The Best Sights To See Along Ocean Path, Acadia

Meandering Down Ocean Path Allows Visitors to Experience Acadia’s Treasures

Winding along the coastline of Acadia National Park, Ocean Path offers 4 miles of land and sea to explore & admire. This is a great spot to start if you’re new to Acadia National Park. Simply because it has dozens of great offshoot areas to adventure through. You can take photos of granite cliffs, watch birds fly from tree to tree. Feel the ocean mist against your skin as waves crash against the rocks. It’s a magical part of Acadia National Park, but one of the best parts about Ocean Path Acadia is that it’s extremely accessible. If you have limited mobility, are traveling with young kids, or anything in between, this path comes highly recommended by all who visit it.

Ocean Path Logistics

Ocean Path starts at the upper parking lot of Sand Beach and continues all the way to Otter Point. There are many other points of interest along the way. The trail itself is relatively level and easy to traverse, you probably won’t need any trekking poles for this one! With the ocean on one side and the main park loop on the other, Acadia’s Ocean Path is easy to break into sections or stop at points of interest while using your vehicle. However, if you are interested and able in walking the path, you definitely should. Here’s what you can expect from the trail:

Length: 9.0 Miles Round Trip
Height: 115 Feet
Elevation Gain: 374 Feet
Type: Out & Back
My Rating: Easy
Handicap Accessible: Partially – Some areas are accessible.
Dog Friendly: Yes
Would we do it again: Yes

This is a bit of a “choose your own adventure” experience. You can decide where to start, where to stop, and everything in the middle. I’ll cover all the major points of interest on the trail as well, so you know what to keep an eye out for. The main thing to keep in mind while you’re enjoying the experience of hiking Ocean Path is that there will be no shortage of views, photo opportunities, and sights that make you feel awestruck; soak it all in.

History of Ocean Path

Early trails in Acadia National Park were often created for the wealthy elite to use. Many of Mount Desert Island’s visitors at the time were considered to be members of high society. Then, those who loved the nature that the area had to offer began exploring further away from the beaten path, creating even more trails in the park. Eventually, in 1933, the New Deal created the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC). The CCC supported national parks all over the country. Much of the work they did was create trails as means of seeing and enjoying each park. Ocean Path was one of the notable trails created by Acadia’s CCC, and it’s still enjoyed today. 

When I walk Ocean Path my thoughts often trail to all those that have enjoyed this path before me. I’m thankful for the CCC members that created the path, and I’m thankful to the inhabitants of the island that preserved its beauty through the decades. Even more, I’m thankful that this is now a shared experience among strangers who may never know each other. Once you’ve relished in the beauty of Ocean Path or Acadia in general, it becomes a form of connection you’ll feel with every single person who had a similar experience. The footprints that this path has seen. The animals that have walked along it, and all the memories made here are a continuous part of history and that is something truly beautiful.

Ocean Path’s Points of Interest

No two days on Ocean Path are the same! Mainly because there are so many different side trails and points of interest to explore. You can choose to see it all in one day or take it a bit slower and explore the trail bit by bit until you’ve covered every last inch. If you only have one day, though, there are a few places you can’t miss. Here are some of the biggest points of interest on Acadia’s Ocean Path:

Sand Beach

Okay, so technically, Ocean Path starts near the parking lot for Sand Beach, but if you’re going to be parking there anyway, you may as well pop over to see the beach itself before starting out on the trail. You’ll notice that it’s one of the most easily accessible beaches in the park. This is probably why everyone and their mother seem to be there at all hours of the day. 

I wouldn’t say it’s the best place to lay out and bask in the sun during the summer. This is because I’m not one for crowds…I prefer my nature with as few people as possible! It’s still a beautiful spot for photos and to enjoy gently lapping waves that come right up to the sand.

Thunder Hole

Perhaps one of the most famous attractions in the entire national park is Thunder Hole. This section of the park is situated along Ocean Path, with a staircase leading down closer to the ocean. At the bottom of the stairs, you can find an inlet in the rocks that the waves crash into. If you catch it at the right time, you’ll hear a thunderous roar as the waves crash, which is where this spot gets its name. 

With a sound that loud, you know there’s some force behind the crashing waves. Meaning you might be lucky enough to get some salty spray coming your way if you’re close enough to the inlet, too! I’ve spent hours sitting near Thunder Hole, watching older couples giggle in glee just as much as the young kids visiting with their families. There’s something so magnificent about it, that it seems to give everyone a big smile.

A pro tip for Thunder Hole is that the waves crashing with the force needed to see the show will vary based on the tides. The park rangers are usually very helpful and will share what time you should visit the hole during your visit. We’ve been told that aiming for 2 hours before high tide will yield the best result!

Otter Cliffs

At 110 ft., Otter Cliffs is the highest point you’ll reach when traversing Ocean Path. Acadia offers many incredible lookout points, but this one is fairly easy to reach and doesn’t require too much “hiking.” There’s a granite staircase to climb that leads you up from Ocean Path to enjoy the view, then another staircase on the downhill to get back on the path itself.

This is actually one of the highest Atlantic coastal headlands that exists north of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, so I’d say it’s worth your time to stop by. As you look out on the ocean from the cliffs, look for the buoy that marks historical significance. In 1604, Samuel de Champlain and crew were sailing around Mount Desert Island, they noticed smoke rising near Otter Point. The smoke came from a Native American camp, but as the ship sailed closer to the origin of the smoke, the crew failed to see the rock formation in time to avoid it. This collision forced them to spend the next winter in Otter Cove, doing repairs on the damaged hull of the ship.

Otter Point

Marking the official end of the Ocean Path, Otter Point is a great stopping point to have lunch and take a breather before heading back the way you came. There are bathroom facilities here! I’m always big on taking breaks halfway to admire your hard work…even if it wasn’t too hard this time around.

Turning around and saying goodbye to Otter Point is a bit bittersweet. It’s amazing to know that you get to see all of the incredible sites one more time on the way back to your car. That is unless you’ve been driving and getting out along the way, in which case, I have mad respect for you. 

As you head back toward Sand Beach, take note of how different things may look since you saw them the first time around. I’m often amazing at how changing sunlight, cloud formations, and even wind can impact our perception of natural beauty. There’s no trail that I notice it more than I do with Ocean Path. All of the dramatic, stunning natural formations feel as if they shapeshift and become more beautiful as the day goes on. I hope you feel the same way!

Safety Considerations

While Ocean Path is considered to be an easy trail, it still has a decent amount of length to it, so, put simply, don’t be dumb! I don’t mean to be a broken record with all this safety stuff, but it’s IMPORTANT OKAY!! Be sure to bring extra water with you! Especially on hot days; a few snacks are a must on any excursion…because snacks! You’re a snack, so you need snacks. Snacks and water are best enjoyed when you’re not sunburnt, so be sure to wear proper sun protection and sunscreen. I always sunscreen in my pack to reapply on longer hikes, and I’d count this as a longer hike.

The trail itself is impressively safe. You’ll notice handrails in many areas and the park keeps the trail itself very clean and well maintained. However, there are some areas where you’ll be walking down granite or carefully hopping from rock to rock. If it’s wet or has the potential to rain during your visit, these rocky areas will be the most challenging and have the most potential for mishaps. The best way to hedge against any issues in this scenario is to be sure to have proper footwear, take things slowly, and avoid exploring in the rain if possible.

Conquering Acadia

Acadia National Park is incredibly digestible, which is one of the many reasons I love it so much. While there seems to be endless areas to explore, it’s possible to catch many of the main attractions in a day or two, especially if you use your car to get around the island. I come to Acadia nearly every year, and it is incredibly well taken care of. It’s well worth the day pass fee of $35, OR you can splurge for an annual national park pass for $85. This can be used to enter any federal park in the US! It’s an amazing deal, I HIGHLY recommend the parks pass if you plan on visiting 3 or more parks in the calendar year.

Another reason I adore Acadia is you don’t have to “rough it” to see the park. Unless you enjoy that sort of thing! Other parks often require camping or have limited hotels nearby. Acadia’s proximity to the town of Bar Harbor makes it that much more appealing. When you’re done with your day in the wilderness, you can enjoy a piping hot shower. Some delicious seafood, and a luxurious bed in an Airbnb or hotel. Bar Harbor itself is worth a visit, so being able to enjoy the park and the town has always been a huge treat to me!

Follow the Ocean Path

It’s not the yellow brick road, but it is just as incredible. You can’t transport to a new strange land. You can however transport between ocean views, rocky cliffs, and lush trees, all in one easy hike! If the park allowed it, I may just set up a tent along Ocean Path and never leave. Since they don’t, I’ll have to settle for my yearly stroll along the path. I swear, each and every year the views get more beautiful.

If you’ve visited Acadia National Park, what’s your favorite trail or attraction in the park? There are too many for me to choose just one! Ocean Path sure does offer a TON of value, no matter what you’re looking for. Enjoy!