Ultimate Guide to Winter Hiking in Acadia National Park
Although the majority of Park Loop Road in Acadia National Park is closed during the winter, there are still dozens of trailheads and hikes that can be accessed. The route before the route (driving to the trailhead) may involve some detours, but I promise, hiking within Acadia National Park during the winter is truly magical. Acadia National Park suprisingly doesn’t get a ton of snow, but I always recommend being prepared and bringing snowshoes and spikes because the trails on the coast tend to have quite a few icy spots due to granite terrain. Always pack layers including an outer windproof shell layer for these hikes as the coast can be bitter cold and windy during the winter. And remember, a lot of the areas within Acadia and surrounding it do not have cell phone service, so be prepared and make sure to always tell someone where you’re going and what timeframe you expect to be gone for.
So without further ado, here is my list of 8 of my favorite hikes for the winter, in no particular order. That chilly, refreshing sea breeze is calling your name!
The only road that might be closed in the winter due to potential ice is Park Loop Road (very rare) and would change Gorham Mountain and Great Head Trail access. Contingency plans are added to both hike descriptions below!
1. Gorham Mountain
This mountain offers beautiful views of the ocean, Sand Beach, and Cadillac Mountain from the summit. Gorham Mountain is a generally quick hike with a variety of terrain and easily accessible off the open portion of Park Loop Road which makes this one of the more popular winter mountain in Acadia. About halfway up, you’ll find the iconic Commemorative plaque dedicated to Waldron Bates who is credited with creating many of the hiking trails within Acadia in the 1800’s hammered into a large boulder. Gorham Mountain is the perfect hike to watch sunrise from due to the ocean-facing views and is also kid-friendly as the trail is not steep and is well maintained.
If Park Loop Road is closed: Park at the Schooner Head Overlook parking lot and walk along the Park Loop Road, adding roughly 2 miles to access Gorham Mountain trailhead, adding a total of 4 miles to the trip.
Location: Bar Harbor
Distance: 3.0 miles (Loop)
Difficulty: Moderate
Trailkeeper: Acadia National Park
2. Sargent Mountain
Sargent is one of our go-to hikes in the winter. It’s the second highest peak in Acadia and offers incredible panoramic views of the island. The Sargent South Ridge Trail is accessible directly off Route 3 near Upper Hadlock Pond and there is a large paved parking lot on the opposite side of the trailhead which makes this trail one of the more easily accessible hikes in the area. While this is generally considered a moderate hike, there are some very steep sections and I always pack spikes because I’ve needed them every time I’ve hiked this in the winter. The second half of this hike is above tree line and I consider this one of the most rewarding hikes in Acadia – the views from the top are truly incredible.
Location: Mount Desert
Distance: 6.7 miles (Out & Back)
Difficulty: Moderate
Trailkeeper: Acadia National Park
3. Acadia Mountain
While Acadia Mountain isn’t a large mountain by any means, this 681’ hike is amazing if you’re looking to do something quick with incredible views. Acadia Mountain Trail is easily accessible and well-marked off Route 102 with it’s own designated paved parking lot off the road. The summit is only 0.6 miles from the trailhead so be prepared for some steep sections, including granite stairs, but the view of Somes Sound and the ocean beyond are absolutely incredible. This hike is also kid-friendly and this is our go-to hike when it’s snowing or there has been fresh snow fall. While you can make this trail a loop and, I recommend hiking this as an out back during the winter due to ice.
Location: Southwest Harbor
Distance: 2.7 miles (Loop)
Difficulty: Moderate
Trailkeeper: Acadia National Park
4. Jordan Pond
While many people think access to Jordan Pond is closed in the winter, you can actually access the parking lot via Jordan Pond Road in Seal Harbor. While Jordan Pond is typically considered an easier hike in Acadia because it’s flat, depending on the amount of snow in the area I’d recommend packing snowshoes because the snow drifts can be rather large due to the wind that comes off Jordan Pond. Because this is a windier spot and generally open to the elements, I do not recommend doing this on a windy day unless you are prepared with wind resistant layers. This loop is beautiful and generally very peaceful during the winter and if you stop to take a break, you can usually hear the ice cracking as it expands. There are no other areas in Acadia to my knowledge where you can hear this. This is the perfect spot if you’re looking for something to get your blood pumping with beautiful views of the Bubbles, however, be prepared with spikes as this trail tends to have sections of ice.
Location: Bar Harbor
Distance: 3.3 miles (Loop)
Difficulty: Easy
Trailkeeper: Acadia National Park
By the way, if you like Jordan Pond - check out this stunning print as a gift for your hiking buddy this year!
5. Pemetic Mountain
Pemetic Mountain is my hands down favorite hike in Acadia regardless of the season, but this mountain is truly magical in the winter. To access this trail, you have to hike a portion of Jordan Pond going east to the Pemetic South Ridge Trail which is located off the Bubbles and Jordan Pond path (this trailhead is well marked). While Pemetic is the fourth highest peak in Acadia, I consider this one of the more strenuous hikes in the area and the second half of this hike is exposed with a handful of false summits, but the 360 degree views on the way up and from the summit make this hike worth it. I recommend that everyone hike this mountain at least once in the winter!
Location: Mount Desert
Distance: 5.0 miles (Loop)
Difficulty: Hard
Trailkeeper: Acadia National Park
6. Great Head Trail
Great Head Trail can be accessed using the Sand Beach Parking lot – the trailhead is actually located by walking across Sand Beach. While the first part of this trail is steep, the majority of this loop is generally flat and this hidden gem provides beautiful views of Sand Beach, Otter Cliffs and the quintessential rugged coast, and the ocean around it. While this hidden gem of hike is popular in the summer, you can generally expect to have the trail to yourself in the winter. We’ve seen bald eagles and seals here, too!
If Park Loop Road is closed: Park at the Schooner Head Overlook parking lot and walk the Park Loop Road south until you reach the Great Head Trail trailhead. This adds 1.1 miles round-trip.
Location: Bar Harbor
Distance: 1.8 miles (Loop)
Difficulty: Moderate
Trailkeeper: Acadia National Park
7. Cadillac Mountain
Cadillac Mountain is the highest peak in Acadia and I’d argue the most popular mountain especially for sunrise and sunset as it’s accessible by vehicles via the Cadillac Summit Road during the spring, summer, and fall. That being said, every time we’ve hiked this mountain in the winter we have been the only ones on the trail. While you could technically walk up the Summit Road in the winter, the Cadillac South Ridge Trail is a must do in the winter. While the beginning of this trail is wooded, the majority of the South Ridge Trail is exposed and offers 360 degree open views of Acadia National Park, the surrounding mountains and oceans, and is absolutely breathtaking. Spikes are 100% necessary for this hike especially for the last .05 mile stretch. While this hike is 6 miles total, it doesn’t feel terribly long because the views are so amazing the entire way up!
Location: Clifton
Distance: 6.7 miles (Out & Back)
Difficulty: Moderate
Trailkeeper: Acadia National Park
8. Jesup Path
This trail is typically very popular during tourist season due to the boardwalk path. While one of the more popular winter hikes, I typically do not see any other people on this path depending on the time of day (I recommend doing this first thing in the morning after snowfall for a truly magical experience). This is a very kid-friendly “hike” in the area as it’s completely flat and would make for the perfect morning walk if you’re in the area and want to get outside walk with hot chocolate or coffee on hand. During the winter, this section of Acadia is very peaceful and we’ve seen deer and fox cross the boardwalk in front of us a handful of times!
Location: Bar Harbor
Distance: 2.2 miles (Out & Back)
Difficulty: Easy
Trailkeeper: Acadia National Park
Hiking in Acadia is always a beautiful experience but doing it in winter brings it to another level. I hope you like our recommendations. Be safe, leave no trace, and see you out there 😁!
PS. If you liked this guide, check out my other article, Kid-friendly Hikes In Maine!
- Lindsay
