too!

Acadia hiking is day hiking, but that doesn't mean you can go unprepared. Follow the safety tips we covered above. Also, since most of the hikes take a few hours, bring food. :-)

We always pack a lunch and try to eat that at an especially beautiful spot along the way... such as the top of an Acadia peak. But, you may also want to bring an energy-boosting snack, such as a granola bar, trail mix, or a piece of fruit.

And bring water... lots of it. Climbing and hiking are strenuous and you will get thirsty. There are no water fountains along the trail, so you need to bring your own.

Be Prepared for Bad Weather

Maine is known for its fog, and Acadia is no exception. There will be days when it's foggy... or rainy. Hiking isn't much fun in the fog, and rewards may be hard to find... or see.

We once climbed up a steep step trail on Champlain... only to reach the top and not be able to see more than 20 feet. What a disappointment. Of course, another time, we forged ahead on a rainy day and climbed Jordan Cliffs and had a terrific time being treated by all sorts of cliffside waterfalls and mountaintop lakes that aren't usually there.

So, if the days dawns foggy or rainy, you may want to consider some other kind of activity. It's up to you, but the great thing about Acadia and the Bar Harbor area, is that there's always something to do!

Hopefully, this overview of hiking tips will help you have fun and be safe while hiking in Acadia. Soon, you may have a hiking tip or two of your own to add to the collection!

You can explore this subject more thoroughly by following the links on this page.

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