Acadia National Park has over a 100 miles of beautiful hiking trails. We have narrowed down our three favorite family friendly hiking trails while visiting Acadia. These trails are listed in no particular order.
Jordan Pond
Jordan Pond is one of the clearest lakes in Maine and the trail is a fantastic 3.4 mile loop around the lake. This is an extremely popular hike and the parking lot fills up quickly so plan accordingly. Park Rangers will issue tickets and were very active for illegal parking in this area while we were visiting.
The trail is for the most part easy and paved with gravel but there are sections going up and over rocks. One section has a raised boardwalk path to protect the area so please do not walk off of the boardwalk. To extend this hike you can take the trails up to The Bubbles and get an incredible view overlooking Jordan Pond. There are clear open spots to enjoy the lake and breeze, beautiful scenery, and with the easy going terrain this is a great hike for the entire family.
The Bubbles – Bubble Rock
The Bubbles hike is around 1.6 miles round trip if you visit the north and south bubble. While the trail is relativly short and with an elevation of only a little over 750ft at the top, there are sections that can be pretty steep. The south bubble is the spot to get an amazing view of Jordan Pond.
The parking lot for the Bubbles is small so we recommend hiking to the bubbles via Jordan Pond loop trail. Both parking lots fill up quickly so the earlier you get here the better. While up on the South Bubble go check out Bubble Rock – a giant rock boulder that sits on the side of the cliff top. While this is a short and uphill hike, this is another great hike for the entire family to experience.
Bar Path Island
Located near Bar Harbor, Maine – Bar Path Island is a little over 2 miles including the lookout on the island. During low tide you can walk the Bar Path Trail to another Island that is also part of Acadia Nation Park. During the walk you can search for sea shells, crabs and starfish from the ocean bottom. If you choose to hike along the island, be aware of the times so you are not stuck on the island when the tide comes in. Once on the island you will reach a peak to see a great view of Bar Harbor and all the boats. The trail is fun and fantastic for the entire family.
Make sure after spending your day at the park you don’t forget head to Bar Harbor. While in Bar Harbor don’t forget to try some fresh caught lobster rolls and of course ice cream for the kiddos.
