Hurry To Wonderland Trail & Explore Your Inner Child
Wonderland Trail Overview
Known for tide pools, leisurely exploration walks, and family-friendly excursions, the Wonderland Trail in Acadia National Park is a 1.5-mile, relatively flat path. It’s walkable and accessible, making it perfect for a group of any type. Whether you’re traveling with little kids, people with mobility issues, or simply want a beautiful place to explore without much effort, Wonderland Trail is for you.
I love a good, hard, sweaty hike, but being able to sneak off into nature for an hour or two without having a full-day schedule is amazing! I’m a sucker for beautiful trails in Acadia National Park! I keep discovering gems that get me to go back and explore more of the surrounding areas.
Wonderland Trail at a Glance
Length: 1.5 Miles
Height: 59 Feet
Elevation Gain: 85 Feet
Type: Out & Back
My Rating: Easy
Dog Friendly: Yes – but must be on a leash!
Would we do it again: Yes
Wonderland Trail Description
Wonderland Trail is located close to the town of Bass Harbor on Mount Desert Island. The trail offers a pleasant stroll with breathtaking scenery and nature to explore. It snakes around, right next to the ocean, giving hikers a chance to look in tide pools, enjoy the view, and even stick their feet in the water on extra hot days. Don’t forget your SUNSCREEN!
Though Acadia National Park is notorious for being hilly, this trail will give tired hikers and relaxed visitors a bit of respite. The entire thing is fairly flat and easy to walk through, so you can focus on taking in the surroundings instead of trying not to fall down a mountain.
The trail itself is mostly gravel, so there won’t be many surprise tree stumps waiting to jump out at you. The trailhead starts on Route 102A, on the southern tip of Mount Desert Island, which is known as the “quiet side.” This well-groomed gravel trail is wheelchair accessible for the most part, making it one of the most friendly-to-all trails in Acadia National Park.
More Than Just a Hike
There’s nothing wrong with a good hike for hike’s sake, but I’ll shout it from the rooftops when there are extra activities to enjoy during a hike! Not only do additional activities mean that there will be something for everyone, but they make it so you can turn a short stroll into a longer adventure if you’re up for it. Some of the popular activities on this trail are:
Birdwatching on Wonderland Trail
Acadia National Park in general is a great spot to observe many different types of birds. With this trail, the ocean laps up against a rocky, tree-filled coastline, making it the perfect place to watch large birds dive-bomb their prey or retreat to nests in the tall trees. With over 300 species of birds in the park, you’re sure to see a few different ones hiking Wonderland Trail.
Tide Pools
Probably the best part about this trail – okay, DEFINITELY the best part about this trail – is the tide pools! You’ll have to time your excursion just right. If you hit the trail when the tide is low, you can walk out and see all sorts of creatures in tide pools. Crabs, fish, and other animals call these pools home, so please be gentle and kind to them. Remember, just because you *can* touch an animal in the wild, it doesn’t mean you should. To best preserve this experience for future travelers, I recommend watching only.
Playing in the Water
If you find yourself in Acadia National Park on a hot day, you’ll have plenty of opportunities to cool off. Wonderland Trail Acadia is a great spot to dip your toes in! Just be careful and remember that the ocean is powerful. Never turn your back on the water, keep a close eye on little ones, and don’t disturb natural habitats just so you can dip your toes in.
Picnicking on Wonderland Trail
You know I love any excuse to eat in a beautiful setting, and Wonderland Trail is the perfect excuse! Don’t forget to check out this great picnic backpack!Once the trail opens to the ocean, there are many spots to sit and enjoy the view for a while. Since it’s not a long trail and the path is not treacherous, carrying out a picnic lunch is a MUST. Get me a turkey sandwich, some honey BBQ chips, and a cold water, and WOW, I’m a happy camper. You don’t have to have the exact same thing as me, but it’s pretty dang good if you’re out of picnic inspiration ideas.
I’m always looking for an adventure within an adventure! If there is a way that I can do a couple of fun activities while on a hike, I’m taking full advantage of the opportunity. And, if you need permission to be a kid and have fun, here it is, I’m giving it to you. You’re welcome!
Wonderland Trail Parking Situation
Does anyone else get anxiety if they don’t know the parking situation somewhere, or is that just me?? In any case, parking at most trailheads in Acadia National Park is tricky, and the parking area for Wonderland Trail Acadia is no different. The parking area, though small, is clearly marked, making it easy for hikers to find. It usually fills up by the middle of the day, so try and get there early or expect to wait around and see if you can snag a spot from someone who is leaving. There are some extra roadside spots available, but not many so don’t depend on those saving you.
Safety Reminders
There’s an interesting phenomenon that seems to happen in the hiking community – on some of the most strenuous, difficult trails, people seem to prepare the best and have fewer accidents, while on the easy, “don’t have to think about it” trails, something always goes wrong. I’m not sure if you see the same trend, but hiking safety is just as important on the quick, flat walking paths as it is on longer, more technical climbs. If you are not sure what to bring with you, not to worry, we got you covered. Check out our hiking gear picks here. You’re still in nature, still doing something that could lead to injury, and still a ways away from accessible help. Before heading out on Wonderland Trail, pack your first aid kit and remember the following:
Rocks Get Slippery When Wet
Yes, most of this trail is gravel and easy to walk along, but as you’re exploring tide pools and carefully meandering through larger rocks near the ocean, be sure to watch your step. As the tide goes in and out, rocks will be submerged in water for parts of the day, getting slippery. Even if they are out of the water during your visit, they’ll still be slick and there’s nothing fun about slipping on a rock, landing on your tailbone, and limping back out to your car.
Dehydration Can Happen Anywhere
No, this isn’t a 12-mile hike to the middle of nowhere, but that doesn’t mean bad things can’t happen. On hot days (even on not-hot days!) dehydration can happen quickly outside. Having fun in the sun, getting a bit sweaty, and exploring longer than anticipated can leave your body depleted. I’m a huge proponent of always traveling with more water than I think I’ll need.
Proper Sun Protection is a MUST
The sun is everywhere!! Even when it’s a cooler day temperature-wise, you can still get burnt and worn out from the sun. Be sure to wear proper layers, plenty of sunscreen, and a hat. This is especially important for little kids with more sensitive skin. Nothing will ruin a fun day exploring faster than some blistery sunburns!
Know When to Stop
There’s never any shame in turning back early, even on trails that are considered to be short and leisurely. Listen to your body’s cues, be easy on yourself, and know when it’s time to call it quits. Heading back before you get tired is the key, or you’ll be exhausted on the entire return trip. This can leave a sour taste in your mouth about the experience as a whole.
Check for Ticks
The Center for Disease Control (CDC) issued new warnings for ticks this season, expecting it to be one of the worst years for tick bites and related diseases. Ticks can carry nasty diseases like Lyme Disease, so be sure to check for ticks after every hike. Look at your legs, ankles, and in all other flaps and folds. If you do find a tick, you’ll want to remove the tick, save it, and send it to a lab to be tested for diseases.
A Great Beginner Trail
The Wonderland Trail Acadia is just one of the amazing offerings that can be found within the park. It’s the perfect escape to nature without having to do too much work to enjoy it. Beautiful and accessible, Wonderland Trail will have you coming back for more. If you do try my turkey sammy picnic lunch, let me know your thoughts – does it taste better with this view? I certainly think so. If you enjoyed this hike you might want to stop at Ship’s Harbor Trail which is located right next to Wonderland Trail!
