Last year, I shared a great list of family-friendly trails with Acadia National Park and I am back in 2025 to share even MORE great trails for kids within the Park. As my daughter is getting bigger and stronger, we have been able to explore more and more trails around the Park. It is truly amazing to watch her joy and interest in hiking!
A great piece of advice I like to give parents is always consider the trade off. Hiking a steeper summit? Consider a short, yet appropriate, trail. Doing a flat trail? Try to go for a little bit of distance.
And always, always always…bring the “power ups” as my daughter calls them: Trail mix with chocolate, fruit snacks, or even leftover marshmallows from s’mores the night before. These snacks are magical unicorns to hiking!
Along with the “power ups”, here the essentials that are always in my hiking pack:
- A good Acadia National Park trail map
- First Aid Kit
- Bug Spray and Sunscreen
- Compass
- Headlamp
My daughter also carries her own Camelbek Hydration Backpack and she has her own pair of hiking poles and an emergency whistle.
Here is a list of some more family-friendly trails you can find within Acadia National Park. This year, all of my trails have a theme…read through to take a guess at what it is!
List of Additional Recommended Trails
Gorham Mountain:
Located on the Park Loop Road, it is a 1.9 mile trek with phenomenal views. We like to tackle this trail going North and catching the Island Explorer bus back to our truck. Park at the Gorham Mountain Trailhead Parking Lot located on the Park Loop Road.
If the parking lot is filled, there is some additional parking just down the road where Otter Cliffs Road meets the Park Loop Road.
Hike north for .2 miles and then decide if you want to continue to make the trek of foot or opt for the more challenging Cadillac Cliff trail where you will climb a portion of the mountain using ladders and rungs. You will get great views of Thunder Hole and Sand Beach along the summit ridge!
Make your way down the backside of Gorham Mountain and watch hikers climb around the Beehive. End your hike at Sand Beach and use the Island Explorer (it’s FREE) to catch a ride back to your car. Both buses that stop here (#3 and #4) will get you back to either parking lot.
Some notes here about the trail:
- Cadillac Cliff trail is NOT suitable for young children or pets.
- Gorham Mountain Parking Lot is in a VERY busy section of the park. Consider an early morning or late afternoon hike for your best chance of getting parking.
- Bathrooms are located at Sand Beach. Consider carrying the Oxo Potty 2-in1 and refill bags.
Bar Island Trail:
Located in downtown Bar Harbor, it is a 3.0 mile out and back relatively flat trail. Accessible 90 minutes before and after low tide, make your way across the sand bar that appears and hike around the island. The biggest climb will be at the start of the trail on the island. With great views of Bar Harbor, ruins of once great mansions, and tons of wildlife, this a great spot with lots of kids to do!
Some notes here about the trail:
- There are many, MANY signs about the reminders of the tide. Be sure to double or triple-check that you have the tides correct for this adventure.
- Do your kids want to play on the sand bar barefoot before the hike? Be sure to bring along some dusting powder to make putting back on hiking socks and sneakers a little easier.
- There are NO bathrooms on Bar Island. The closest restrooms can be found near the Village Green.
- Consider taking the Island Explorer bus into Bar Harbor for this adventure. The trail is just a short walk from the Village Green.
Sieur de Monts Trek:
I’ve talked about Sieur de Monts in my previous blog about Acadia National Park trails and…I’m going to do it here again! There are a ton of kid-friendly trails along with the Nature Center, Acadia Gardens and the Island Explorer makes a stop here.
This year, we decided to do a reverse of sorts from a trail that my daughter only did via a hiking pack and she ROCKED it! This short 1.0 mile trail will take you up the Emery Path to Homans Path and back down. What this trail lacks in length, it makes up for in elevation climb…almost a 600 feet change in less than .4 miles.
The views of the Great Meadow and Bar Harbor are amazing, on a clear day, and the several arches that were put there by design are fascinating to look at and led to a long conversation on our descent about the work that went into building these trails such a long time ago.
Some notes here about the trail:
- There is a bathroom available at the Nature Center.
- This one is…a CLIMB with a lot of rock stairs. We needed several “power ups” to get to the top of the Emery Path. 🙂
Were you able to guess the theme? It’s the Island Explorer Bus! All three of these trails are accessible by riding the FREE bus! The bus is a great option to avoid the anxiety and stress of wondering if parking will be available at the trailhead. And in Bar Harbor..it’s always an affordable option versus the pay-to-park spots that are everywhere in town.
Have you done any of these trails before? If so, drop a comment and let me know what you have thought about them! Or share your experience with the Island Explorer bus!
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~Happy Adventuring! Natalie