Day hikers can enjoy one of North America’s most beautiful walks along the Atlantic Ocean at Acadia National Park in Maine.
The 4.4 miles round trip Ocean Path runs along the eastern shore of Mount Desert Island. The ocean sits on one side of the trail the entire way.
To reach the trailhead, from Bar Harbor take Maine State Route 3 south. Turn right/northwest onto Sieur de Monts Road then right/southeast onto Park Loop Road. Go left/east into the Sand Beach upper parking lot. During summer, Sand Beach will be quite busy, so arrive early for a parking space.
The trail leaves from the lot’s southern corner. Head up the stairs so you’re above the beach that sits on Newport Cove. The trail winds between the coast on the left and Park Loop Poad on the right. The Cadillac Cliffs with Gorham Mountain atop them rise beyond the road.
Thunder Hole
Gradually the packed gravel trail rises to the top of a hill that offers an impressive view of the ocean coastline. The heady scent of the salty ocean fills the air.
Several spurs head off Ocean Path to granite formations. Many are worth exploring, but always abide by the signs that warn not to hike in certain area, as falling and slippery rocks can prove deadly.
At about 0.7 miles is Thunder Hole with a spur leading to it. The formation is a sea cave that sometimes makes a sound like thunder as waves crash into it. When the tide pulls the water back, air is trapped in the little cave; when the next wave crashes into it, the air is forced out, resulting in a deep and loud sound akin to a thunderclap. The optimal time to hear it is about two hours before high tide, especially during high winds.
If you miss out on the thunderclap, you may be lucky enough to catch the scent of wild roses near the spur junction. Mixed with the salty air, the scent intoxicates.
Monument Cove
Past Thunder Hole, the trail ascends through a spruce-fir forest. The path can be a little uneven, so watch your step.
At about 1.05 miles, Ocean Path reaches Monument Cove. This is a small, rocky beach so named because a granite formation “guards” it from above.
In another quarter mile is Boulder Beach. Rocks the size of bowling balls, rounded by tumbles in the ocean, have washed ashore here. A short spur heads to the beach. If hiking early in the morning, you may see photographers walking up from it; the light from sunrise is striking against the rocks, making it a popular shutterbug destination.
Ocean Path reaches Otter Cliffs at 1.75 miles. The 110-foot high cliffs are the highest point along the path. A granite staircase leads to a walkway that allows you to cross the cliffs and to an overlook of the Atlantic.
Otter Point
Next the trail curves around the south side of Mount Desert Island, reaching Otter Point at 2.1 miles. There the ocean surrounds a massive granite headland rising of the ocean.
The trail ends just a couple of hundred feet past the point, offering a fantastic view across Otter Cove with Cadillac and Dorr mountains rising beyond the water.
After taking in the sights, retrace your steps back to the parking lot at Sand Beach.
If you wish to skip the Sand Beach crowds, the hike can be shortened by starting at either the Thunder Hole or the Otter Point parking areas along Park Loop Road.
Learn more about national park day hiking trails in my Best Sights to See at America’s National Parks guidebook.
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