Sand Beach

Bar Harbor, Maine

4.7/5

based on 3 reviews

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Distance

0.22 miles

Elevation Gain

28.87 ft

Route Type

Out-and-Back

Description

Added by Gustavo Quiros

Explore, climb, relax or just take in the views at one of Acadia National Park’s most popular beaches. Sand Beach is a must see on your trip to Acadia with loads of trails nearby this is one place you can’t miss.

Sand Beach is located off the Park Loop Road on the east side of Mt. Desert Island. Signs for the beach will make it difficult to miss.

Once there you can park your car and walk down some steps to the beach. There are restrooms and changing areas close by.

On the beach you will be able to lay under the sun, or check out the nearby tide pools and rocks. Checking tide times and sunrise times is a good idea if you would like to get some great photos.

From the parking lot you have access to the Beehive Trail and the Ocean Path that goes all the way to and past the Thunder Hole

This is a nice location to spend the day with the family or go and relax in between hikes.

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Sand Beach Reviews

Kyle C

Explorer

Sand Beach

12/11/20

The beach is a nice place to hang after you have done some hiking in the area. The water can obviously be very cold so don’t expect to spend a bunch of time in the water if you’re sensitive to temperature!

4.0

Margo Schmiederer

Explorer

Sand Beach

08/14/20

The Atlantic is notoriously cold in New England - stop here after a hike to cool down. There are several hikes in the area including on the rocks that run perpendicular to the beach.

5.0

Leave No Trace

Always practice Leave No Trace ethics on your adventures and follow local regulations. Please explore responsibly!

Nearby

Ocean Path and Gorham Mountain Loop Trail

Great Head Trail

To begin the Great Head Trail hike, you'll want to park at the parking lot for Sand Beach located on the Park Loop Road. From the parking lot, you will cross the beach entirely, which is a nice morning walk in itself, especially on the foggy days Acadia is famous for. When you reach the end of the beach, the Beehive (small mountain beyond the tidal pools) will be to your left. There is a sign ...

Hike to The Bowl in Acadia NP

The Bowl is a small pond nestled in the mountains of Acadia National Park. Although it is a great way to relax after completing the challenging Beehive Trail, it can also be reached via a less strenuous out-and-back hike that is just under 1.5 miles. The trailhead is located on Park Loop Road, just across from the Sand Beach parking lot. After 0.2 miles on the Bowl Trail, you will reach a ju...

Beehive Trail

This 1.6 mile round trip trail starts with a moderate grade as you leave the sand beach parking area. After a half a mile you will see a rock pile and you have the option of heading strait for the slower sloping (but less views) trail ahead of you or you can turn to the right and see the steep trail up the Beehive. If you look hard you will be able to make out some of the hikers scrambling alon...

Thunder Hole

A natural phenomenon caused by waves crashing into a narrow inlet, Thunder Hole is a sight worth seeing in Acadia National Park. As the waves rush in and out of the small cavern at the end of the inlet, the water collides with trapped air, creating a loud thunderous sound. The splash of the water can reach up to 40 feet when the elements are just right. The best conditions for experiencing t...

Gorham Mountain Trail

Gorham Mountain Trail is one of the relatively shorter and easy trails in Acadia National Park, and it's a perfect morning spot to catch a sunrise in Acadia (much less crowded than the highly-visited Cadillac Mountain). To access the trail head, you'll need to drive into the park and down the Park Loop Road. A good access point if you're driving out of Bar Harbor on Route 3 is to turn left ont...

Sand Beach

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Sand Beach Reviews

Leave No Trace

Nearby

Ocean Path and Gorham Mountain Loop Trail

Great Head Trail

Hike to The Bowl in Acadia NP

Beehive Trail

Thunder Hole

Gorham Mountain Trail

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