Returning to Acadia National Park, Almost 30 Years Later

I do most of my traveling solo these days, as most of the time, my friends and family can't sync up with my flexible schedule or would be coming from a very long distance away—but it didn't always used to be that way. Some of my earliest memories are of traveling with my adventurous mother. She would like to take bus trips, and one of our most frequent jaunts was to Maine. As a huge nature lover, the Pine Tree State was a little slice of heaven for her, and a frequent stop was the state's massive natural haven, Acadia National Park.

We did a lot of exploring on those tours, although it was definitely geared towards casual hikers rather than adventurers. And of course, we ate a lot of good food along the way! I'm currently planning my return to Maine after far too long away, and it's got me thinking back on those childhood trips. This time, I'm excited to tackle several of the best hikes in Acadia National Park and see the park from a whole new perspective.

Acadia might not be the biggest national park in the United States, but it's definitely the most impressive in the Northeastern United States—and it's truly stunning for its diversity of environments. It's possible to take a relaxing waterfront hike, challenge a mountain peak, explore a wetland full of flora and fauna, and stroll through a peaceful forest, all without ever leaving the park.

Acadia is a perfect place for hikers to discover exactly what they want from a day on the trails. The park has over 150 miles of trails, ranging from family-friendly to challenging. When I was exploring the park as a kid, hiking wasn't the focus of the trip, although we did hike a section of Ocean Path Trail. The park's premier waterfront trail is a rocky but easy trail that brings you to a pristine, endless water's edge. I'm excited to hike this trail in its entirety this time—I'm feeling nostalgic just looking at the photos.

This is just the start of the hiking possibilities here, though. I'm likely to be here for only a few days, and as I'm not an expert hiker, I might stick to some of the easier hikes and take a lot of great pictures. But if you really want to challenge yourself, Acadia might be the best park on the East Coast for tough hikes and rewarding views.

• Beehive Loop Trail is one of the park's most iconic trails, a 1.3-mile loop trail with a challenging elevation gain and some great water features.
• Six Summits is 5.9 miles and takes you across six of Acadia's many mountains in a rewarding hike for a brisk afternoon.
• Precipice Loop is open seasonally and is as much a rock-climbing adventure as a hike - while it's only 2.6 miles, there will be plenty of points where you're going straight up on iron handrails.

If you're going to take on any of these challenging hikes in Acadia National Park, I definitely recommend a subscription to AllTrails +. Acadia's trails can be pretty winding and unconventional, and it's great to have the backup of an app that offers point-by-point, downloadable trail guides that keep track of your progress.

Have you gotten to tackle any of the best hikes in Acadia National Park? A lot of these are best taken on with a buddy, so I hope you share this article and find an adventure that suits you perfectly. Maybe we'll meet on the trail—or at Route 66 in nearby Bar Harbor, which is definitely on my travel list as well. The kitschy Americana vibe and extensive menu sound fantastic. And if you're looking for a place to stay in the area, I was really impressed by the look of Whitetail Cottage, a rustic Airbnb located only seven miles from the park.

Feeling inspired? Try planning your own trip using Only In Your State’s itinerary planner.