Acadia National Park has many amazing hikes for kids. Not only that, most of these hikes are of the adventurous variety, and include ladder rungs, summits, land bridges, and wildlife. We’ve picked a few of our favorite kid-friendly hikes in Acadia to feature. You can find out more about each hike by clicking on the link for each individual trail.
Bar Island
This hike can only be accessed at low tide. It walks across the tidepools to a large island adjacent to Bar Harbor. This hike is very popular because of how unique it is. Located in downtown Bar Harbor. 1.9 miles roundtrip.
The Beehive
The Beehive is a summit that includes narrow pathways and an ascent that requires ladders and handholds. It was easy enough for an 8-year-old, and definitely exciting enough for any age. 1.9 miles with some elevation gain.
Ocean Path
The nice thing about the Ocean Path is you can walk as much or as little as you’d like. It walks along the road and has beautiful views of the ocean. It is also a great way to park in one spot and access a few different trails.
Gorham Mountain Trail
This trail summits Gorham Mountain. This hike is much like the Beehive, but a little more tame and shorter in distance. There are narrow passages, a few ladder rungs, and beautiful views at the top. 1.8 miles roundtrip.
Jordan Pond Loop
A 3.5 mile loop around a large pond that is flat and easy. Much of this popular walk is shaded and utilizes a narrow boardwalk. There is a great chance to see wildlife at Jordan Pond, too.
Jordan Stream Trail
A short trail downhill to a beautiful cobblestone bridge. This walk feels like you are traveling through a shady, mossy fairyland. It begins behind the Jordan Pond Restaurant.
Cadillac Mountain
A short trail at the top of Cadillac Mountain with beautiful views. The trail is only 0.5 mile, but has information signs, too. A reservation is required to drive on the Cadillac Mountain road.
Lower Hadlock Pond
The quietest trail we found in the park ran 1.7 miles around Lower Hadlock Pond. This trail has rough footing, but almost no elevation change. We only passed 2 other groups on this shady trail.
Acadia Mountain Trail
This is a steep summit near Bass Harbor that runs about 1.6 miles. This is the steepest hike we did in Acadia, but the stairs made it nicer to hike. The views from the top were different from any other place in the park.
Wonderland Trail
This trail is flat and easy and features tide pools. At any point, you can drop off the trail down into the rocks. If you plan to do this hike at low tide, you can check out the tide pools and find crabs and maybe even a few starfish. This hike runs 1.4 miles.
Ship Harbor Trail
This companion trail to the Wonderland Trail starts just 5 minutes away. It is very similar to the Wonderland Trail with tide pools, but it also has a shady forest walk to go along with it. This hike runs 1.3 miles.
Bass Harbor Head Lighthouse
The trail to the lighthouse is very short but requires some steps and a little scramble over rocks. There are two ways to access the lighthouse, and one is wheel-friendly.
Everyone can enjoy these kid-friendly hikes in Acadia National Park. They are easy, but very rewarding. We enjoyed every single one. For our full post about this national park, visit our Family Guide for Acadia.
