Ocean Path Trail in Acadia National Park: Everything You Need to Know

Acadia National Park is the only national park in New England and offers some of the best views along the coast. It has mountains, ocean views, cliffs, and sandy beaches for everyone to enjoy. You can spend your days watching the sunrise on top of the tallest mountain, walking along the rocky coastline, or relaxing by the ocean.

Although Acadia National Park has many fun things to do, hiking is one of the best ways to experience everything it offers! One of the best hikes in the park is Ocean Path Trail because it brings you to many popular attractions without having to worry about finding parking. If you want to hike Ocean Path Trail, this guide is the perfect place to start planning!

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Ocean Path Trail Overview

Ocean Path Trail Length and Difficulty

Ocean Path Trail in Acadia National Park is 4.5 miles round-trip with about 400 feet of elevation gain. Although the trail is long, it is relatively easy and a great way to explore the popular attractions along Park Loop Road.

Ocean Path Trail Parking

Since Ocean Path Trail is an out-and-back hike, it has two trailhead parking lots if you want to hike the entire trail: Sand Beach and Otter Point. Both trailhead parking lots are among the most popular in the park, so they fill up quickly. I recommend arriving early to secure a spot and start your hike with fewer crowds.

One of the best things about Ocean Path Trail is you do not have to hike the entire trail. Since it passes by many must-see attractions, including Thunder Hole, Gorham Mountain, and Otter Cliffs, you can access the trail from many points along Park Loop Road.

Is Ocean Path Trail Dog-friendly?

Yes, the Ocean Path Trail is dog-friendly! Acadia National Park is one of the most dog-friendly national parks in the United States, and many of its trails are dog-friendly.

Best Time to Hike Ocean Path Trail

The best thing about Ocean Path Trail is you can hike it year-round! Summer and fall are among the best times because the weather is warm in the summer, and the vibrant foliage takes over the trail in the fall.

What to Pack for the Hike

Hiking Boots: If you want comfort and support on your trip, hiking boots are the go to.
Hiking Socks: Having moisture-wicking and comfortable hiking socks are just as important for exploring.
Hiking Backpack: You need something to carry all your food, clothes, and anything else you need while adventuring, so having a supportive hiking backpack is crucial.
Hydration Reservoir/Water Bottles: While hiking or just exploring, it is important to have enough water! I always pack a hydration reservoir.
Jackets: The weather is unpredictable, so I always pack a rain jacket and insulated jacket.
Ten Essentials: The Ten Essentials are crucial for hiking!
Microspikes: If you plan on winter hiking, you will need to bring microspikes.
Snowshoes: Also if you hike in the winter, you may need snowshoes.

Where to Stay Near Ocean Path Trail

It is always good to be in an area where restaurants, grocery stores, ice cream shops (who does not love a good ice cream cone), and everything else you need is nearby. Bar Harbor is the perfect place to find a place to stay when you visit Acadia National Park because it has everything conveniently located nearby, including the entrance to Acadia National Park. There are also many nearby towns offer cheaper accommodations.

Note: Many accommodations in Bar Harbor book up as far as a year in advance. Once you create your Acadia National Park itinerary, I highly recommend booking the Acadia National Park hotels as soon as possible.

Bar Harbor Hotels and Campgrounds:

Ocean Path Trail Guide

**Always remember to leave no trace. It is crucial to pack out what you pack in and throw away your trash properly.

Ocean Path Trail is one of the most beautiful hikes in Acadia National Park and brings you to many must-see attractions. It passes Sand Beach, Thunder Hole, Otter Cliff, and Otter Point while providing beautiful views of the rocky coastline and ocean.

If you want to hike the entire 4.5-mile round-trip trail, you can start at two points: Sand Beach or Otter Cliff. Both trailheads are easy to access, so it comes down to preference. I prefer to start at Sand Beach, and I will walk you through the trail from that point.

Sand Beach is one of the most popular areas to visit, and although the trail does not go to Sand Beach, I recommend exploring it before starting the hike. Sand Beach is a stunning sandy beach with beautiful views of the cove, mountains, and ocean. It is a great place to swim in the summer, although the water is pretty cold!

best beaches in acadia national park

Once you are finished visiting Sand Beach, the trail officially begins at the top of the stairs. The walkway splits, and Ocean Path Trail follows to the left behind the restrooms near the parking lot. From this point, the trail is easy to follow along Park Loop Road.

The first viewpoint along Ocean Path Trail is the Sand Beach Overlook. It is a small path off the Ocean Path Trail leading to a beautiful view overlooking the cove with Sand Beach. From here, the Ocean Path Trail follows along Park Loop Road, with gorgeous ocean views. The trail has many areas you can walk to the cliffs to enjoy even better views.

After about a mile, the trail comes to Thunder Hole, another one of the most popular things to see. It is a small area carved out of the rocks, with a thunder sound when waves crash. If the ocean is calm, you will not hear the loud sound, but on a day when the waves are big, especially after a storm, you will be impressed by the sound! The best time to hear the sound is 1-2 hours before high tide.

Soon after Thunder Hole, the Ocean Path Trail travels over Monument Cove, overlooking a rocky beach. If you want to see the beach, you can hike the short path to the cliffs near Monument Cove. They provide stunning views overlooking the beach and cliffs looking south.

Right after Monument Cove is one of my favorite cliffs along the Ocean Path Trail. The cliffs across from the Gorham Mountain Trailhead have stunning ocean views looking south over the rocky coastline. These cliffs are a great place to enjoy a snack break! They also tend to have fewer crowds than other nearby cliffs, which is a nice change of pace in Acadia National Park.

Boulder Beach is the next sight along the Ocean Path Trail, although many people do not even know it exists. It is a small beach with huge rocks along it. It is a beautiful sight and worth a quick visit before continuing the hike.

Ocean Path Trail continues to follow the rocky coastline before finally reaching Otter Cliff. Otter Cliff is one of the most visited cliffs in the park, offering beautiful views of the ocean and surrounding cliffs. It is 110 feet tall and is one of the highest headlamps north of Rio de Janeiro!

The final 0.5 miles to Otter Point are breathtaking as the trail follows along the cliffs. Otter Point is one of my favorite spots along Ocean Path Trail, especially for sunrise or sunset. It is a great spot to eat lunch while enjoying the ocean views.

Once you finish enjoying the views at Otter Point, you must walk back the way you came to Sand Beach. Even though the trail is the same one you just hiked, the views never get old and will help the hike go by quickly. Once you hike Ocean Path Trail in Acadia National Park, you will realize why it is one of the best things to do in the park!

If you want to hike the Ocean Path Trail when you visit Acadia National Park, this guide is the perfect place to start planning! It has everything you need to know about hiking the Ocean Path Trail.