- Hike up Champlain Mountain in Acadia National Park to see Maine’s beauty
- Bring your binoculars and catch glimpses of the sea life in Frenchman’s Bay
- It’s a 6.5-mile out-and-back moderate to strenuous hike
- 1,100 feet of elevation gain
- The trailhead is south of Bar Harbor on Maine Highway 3
Overview
Champlain Mountain Acadia is one those popular places to hike that provides the explorer the chance to enjoy a trek up staircases of rock, a steep pink granite ascent. Ocean views await you at the top. Catch a glimpse of the nesting peregrine falcons and an active beaver pond. Bring your binoculars so you can see porpoises and seals and perhaps some whales in Frenchman Bay.
Trailhead
The trail to the top of Champlain Mountain Maine begins at the Beachcroft Trailhead. From Bar Harbor, drive on Maine Highway 3 towards Acadia National Park. After about 2 miles, you’ll find parking on the left, across the road from the trailhead.
Details
- Distance – 6.5 miles
- Average Time of Hike – 5 hours
- Elevation Gain – 1,100 feet
- Difficulty – Moderate to strenuous
- Trail Type – Out and back
Plan & Prepare
The best time to visit Champlain Mountain Desert Island is in the summer or early fall. Pack good shoes for the climb, and take plenty of water to keep hydrated.
If going in wet weather, remember that the rocks on the steep section off the trail can get slippery when wet.
If you don’t want to turn around and go back the way you came, you can head west down the Gorham Mountain Trail and at the trailhead take a short walk to a shuttle stop and take the shuttle back to your car.
