Essential Info Plan Your Trip Where to Stay Tour the Park Outdoor Fun Indoor Fun Feed the Body Feed Your Soul Time Your Visit Resources About the Site
Subscribe To This Site
Jordan Stream Trail to Seal Harbor
Diverse Acadia National Park Hiking
The Jordan Stream Trail travels from the darkwoods forest around the Jordan Pond area through marsh and meadow to the seashore near Seal Harbor.
We've done this trail nearly every time we've gone to Acadia. It's not the most challenging trail in Acadia. And, OK, it doesn't actually go right to Seal Harbor (although we thought it did until our 5th trip!). The trail terminates at Bracy Cove, about 0.6 miles down the road from Seal Harbor. (If you really want to go to Seal Harbor, then you have to take the Streamside Path, which we've never tried.)
But back to the Jordan Stream Trail... if you want diverse Acadia National Park hiking, this is the trail for you.
This trail does offer the total Acadia experience... deep forest trekking... rolling hills along a bubbling stream filled with huge boulders... a close-up glimpse of the very first carriage road bridge ever built... mysterious boardwalks through a salt water marsh... a flower-filled meadow... a gem of a small pond, complete with boathouse... and the rocky coast, with tidepools and seagulls galore.
What more could you ask?
Oh, and the best part? You'll be lucky to meet more than 1 or 2 other hikers the entire time you're on the Jordan Stream Trail! It's one of Acadia's best kept secrets, in our opinion. The only thing it lacks is an ascent up one of Acadia's peaks, but there is much to compensate.
Trail Description
Distance: 5.5 mi Type of Hike: Out and Back Where to Park: Jordan Pond House
Jordan Stream Trail is a great way to experience a different side of Acadia. You begin this trail by following the carriage road behind the Jordan Pond House. Once you climb down the 30 or so large stone steps to the carriage road, follow the signs and then cross over a small wooden bridge. The trailhead is right on the other side of the bridge.
Be aware that at times this trail can be a bit hard to follow, as there is not a lot of traffic on it. However, if you stick close to the stream, you should be OK. Along the way, you will pass by one of Rockefeller's most famous carriage road bridges, the Cobblestone Bridge, made from rocks found on the island. This is our favorite of the bridges.
You will cross the Jordan Stream several times while hiking on this trail, which provides you with some very different views of the surrounding area. Some areas are deeply wooded, with a spongy, pine-covered path, while others are more rocky and rolling.
You will come to a few small sandy beaches by the shores of the stream as well. Feel free to stop for a bit and cool off or attempt to skip some stones. You can also refill your water bottle here as the water is relatively clean and very cold.
After a while, you will enter a marsh, with tall grasses, that we love because it is so different from most of the other trails in Acadia. You have to walk on wooden boardwalks through this section. Please remember to stay on the boardwalks, as stepping off may damage the fragile ecosystem.
The trail then opens up into a great big field, or meadow. The first time we did this hike, this meadow was filled with gorgeous wildflowers of every color, but now is usually just filled with tall grasses.
When you reach this point, you have 2 choices... You can head left to meet up with the carriage road and continue to walk to the ocean that way. Or... you can take our usual route. We like to stick close to the trees and eventually a mowed grass trail opens up... look for horse dung and carriage tracks, as apparently this is a popular route for carriage rides!
Once you get on this path, you'll begin to see a small pond on your right. This is Little Long Pond, not to be confused with Long Pond on the western side of Mount Desert Island (our favorite canoeing spot).
On the shores of Little Long Pond, you'll find a charming boat house. You can stop here (see Insider Tips, below) or continue along the path and until you meet the carriage road just as it ends near a gate at a main road along the ocean shore. Cross the road and walk down to the rocky beach.
When it's time to head back, you have two options. You can either walk the same trail backwards or do as we do to make a loop... follow the carriage path all the way back to the Jordan Pond House. It's not as interesting as the path out, but it's faster and easier and... different!
Insider Tips
This trail can be somewhat long, so be sure to bring snacks and/or lunch and plenty of water to maintain your energy throughout the hike!
The best place to stop for lunch is on the beach in the cove at the halfway turnaround point of the trail. Hardly anyone is ever on this beach, and there are some interesting tidepools to explore while you dine! Not to mention dozens of hungry seagulls...
Take some time to check out the old boathouse. I believe it is still in use and there's never anyone there so you won't get caught snooping around. Also if you look over the porch railing into the water there are usually millions of little fish waiting to be fed!
If you're hiking this trail in the late summer, look across Little Long Pond and you might see some locals picking blueberries in the field! It's private land, though, so don't be tempted to try it yourself.
All in all, the Jordan Stream Trail is an immensely fun and rewarding trip that almost anyone with reasonable endurance and hiking ability can complete and enjoy.
Subscribe To This Site
We've done this trail nearly every time we've gone to Acadia. It's not the most challenging trail in Acadia. And, OK, it doesn't actually go right to Seal Harbor (although we thought it did until our 5th trip!). The trail terminates at Bracy Cove, about 0.6 miles down the road from Seal Harbor. (If you really want to go to Seal Harbor, then you have to take the Streamside Path, which we've never tried.)
Distance: 5.5 mi
You will cross the Jordan Stream several times while hiking on this trail, which provides you with some very different views of the surrounding area. Some areas are deeply wooded, with a spongy, pine-covered path, while others are more rocky and rolling.
Once you get on this path, you'll begin to see a small pond on your right. This is Little Long Pond, not to be confused with Long Pond on the western side of Mount Desert Island (our favorite canoeing spot). 
