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 HIKING
 Explore on foot! Southwest Harbor and Tremont, the west side of Acadia National Park is also the quieter side. Consisting of coastal, forested, marshy, and mountainous areas, Acadia Park comprises roughly 30% of Tremont and 50% of Southwest Harbor. Hiking trails range from rugged and challenging to gently sloping paths at the water's edge.
For a more comprehensive description of hiking trails, and detailed maps, stop by the chamber office at 20 Village Green Way, Southwest Harbor and ask for our hiking guide. |
Wonderland and Ship Harbor
| The network of trails in the western section ranges from very easy (smooth paths) to strenuous (steep grades with many steady climbs). Among the most readily accessible and the easiest are the Wonderland and Ship Harbor trails. Wonderland is an abandoned roadway which leads to a spectacular coastal area with pebble beaches and tidal pools. The Ship Harbor trail is a circular nature walk with 13 stations describing the current physical features and the natural and personal history of each site. |
Seawall Picnic Area
| A well-known and often visited area is the Seawall Picnic Area, one of nature's most dramatic creations. This natural seawall was constructed by waves during storms which also flooded the low-lying area to create Seawall Pond, hence the other name for this phenomenom, Storm Beach. The composition of' the seawall varies from well-rounded cobblestone to angular granite rocks and outcroppings. |
Beech Mountain
| The Beech Mountain area features a series of trails; up, down, and around the mountain to Beech Cliff, Canada Cliff, Echo Lake and Long Pond (Great Pond), among other areas. Views are spectacular from this section and the terrain varies from lowlands to rugged cliffs. |
Echo Lake
| Echo Lake, located on Route 102, provides excellent life-guarded swimming at Echo Lake Beach, a sandy, park-maintained strand nestled in a cove at the lake's southern tip. Trails leading up Beech Mountain and Beech Cliff (a steep trail with occasional ladders) are accessible from the Echo Lake parking lot. |
Flying Mountain
| An often forgotten area is that around Flying Mountain. Guarding the entrance to Somes Sound, this is a low, easy-to-climb peak that the Appalachian Mountain Club calls "...the greatest reward on the island for a small effort." The open summit offers a panorama of the Sound, Southwest and Northeast Harbors and the islands to the south, including The Cranberries. This area is reached from the Fernald Cove parking area. |
Western Mountain
| Western Mountain is listed among the most strenuous climbs in the park. Composed of two summits, Bernard and Mansell, the trail network in this area passes over rock slides, through birch forests, marshland and heavy evergreen forests. Both summits are wooded, so extensive views are rare. This area can be reached from the Seal Cove Road, which is partly public and partly park maintained and connects Southwest Harbor with the Seal Cove area. |
Pretty Marsh Campground
| Located off Route 102 approximately four miles west of Somesville is the Pretty Marsh Picnic Area. Picnic tables and cooking grills, (cooking is allowed only on park-provided grills), are scattered throughout thick fir stands on Pretty Marsh Bay. Views of the bay and Bartlett Island may be enjoyed from the rocky coastline at the picnic area's edge. |
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