Acadia National Park - Ship Harbor Trail

An easy trail over varied terrain leads to a shoreline of granite ledges and cirlces the end of the headland.
Trail Activity
Access(ible) Adventure Walking Snowshoeing
Length
1.30 miles, Network
Difficulty
Easy
Town
Southwest Harbor
Surface
Dirt/Forest Floor, Gravel/Crushed Stone, Rock/Ledge
Pets
Permitted
Fees
Yes

Description

HIGH USE TRAIL:

This is a busy trail system, especially on weekends between 9AM-4PM. Consider visiting outside of peak periods. Use Maine Trail Finder to identify other nearby trails. If the parking lot is full when you arrive, please choose another trail. 

The Ship Harbor Trail forms a figure-8 loop. Bearing right at each junction leads along the shore of a narrow, picturesque cove. After passing along a rocky headland (watch carefully for blue blazes on the rocks), the trail turns right and continues through a thick spruce woods. A right at each intersection leads back to the parking lot.

The inner loop has a surface of hard-packed gravel, with a typical width of 4-5 feet and moderate 0-5% grades, and a maximum grade of 9%.  This inner loop, where it meets up with the outer loop at the center of the figure-8, has a view of the inner cove and mudflats, with an informational sign describing the flora and fauna of the mudflats environment.

The western portion of the inner loop winds through large spruce trees, and its even gravel surface is only rarey interupted by occassional small rocks or roots. The eastern portion of the inner loop follows the shore of the inner cove. This section also has mostly a gravel surface, but the path is interupted in a couple locations by check steps 2"-4" high crossing the trail, and bedrock rising up to 6" above the surface.

The outer loop has a mixed surface of gravel, dirt/forest floor, bog-bridging, and legde. It leads to and cirlces the end of the rocky headland, offering dramatic views over the sprawling ledges to the open ocean and islands.

Other Information

Why the area is called Ship Harbor is not certain. It might have been possible, at one time, for small ships to seek shelter in the cove. This trail is popular among birders. Along the coast you may see: common loons, common eiders, great blue herons, black guillemots, ospreys and eagles. The inland forest provides shelter for warblers, kinglets, and other songbirds.

At low tide, the rocky headland has numerous tidepools. When exploring the tidepools keep these safety tips in mind.

  • Never turn your back to the water.
  • Explore as the tide is going out.
  • Be gentle with tidepool creatures.

Dogs are allowed on the trail on a six foot leash.

Geocaching is prohibited within Acadia National Park; however, the park does sponsor an EarthCache Program for those seeking a virtual treasure hunt!

Trail Manager

Visit Acadia National Park online for more information or contact:

National Park Service, Acadia National Park

National Park Service, Acadia National Park
PO Box 177
Bar Harbor, ME 04609
Phone: (207) 288-3338
acadia_information@nps.gov

Nearby Events

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Trail Tips

Leave What You Find
Respect natural resources, cultural and historic items, and wildlife by looking rather than touching.
Legend
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Trailhead Information

Starting from Southwest Harbor, continue on ME-102 through downtown. Just past the town, turn left on ME-102A. In 3.6 miles the Ship Harbor parking lot is on the left (past the parking for Wonderland).

Click on a parking icon to get custom directions
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