Beech Mountain, Acadia National Park

Acadia National Park is a national treasure; if you have never been, I recommend planning a trip RIGHT NOW. I know it sounds dramatic, but I’ve never met anyone who didn’t fall in love with the lush greenery, deep blue water bordering the park, and amazing geographical formations that will make your jaw hit the floor. I also love this park because it’s not too remote. It’s no secret that I’m not a big “roughin it” type of gal! After adventuring, I like long showers, tasty food, and a comfy bed, and Acadia National Park has it all. However, if you happen to enjoy camping you should check out one of the three options the National Park service offers. The campgrounds include Schoodic Woods, Blackwoods and Seawall Campground. If you are like me then I highly recommend checking out Emery’s Cottages on the Shore. I just love that place!

Since Acadia National Park is right next to the popular vacation town of Bar Harbor, ME., not only can you find all the luxuries of civilization, but you can eat some of the best seafood in the country. Hiking in Acadia is out of this world; the views are unlike anything I have ever seen, and the trails are very manageable. During one of my visits to Acadia National Park, (once you fall in love with it, you’ll end up finding yourself in the area again and again) I took my mom with me, and we hiked Beech Mountain South Ridge Loop which I highly recommend.

Beech Mountain South Ridge Loop at a Glance:

Length: 2.4 Miles 
Height: 840 feet tall
Elevation Gain: 492 feet
Type: Loop
My Rating: Moderate
Dog Friendly: Yes
Would we do it again: Yes

Experiencing Beech Mountain

Beech Mountain is a well-known peak within Acadia National Park that has a complex system of trails to explore. There are many ways to get to the peak, enjoy views from the sides of the mountain, and build your own adventure. If you want a longer hike, you can even combine a few of the trails to make a more challenging day. At the top of Beech Mountain, Acadia National Park has a fire tower that can be climbed. It provides even more intense panoramic views of the area, if you’re brave enough (more on this later).

What to Expect on the Trail

Since this is a moderate hike, you can expect some challenges on the way up, but nothing insurmountable. I took my mom, so even those on the older side (don’t tell my mom I said this..) can enjoy the trail. Once you enter Acadia National Park, make your way to the Beech Mountain parking lot where you’ll find the trailhead at the northwest corner of the lot.

For the first mile or so, the trail meanders through a forested area with a very gradual incline. There’s lots of shade in this part of it, so if you’re hiking in the early morning you’ll likely need a jacket until you start working a little harder and heating up. As the trail continues up, you’ll notice it starts to become a bit rockier. None of the rocky portions are too difficult, but there is some mild “scrambling” to get over the rocks at times.

At about ½ a mile in, there’s a great open spot with granite slabs that overlooks Long Pond and Mansell Mountain. Stop here to take some pictures and grab a quick drink of water. I know mom and I had a fun time taking selfies with this spectacular view – no shame in the selfie game!

As you continue to head to the summit, the incline will increase and you’ll get a nice booty burn on the way up; at least I did. There is also a set of stairs that will lead you up to the summit. Can we take a moment of silence here for the forestry crews and trail maintenance teams that keep our trails so beautiful and clean?! As I was hiking up some of the wooden steps, I couldn’t help but think, “Damn, some incredible soul had to carry ALL THIS WOOD and the tools up here to put these steps in, what an angel!”

The fire tower is hard to miss, but once you’re close to it, you’ll see the steps you can climb up to get even better views of the surrounding area. I won’t lie, the steps seem like they were built a loooong time ago, and my fear of man-made heights did not help as slowly creaked my way up, but the view was fantastic!

After you summit, you’ll go down some sloping granite before getting to stone steps to descend and head back through the forest to the parking lot. Keep in mind, this is the description for going counterclockwise, but you can choose to go both ways around the loop.

My Beech Mountain Trail Story

I mentioned that I took my mom on this hike with me, and it’s important to clarify that my mom and I are two different types of hikers. My mom enjoys slow, easy, mostly flat trails with a lot of benches and places to rest. I like trails that are a bit more challenging and allow me to get my sweat on. Beech Mountain Acadia National Park trails seemed to be a bit of a compromise between the two, so we headed counterclockwise on the Beech Mountain South Ridge Loop.

It was a beautiful summer day and I decided to go counterclockwise to ease my mom in the uphill part…or maybe I decided this so by the time we got to the uphill it would be too late to turn around…the world may never know. ☺ Anyways, it was a beautiful sunny day, and since we wanted to beat the heat, we got started early. As soon as we started to climb up the mountain, it got hot, which, I admit, did not help my case in convincing my mom this would be fun.

I’m a bit faster than my mom so I would stay up ahead of her, scout the trail, and help her navigate some of the more technical areas with rocks and whatnot. My mom called these areas ones that required “a climb,” but I think that’s a biiiit of a stretch (sorry mom!). When we reached the summit, I could tell my mom was feeling fatigued and she mentioned struggling with light-headedness and dizziness. Instead of being the sassy daughter and saying, “I told you to drink more water on the way,” I gave her an orange and some water to help her refuel. She felt better quickly and we got to enjoy the summit.

The summit was surprisingly empty for a summer hiking day, but it was incredibly peaceful and the views were magnificent. I had one more challenge in front of me: the fire tower. I couldn’t hike all this way and not climb up its rusty steps, but I am SCARED of heights! It seems counterintuitive for a hiker to be scared of heights, but these old manmade structures are hard to trust. As I dragged myself slowly up the steps, the fire tower was creaking and groaning the whole time! In my head, I kept picturing my fat ass falling through the metal steps and landing on the ground, so I won’t lie, I didn’t dilly dally up there. I took a few quick photos and nearly ran back down the steps.

After we left the summit and were about ¼ through the descent, my mom’s knee gave out. As frustrating as it can be when our bodies don’t do what we want them to, we had no choice but to figure out how to get her back up and head down the mountain.

To set the scene, we are literally in the middle of the trail and I’m trying to pull her up, but our coordination could not be more off. She’s stepping on my feet and making me trip, so it was nearly impossible for me to get her up. At about this time, an older couple we met at the summit caught up to us, so we had an audience for our gracefulness. After what feels like 20 minutes, I’m able to get her back up and we reach our car without any issues. Today we both laugh about it, but I thought she was going to push me down the mountain as it was happening! 

Trail Safety

This trail isn’t overly difficult, but you still have to pay attention through some technical areas. There are rocky parts that people can easily trip on, and the granite slabs can be slippery, especially on the descent. If it’s rainy outside, I can’t say I’d recommend this trail, but if you do decide to hike it in the rain, be very cautious and make sure your shoes have great traction.

From an overall safety perspective, this is a classic trail that you can bring a daypack on with your basic supplies: water, sunscreen, a small first-aid kit, snacks, and extra layers for sun protection. Of course, if you’re hiking during the heat of the summer or a colder day in the fall, you might have to pack some more in your pack, but you shouldn’t need a heavy bag to lug up the mountain with your whole bathroom cabinet packed in it.

Due to the views, Beech Mountain Acadia National Park is popular to explore at sunset. If you decide to do a sunset hike, make sure you tell someone when they should expect you home, bring headlamps, warm clothes in case it cools down, and extra water in case the worst happens. I imagine this is an incredible sunset experience, as long as it isn’t ruined by careless safety practices!

Best Time to Hike in Acadia

Most trails and Acadia National Park adventures are best from May-October because the weather is better. On the fringe months of that, like May and October, be prepared for colder temperatures and rain during your visit. The peak season is July – August, which is when I did this hike. The Park is much busier in these months, but, surprisingly, this trail wasn’t too busy when we visited. I will say, during peak season, the trailhead parking lots fill up FAST! You have to get there early or try your luck and vulture a spot from someone who is finishing their hike later in the day.

In the winter, most of the trails and attractions in Acadia National Park are closed, so you won’t be able to do any snow hiking, but I wouldn’t recommend that anyway. Hiking in the snow adds a LOT to safety requirements and trail knowledge, and it just doesn’t seem very fun to me. But hey, you do you if that’s something you want to try someday! No judgment…okay maybe a little judgment, but I still love you, haha!

Acadia National Park Logistics

Getting into Acadia National Park requires you to purchase a day pass for $30 or an annual pass for $50. I know I recommend this often, but it is one of the BEST adventure hacks ever – instead of getting a one-time pass to Acadia NP or purchasing an annual pass for just this park, look into getting a National Park Pass for $85. This annual pass waives the entry fee to any national park in the country. If you visit at least 3 parks a year, it pays for itself! Stop arguing with me on this one and just TRUST ME you sassy pants. I don’t think the National Parks Service sponsors people or has a brand ambassador program, but if they did, I’d be a shoo-in.

Get Out and Adventure

Remember, hiking is for everyone. You don’t have to be a CrossFit junkie or a collegiate athlete to enjoy the outdoors. Start with mild or moderate hikes until you build up your fitness level and get to a point where you feel comfortable challenging yourself a bit more. I know it can be intimidating at first, but from a fat person who has fallen in love with hiking and the community, I can honestly say there’s nowhere else I feel more welcomed or appreciated than I do hiking amongst other nature lovers.