Best Family Hikes at Acadia National Park

A member of the American Society of Anesthesiologists, Dr. Aarohi Ambardekar is a physician and anesthesiologist. A lover of the outdoors, Dr. Aarohi Ambardekar enjoys hiking with his family in national parks such as Acadia National Park.

Acadia is located in Mount Desert Island, Maine. Replete with long shorelines and picturesque park views, the national park makes for an amazing place to take a hike with your family. Here are some of the park’s most popular hiking trails: 

- Bar Harbor Shore Path. One of the most popular hikes in the park, it often has many groups of hikers spread out along the trail. This easy walk begins at the base of Bar Harbor Town Pier and stretches a half mile along the shore line, offering beautiful views of the Porcupine Islands. 

- Cadillac Summit. A paved path circling Acadia Park’s tallest mountain, this hiking trail has an elevation of 1,530 feet. The paved trail is easy to hike and offers scenic views of Frenchman Bay, Bar Harbor, and outlying islands. 

- Ship Harbor Nature Trail. This trail is located near Bass Harbor Head Lighthouse on the western side of Mount Desert. An easy hike, the trail features ocean views, rocky paths, forests, and plenty of bird activity.

Hiking Trails at Acadia National Park

For more than 13 years, Dr. Aarohi Ambardekar has worked as a consultant anesthesiologist and physician at Southern Maryland Anesthesia Associates, LLC, in Lanham, Maryland. Outside of work, Dr. Aarohi Ambardekar enjoys mountain biking and hiking with his family at national parks such as Acadia National Park in Maine.

Hiking enthusiasts at Acadia National Park have no shortage of options, with park trails ranging from a few miles long to full-day hikes. The Beehive Loop Trail in Bar Harbor is one of the park’s most popular. The loop, measuring just under two miles off the larger Bowl Trail, provides a unique challenge for hikers willing to use iron rungs to climb up steep cliff faces. While the Beehive Loop is not recommended for small children or individuals with a fear of heights, the trail rewards those who reach the top with lovely views of Sand Beach, Frenchman Bay, and other natural wonders in the area.

At 2.2 miles, the Cadillac North Ridge Trail presents individuals with a moderately challenging hike consisting of open-air views of the surrounding park for the duration. This popular trail gets especially busy during summer months, and hikers are advised to take the Island Explorer shuttle from Bar Harbor rather than attempt to find nearby parking. Additional trails to consider at Acadia include Precipice Trail, the Gorham Mountain to Ocean Path Loop, and the Great Head Trail.