We have travelled to Acadia National Park on Mount Desert Island in Maine multiple times a year since 2019, and it has quickly become our favorite place in the world. For those of you that follow us on instagram @talesofarya, it's pretty obvious how much we adore this park. Not only is the park visually stunning in every season (fall is our personal favorite), but it's arguably the most dog friendly national park in the country, where dogs are allowed at almost every trail in the park (there are only 6 trails that they are not allowed on in the park, as well as a few additional areas which will be listed further down in this blog post). Our dogs always accompany us on our trips to the park, and are always so excited to be at their favorite place in the world as well!
For you pet parents out there, Acadia National Park is the crown jewel of the National Park System. I consistently feel a type of calm here, a peace that we have not found in the other National Parks we have visited. Even in the busiest areas, such as Jordan Pond, just taking a single look at the stunning body of water, the grandeur of it, with it's consistent reflections across it's often glass-like surface, showing off Penobscot mountain to it’s west and the dramatic bubbles to it’s north - you can’t help but feel a sense of calm as you take in the scene.
On our most recent trip to the park (fall of 2024), my pup Rainier and I visited the popular Jesup Path, to specifically walk the boardwalk section. This trail is known for it’s majestic Autumn beauty! If you’ve ever seen a fall photo from the park, there’s a good chance it was photographed here. As you enter the trail, you are engulfed in a boggy white birch forest. Colors of yellow, gold, and orange surround you, contrasted against their white bark. You hear red squirrels gathering food, or chasing one another amongst the fern-filled forest floor. A barred owl may be heard (or if lucky enough) spotted overhead, hooting its familiar song. Deer, crunching the leaves beneath their feet, and camouflaging themselves amongst the trees. The wind, whistling and intermingling with all of the life it touches. It’s quiet, so quiet you can hear your breath - and yet the constant dance of nature is deafening through the forest’s quiet gusts. There are other people around, but it’s easy to forget they’re there, as everyone’s doing the exact same thing - getting lost in the poetry of the wood.
We had many moments on this trail where we were truly completely alone to take in everything around us, and yet, I felt the magical peace and grounding that is Acadia National Park, and fell in love with it all over again.
There are trails for every pet parent & dog combo, which is also what is so phenomenal about the park. We are seasoned hikers and love the more strenuous hikes in the park, but we equally love the easy ones, such as Jesup Path as I discussed above. In addition to all of the trails, Acadia National Park (ANP) and the adjacent Land & Garden Preserve offer 57 miles of carriage roads, 45 of which are in ANP & the remaining within the preserve. The carriage roads were created by John D. Rockefeller between the years 1913 and 1940 for hikers, horseback riders, and carriages - and are today known as, “the finest example of broken stone roads designed for horse-drawn vehicles still extant in America” as per the National Park Service. Today, these carriage roads are still enjoyed by those listed above, but are also enjoyed by dog owners and their furry companions.
The carriage roads within the park are absolutely magical and intersect with much of the 158 miles of hiking trails you can traverse within the park. Some of our favorite features within the carriage road system are the 16 charming Carriage-Road Bridges within the park. The coolest one (in my opinion) is the first constructed carriage road bridge within the park, The Cobblestone Bridge, which was built in 1917 (pictured below). We enjoy utilizing the carriage roads on rainy days when the sleek granite on many of the hikes can be dangerous, or as "break" day walks after difficult or strenuous hikes.
Dog-Friendly Hike Suggestions (more blog posts coming soon on more trail reviews based on difficulty!).
I've included suggestions for 3 hikes per difficulty rating! Keep an eye on future blog posts (and something else in the works!) for more hike suggestions!
A reminder that granite is VERY slippery when wet within the park. We do not suggest going out on hikes when it is actively raining, or is still wet within the park due to dangerous conditions.
Keep in mind that I've based the following ratings based on previously publicly published trail ratings + our input based on our experiences on the trails. Always take your abilities and experience into consideration when planning your hikes. Remember that while in ANP dogs must be on a 6 foot leash, and remember to always pack it out!
Easy Hikes
Ship Harbor | Easy | Popular | 1.4mi Loop
Ship Harbor, located on the quiet side of the island, offers a lot in a short and easy, 1.4mi loop trail (can be a bit of a choose your own adventure as the trail offers a figure 8 loop). You hike through quintessential Acadia pine forests along the rugged Maine coast, going through boardwalks, roots, & rocks. Despite being on the coast line, you do not hike over exposed cliffs, but do hike through one exposed rock area, overlooking the ocean. This can be a highly trafficked trail at times, and we suggest starting your hike early to enjoy the peace this area brings, or at low-tide in warmer months where many visitors take advantage of the easy access to explore tide pools. But again, keep in mind that wet and uneven rocks can be hazardous!
Jordan Pond Path | Easy | Popular | 3.3mi Loop
The Jordan Pond Path brings you around Acadia National Park's iconic Jordan Pond, with views of Penobscot Mountain, the Bubbles, and Pemetic Mountain. We suggest you take the trail clockwise, starting by the Jordan Pond House, located on the south side of the pond. Going this way will bring you through a gorgeous boardwalk section, to an ankle twister rock scramble section, and then flat terrain for the remainder of your hike. While this hike is rated as "easy," the rock scramble section, while mostly flat, is an absolute ankle twister, and we do not suggest this trail for those that are unprepared or unable to traverse that type of terrain. This trail is highly trafficked at all times of the day, and can be quite tight, so we do not suggest this hike for reactive or overly friendly dogs. This trail is best for neutral dogs.
Beech Mountain Trail | Easy/Moderate | Popular/Moderately Trafficked | 1.2mi Loop
Beech Mountain is a gorgeous 840ft tall mountain, located close to the southwest harbor. We suggest taking this counterclockwise if you want an easier ascent with scrambling upon your descent, or clockwise if you want to scramble up rocks instead, with a very easy descent down. When you reach the summit, you will find a fire tower, which holds so much history within the park, such as the time it was used in the disastrous fire of 1947 (known as the year Maine burned), which burned down a total of 17,188 acres within the park. "State-wide, more than 200,000 acres, 851 permanent homes, and 397 seasonal cottages were destroyed in "the year Maine burned." When a ranger is present, you can walk to the top of the tower, but when a ranger is not present, you can still walk to the bottom portion of the tower to look around at the mountains surrounding you. Pro tip: When we want an easy/quick hike, we turn this loop trail into a 1.4mi out and back, taking the trail counterclockwise to the summit and back the way we came for little to no scrambling.
Moderate Hikes
Great Head Trail | Moderate | Popular/Moderately Trafficked | 1.8mi Loop
Great Head is located near Otter Creek, in the eastern section of the island. This trail offers stunning views of the historic Sand Beach below, Beehive behind it, and the ocean in front of you. It is rated as moderate, as you do a decent amount of scrambling on the trail. We suggest doing the trail counter clockwise, starting with your overlook of sand beach, and continuing up and around as you get to different ocean viewpoints. This trail can be highly trafficked at times, and can be quite tight at the scramble sections, so we do not suggest this hike for reactive or overly friendly dogs. This trail is best for neutral dogs.
North Bubble | Moderate | Popular/Moderately Trafficked | .9mi Out & Back
North Bubble, standing at 872ft, offers the most stunning views of Jordan Pond, and at it's summit and overlooks, offers some of my favorite views in the entire park. It is often less busy than it's more popular counterpart, the South Bubble, but I promise you - you are getting the better views despite it being less popular (but still trafficked)! You go up the trail, scrambling as you go, over rocks and roots, until you hit your first view point on your left. The summit is prettier, but we suggest enjoying the view here before you continue up. The trail terrain does not change dramatically as you go up towards the summit, and you are rewarded with beautiful views of Jordan Pond, Penobscot, and Pemetic once you make it past the tree line. The bubbles in general are a bucket list hike for most hikers within the park, so you most likely will not be at the summit alone, but there is enough room to spread out and enjoy your time peacefully. This is a great hike for sunrise or sunset, but parking is at a premium, so you may have to park at an alternative lot or even at the Jordan Pond House and hike back to these trail heads.
Acadia Mountain Trail | Moderate | Popular/Moderately Trafficked | 1.6mi Out & Back
Acadia Mountain, standing at 681ft, is most certainly one of my favorite mountains within the park. While we have done the entire loop trail, Acadia Mountain & Man-O-War, we highly suggest taking this trail as an out and back to the summit if you are taking you dog with you due to difficult scrambling on the other side of the mountain. This trail is steep, you will be getting your steps in, quite literally, with the first 1/3 of the hike up being a series of granite staircases. After you make it through your intense cardio session, you hike up smooth granite, rocks, and roots, until you make it to the summit in just under a mile. The view from the summit overlooks Sommes sound, with the Cranberry Isles in the distance. To your right, you overlook Saint Sauveur Mountain (a mere 2 feet shorter than Acadia Mountain, but hey, 2 feet is 2 feet right?), Flying Mountain, and the Southwest Harbor. This trail has become more popular through time, and can be highly trafficked, so we do not suggest this hike for reactive or overly friendly dogs. This trail is best for neutral dogs.
Strenuous Hikes
Cadillac South Ridge Trail | Moderate/strenuous | Popular | 6.7mi Out & Back from Route 3
It's hard to visit Acadia National Park without experiencing their tallest mountain, Cadillac, which stands at 1,530ft. This is the longest single trail in the park (solely bringing you to one destination and back) so plan for this to be a longer day, but I promise it's worth it. The best views are not necessarily at the summit, but we would argue are instead past the tree-line, which we lovingly (most of the time) call the "shadeless inferno," as you hike most of this mountain up with no shade to be found. The views here are panoramic, and absolutely to die for. The rock face is gigantic, which allows everyone to spread out and enjoy this beautiful hike up. There is one single ladder rung right before you hit the summit, where you will have to pick your dog up, and help them down on your way back down the mountain. When you've made it to the top, look for the summit marker on the ground, located past the trees once you hit flat ground at the top of the mountain. The summit of the mountain here is not marked by a typical trail sign, but instead one on the ground - and most people do not actually visit the summit, since it's not located near the parking lot! While you can drive up Cadillac (and should if you take the opportunity) we highly recommend hiking it up if you have the time for a longer hike. We also suggest starting early, especially in the summer months, to escape the heat of the day, since, as I mentioned, this trail is a "shadeless inferno." This trail is also great for sunrise as you don't necessarily need to make it to the top for great views! Pack lots of water and fill them up outside of the gift shop at the top of the mountain before you hike down (remember to pack it out) and enjoy your hike! Although this trail is incredibly popular, there is a lot of room throughout it, which makes it feel quite quiet.
Dorr South Ridge Trail | Moderate/strenuous | Popular/Moderately Trafficked | 3.8mi Out & Back
Dorr Mountain is easily one of the pinnacles of Acadia. Named for one of the founding fathers of Acadia, George Dorr, it is the 3rd highest peak in the park at 1,266ft tall. It sits only a few miles outside of downtown Bar Harbor and towers above one of the most picturesque areas of Mount Desert Island known as “The Tarn.” Directly to the west of Dorr is Cadillac Mountain, arguably the most popular peak in the park, and to the east is Huguenot Head and the ever popular Champlain Mountain (home to the famous Precipice trail). There are a number of ways to reach the summit of Dorr including a non-technical ladder trail, however, as dogs are strictly (and for good reason) prohibited from this trail, and since other trails such as Kurt Diederich’s climb can be very strenuous on joints, we have taken the South Ridge trail out & back. If you choose to do this trail as a loop and include the North Ridge section of the mountain, I would strongly advise ascending via the North Ridge and descending via the South Ridge as to avoid having to climb down the steeper section of the mountain.
The South Ridge trail starts out at a gravel parking area along Route 3 (or Main Street if you’re coming directly from Bar Harbor) at the south end of The Tarn. You will find a well-worn path that leads to a trail marker for the junction of the ladder trail and Kane Path. Hang a left down Kane Path and stroll about 3/4 of a mile along a well-trotted dirt path and raised split log boardwalks between the base of Dorr and a scenic bog (keep your eyes peeled for North America’s greatest furry dam builders here). Kane Path will eventually come to an end at a staircase that brings you up and to your right (this is the start of Canon Brook Trail). Here you will come to another trailhead junction where you will find the trail marker that will direct you to your right and will begin your ascent up the South Ridge of Dorr Mountain! As you ascend the south ridge be sure to stop and take in the views along the many beautiful sprawling vistas where you will have incredible views of Otter Cove, Gorham Mountain, Beehive Mountain, The Cranberry Isles and much more!
The first half of the trail is mostly a gradual ascent over granite slabs nestled between trees. There are a number of breaks affording you incredible views as previously mentioned. After about 2/3 of the way up you again are generally immersed in the wooded terrain traversing your way across the granite mountainside through the evergreens as you make your way to the summit. From the summit you have great views of Cadillac Mountain, Huguenot Head, and Champlain Mountain, as well as back towards Bar Harbor and Frenchman Bay. I would argue the views you experience along the south ridge are superior to the views from the summit, but that’s just my opinion. Once you’ve soaked up the views and refreshed your legs, return the way you came—but be sure to take in the views a few more times on your way back down!
As previously stated, this trail/mountain can be a popular hiking destination, especially for other hikers with four-legged hiking companions. Do keep this in mind and be sure to keep your dog on a leash! Though there is generally more than enough room to move aside to let others pass, make sure you are following the ANP rule of utilizing nothing longer than a 6 foot leash.
Hikes/Places dogs can NOT join you within ANP
Precipice Trail
Beehive Trail (you can summit Beehive with your pup however via The Bowl Trail)
Ladder Trail to Dorr Mountain
Beech Cliffs Trail
Perpendicular Trail (Mansell Mountain)
Jordan Cliffs Trail (between Penobscot East Trail & the carriage road)
Public buildings
Bodies of Water that are designated as "public drinking water"
Sand beach (June 15th - Sept 8th)
Echo Lake (May 15th - Sept 15th)
Wild Gardens of Acadia
Ranger Programs
Asticou Gardens (Land & Garden Preserve)
The Land & Garden Preserve
The Land & Garden Preserve is located adjacent to Acadia National Park, by the North East Harbor on Mount Desert Island, and is a must visit with your dog. It offers quiet trails, carriage roads, and some of the most stunning views on the island. For those of you with off-leash trained dogs, it also offers the only place on the island where your dog can be off leash. Note that new guidelines beginning May 1st, 2025 state that dogs will only be allowed off-leash in the area before 10am and after 4pm. With the new guidelines, dogs are still allowed off leash to swim in the 4 designated swimming areas around Little Long Pond throughout the day.
Little Long Pond is arguably our dog Arya's favorite place on the island (or possibly the entire world). She loves to be off-leash (and is off-leash trained and under voice control) and always joyfully gallops to her favorite swimming hole where she turns into an absolute swamp monster and immediately does her best alligator on the hunt impression as we gather sticks on the ground to throw for her.
Most of the dogs we have interacted with at the preserve have also been well trained, and have primarily ignored us, but we have bumped into reactive and behaviorally unsound dogs there as well. It's important to note that the area is NOT designed as a dog park, and should NOT be utilized as one during off leash hours. It is best that you utilize the area as a privilege to enjoy the lands with your dog to hike in, and not as a socialization hour - this is truly NOT what this area is for, and your dog should be able to be called off of other dogs, people, and horses/carriages.
The Bark Ranger Program
The Bark Ranger Program is a nationwide program that exists at many NPS sites, and Acadia National Park is one of them! In order for your dog to become a bark ranger, stop by the Sieur De Monts Nature Center or the Hulls Cove Visitor Center to take the pledge!
"The Bark Ranger program teaches dog owners about the importance of following the Rules of B.A.R.K. while visiting Acadia. Dogs completing this short program can be sworn in as Bark Rangers and their owners will be eligible to purchase a special Bark Ranger collar tag at the Eastern National Bookstore at the Hulls Cove Visitor Center." -National Park Service
How to advocate for your dog + how your dog can advocate for the park
It is a privilege to be able to enjoy this incredible national park with our dogs, and as I stated in the beginning of this blog, it is one of the few National Parks that even allow dogs to partake in the beauty with us. In order to enjoy these lands with our dogs for the years to come, it's important that we do everything right as dog owners to be able to continue to visit with our pups.
As a certified dog behavior consultant, I find these following points to be important to both advocate for your dog, and allow your dog to advocate for the park. Remember, all good training starts BEFORE it needs to be put to the test. Your visit to ANP is the test, not the first training session:
Most people do not enjoy overly friendly dogs. If your dog falls into this category, to advocate for your dog and not put them in a stressful situation where they are consistently surrounded by people they want to say hello to, choose to visit busier areas during less trafficked times & work on trail etiquette with your dogs, such as pulling off the trail (without impeding on the island's flora and fauna) with your dog in a stay, or working on engagement back to the handler before your trip. There are also many trails that are not busy that you and your dog(s) can enjoy at any time of the day!
Most dogs do not enjoy overly friendly dogs. If your dog falls into this category, to advocate for your dog and not put them in a stressful situation where they are consistently surrounded by dogs they want to say hello to, choose to visit busier areas during less trafficked times & work on trail etiquette with your dogs, such as pulling off the trail (without impeding on the island's flora and fauna) with your dog in a stay, or working on engagement back to the handler before your trip. There are also many trails that are not busy that you and your dog(s) can enjoy at any time of the day!
If you have a reactive dog, there are still many ways to enjoy the park, especially if your dog has the skillsets to work on calming behaviors from a distance. There are many trails that allow for hikers to pull off and work on skills with their dogs as people/dogs pass. As I mentioned in the first two points, it's important to visit during less trafficked times, especially with a reactive dog if you want to spend your time decompressing.
If you need help with preparing your dog for a trip like this, feel free to contact us for in-person training if you are local or to participate in virtual training!
Plan hikes based on your dog's ability, and if your dog is a green hiker, start easy and work your way up to more difficult hikes as you spend more time in the park, if you so choose!
Pack smart.
Pack more water in your backpack than you think you need. Your pup (and you) will need it!
Pack enough snacks and food for your dog for the amount of hiking you are doing.
Pack a dog first aid kit to keep handy in case of accidents.
Pack more poop bags than you think you need. While you may only need a single bag for a walk around your neighborhood, the extra exercise/metabolism boost may lead to you needing extra bags for your dog on your hike - pro tip: hike with a new roll.
Pack. It. Out. Say that 10x until the words melt in your brain. The plastic water bottles you finished? Back in your backpack they go. Used poop bags? Back in your backpack they go (pro tip, don't want it to smell? Get yourself a duty bag and place used/tied up poop bags in there, I promise it won't smell!). Anything that you brought with you on the start of your hike should come with you at the end of your hike to be thrown out once you get to a garbage. There are NOT garbages at most trailheads (and if there is one, they are often full), you will need to pack it out in your car and out of the park.
*Bonus Brownie Points* If you're on a hike and you find stray poop/poop bags left behind by other hikers, adopt it. Adopt the lost poop bags, pick them up and place it in your duty bag, so other hikers don't have to find it and become increasingly frustrated by irresponsible dog owners who leave garbage in the park. I can not state enough that it's important for dog owners to be the best representation of "dog ownership" so we can continue to enjoy the park with our dogs.
Visit Bar Harbor for Dog Friendly Restaurants & Shopping Opportunities
If you are visiting the area, it's almost impossible to not visit Bar Harbor, located in the north east section of MDI. Bar Harbor, despite being an absolute tourist attraction, is really a lovely town, don't let the "tourist vibes" lead you to not spend time here! There are so many fantastic restaurants in town (many are dog friendly) with outdoor dog friendly seating, as well as stores which boast "we love dogs!" stickers on their windows.
Some of our favorite restaurants on MDI to visit with OR without the dogs are the following (all of the restaurants I have listed have dog friendly seating):
Breakfast
Jeannie's Great Maine Breakfast (they are moving locations next year, their original location had outdoor dog friendly seating)
2 Cats Cafe
Choco-Latte
Side Street Cafe
Cafe This Way
Lunch/Dinner
Leary's Landing Irish Pub
Mainely Meats BBQ (outside of town - but they have an entire menu for dogs!)
The Travelin' Lobster (outside of town - but possibly the best lobster roll you will ever eat!)
Side Street Cafe
Jordan Pond House (within ANP, dog friendly seating when they have outdoor seating)
As I've stated and reiterated throughout this blog post, it's important that your dogs are great representations of how dogs should be in "public" and that your dogs are well behaved throughout town. If your dog has a tendency to mark, bark, or cause a ruckus, it may be best for them to join you in different endeavors in town, such as enjoying an ice cream at the village green or Agamont Park, or just walking through town, instead of joining you in the stores or in the tight outdoor seating at restaurants. Following these guidelines allows for your dog to have a better time, you to have a better time, and for dogs in general to continue to be allowed in these spaces we love.
Looking for an extremely dog friendly store in town? Running out of treats for all of the good choices your dog has been making on your trip? Make sure to visit Bark Harbor, the dog store in town, for incredible treats, chews, and the friendliest staff! Arya, Reef, and Rainier give their blueberry pancake treats 4 paws up!
Prepare for a Trip of a Lifetime
We absolutely love Acadia National Park, and everything about Mount Desert Island, and hope you found this helpful. If you are ever looking for more travel inspiration from the park, make sure to check out our instagram @talesofarya where we consistently post about the park when we go, and feel free to comment any questions you have about the trails we have taken with our pups!
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