Hiking the Bar Island Loop Trail in Acadia National Park
Distance: 2.2 miles / 3.5 km
The Bar Island Loop Trail in Acadia National Park is a quiet, lesser-known day hike around the most remote parts of Bar Island, compared to the much more popular Bar Island Trail that leads to the summit.
This is because the loop around Bar Island is not a designated or maintained trail, which is why it’s referred to as a 'social trail,' meaning a trail that is created over time through popularity and rarely, if ever, sees maintenance from the National Park Service. Some examples elsewhere include the Billings Gap Overlook in Petrified Forest and the Delta Lake Trail in Grand Teton National Park.
That being said, the Bar Island Loop Trail is a relatively easy adventure for having the designation 'social trail,' as its short distance and proximity to the popular Bar Island Land Bridge and Trail make it more frequently trafficked compared to others in the National Park system that see far fewer hikers, like the South Ariel Peak Trail in Zion National Park.
To skip to the beginning of the Bar Island Loop Trail, click here.
How to Get to Bar Island in Acadia National Park?
Bar Island in Acadia National Park is an adventure unique to Bar Harbor, Maine, as the trail is only accessible by way of a land bridge that emerges for only a few hours each day on either side of low tide.
This means that to visit Bar Island and hike the Bar Island Trail or Bar Island Loop Trail, visitors must arrive just before or at low tide, in order to make it back to Bar Harbor safely before the tide returns.
Typically speaking, there is only one low tide during the day, with the other occurring during the overnight hours, which is why it’s important to expect the Bar Harbor Land Bridge and Trail to be very busy, as everyone interested in making it to the island will be visiting during the same short window at low tide.
U.S. National Park Pass
Did you know that the same America the Beautiful Pass that grants access to all 63 U.S. National Parks can be purchased in advance at REI?
Yes, you can save time when you arrive by purchasing your National Park pass, along with your other outdoor gear, at REI before traveling to the park!
Bar Island Trailhead Parking
Parking for the Bar Island Land Bridge is very unconventional compared to other adventures in Acadia National Park because the National Park Service does not have an official parking lot.
Therefore, the only option is to utilize the paid parking areas throughout Bar Harbor and walk to Bridge Street from there. My advice is to park next to somewhere you’re interested in eating after, allowing your paid parking spot to work for both!
Google Maps Directions: Bar Island Trailhead
Hiking Checklist - Acadia
Here is a complete list of must-have things that you will want for any hike in Acadia National Park.
Osprey 3L Water Bladder - The Osprey 3L water bladder is the most universal hiking and backpacking water bladder on the market, and it’s my go-to because of the slide-off seal that allows it to be quickly filled from the top. Additionally, individual parts are easily replaceable, such as the bite valve.
Blister / Heel Protectors - I swear by these cheap, amazing heel protectors to prevent blisters for nearly every kind of hiking and backpacking that I do!
Black Diamond Headlamp - Personally, I recommend the Black Diamond Storm because it is one of the brightest, lightest, and longest-lasting headlamps on the market—and trust me, the weight-to-battery-life ratio really does matter!
Hiking / Trail Running Shoes - Depending on the type of trail, I prefer to use either the Keen Targhee for longer, more rugged hiking or the HOKA Zinal Trail-Running Shoe for lighter, less intense trails. In either case, both have been amazing to me for many years across countless environments, and both can be found in men’s and women’s sizes. - (Men’s Keen / Women’s Keen) (Men’s HOKA / Women’s HOKA)
Waterproof Rain Shell - You never know when it may rain, and I’ve learned over the years that a rain shell is far better than a rain jacket. By this, I mean that it’s best to have something that the water will roll right off of, which is why I recommend the Patagonia Torrentshell 3L available in both men’s and women’s sizes.
High SPF Sunscreen - Packing high-SPF sunscreen is a must for long days outside!
Walking to the Trailhead
Regardless of where you park, the walk to Bar Island begins on Bridge Street, a small side street that leads to the water on the north side of Bar Harbor.
Google Maps Directions: Bridge Street
Hiking the Bar Island Loop Trail
At the very far end of Bridge Street, the pavement ends where the land bridge begins.
Before hiking, I highly recommend reading the signs to fully understand how the tides work and what it means to get stranded on Bar Island.
Yes, this has happened many times before, and visitors have spent the night on Bar Island!
Bar Island Land Bridge
This is the beginning of the Bar Island Land Bridge.
When planning your hike, be sure to check the Bar Harbor tide chart linked below, so that you plan to arrive at least one, if not two, hours before low tide to begin hiking when you have the most amount of time to explore the island.
Tide Forecast: Bar Harbor Tide Chart
From the end of Bridge Street to Bar Island, the land bridge only measures about 0.4 miles (0.6 km), and although it is 'technically' drivable, I recommend against it.
Vehicles get stuck in the mud every year and often become a total loss once the tide comes back in. You can see this exact thing happen in the spring of 2022.
That being said, a 0.4-mile (0.6 km) walk simply isn’t worth the drive or the risk. Just park in Bar Harbor to be safe!
Bar Island (Acadia National Park)
Once on Bar Island, Acadia National Park begins, meaning all park regulations, including the no-drone policy, are in effect.
Bar Island Trail
Past the trailhead shown above, the trail on Bar Island follows an easy, gradual path up to the summit, about 0.5 miles (0.8 km) away, with both junctions for the Bar Island Loop Trail located within the first 0.1 miles (0.2 km).
Lower Bar Island-Bar Island Loop Junction
Not long after beginning the hike on Bar Island, the trail to the summit passes by the first of two different junctions with the Bar Island Loop Trail.
That said, I personally prefer to take the second junction up the hill, which is the direction this article is written.
Upper Bar Island-Bar Island Loop Junction
Shortly after the first junction, the Bar Island Loop Trail branches off for the second time.
This is the direction that I like to hike the Bar Island Loop because it ends closer to the trailhead and the land bridge.
All this to say: go right at this split to begin the Bar Island Loop Trail.
Read My Separate Post: Bar Island Trail
Bar Island Loop Trail
Once on the Bar Island Loop, the trail heads directly to the shoreline and follows the perimeter around Bar Island for roughly 1.2 miles (1.9 km) until it returns to the Bar Island Trail at the lower junction.
Even the fall colors on Bar Island are just as good as places elsewhere throughout Acadia!
Jack Perkins House
These ruins on Bar Island are remnants of the people who once called this place home.
For more than 100 years, people lived on Bar Island and even raised sheep until the majority of the land became a part of Acadia National Park in 1986.
Following this, the remainder of the land was purchased in 2003, when the National Park Service acquired this 12-acre property from the TV journalist Jack Perkins, hence the name Jack Perkins House.
After the ruins, go left, and then right to continue around the Bar Island Loop Trail.
This is where the loop continues to the right.
That said, the trail to the left simply leads back to the maintained Bar Island Trail, which leads to the summit.
Past the Jack Perkins House on the south side of Bar Island, the Bar Island Loop noticeably becomes less trafficked.
However, the trail is by no means a difficult hike; it just takes a little more directional awareness to stay on the unmaintained path, as far fewer hikers explore the loop compared to the summit trail.
This is the far eastern end of Bar Island, looking to the east toward Bar Ledge and Sheep Porcupine Island.
On the northern half of Bar Island, the trail becomes even more faint than before.
However, if you ever feel off track, I suggest walking back to a more obvious area, as the Bar Island Loop is fairly easy to regain, since it simply parallels the water.
On the far northwestern side of the island, the Bar Island Loop makes this hard left turn, which can be easy to miss, as it’s not uncommon for some hikers to go straight out toward the point.
Lower Bar Island-Bar Island Loop Junction
Overall, the Bar Island Loop Trail is a fairly easy, straightforward adventure that can be completed alongside the Bar Island Trail to the summit, so long as you are consciously aware of the window surrounding low tide.
That said, both the Bar Island Trail to the summit and the Bar Island Loop Trail combine for a total of 3.0 miles (4.8 km), which is why I feel that both trails are most practical for hikers who can move at a good pace in order to make it back across the land bridge safely.
Read My Separate Post: Bar Island Trail
More Acadia Adventures
If you’re interested in reading about some more amazing adventures within Acadia National Park, check out my separate posts below!
Mount Desert Island
Schoodic Peninsula
Best Way to Find Places to Stay!
Wherever I travel, I love to start my search for places to stay on VRBO.
Even if I don’t end up booking through them, I think it’s one of the best ways to see what’s in the area!
Washington
Best Way to Book Rental Cars!
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In short, Discover Cars is a well-known, reputable business that allows you to search for the best deal across companies, and they have the best full-refund cancellation policy I’ve ever seen, valid up to 72, or sometimes even 48, hours prior to your reservation!
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Discover Cars!
Safety
The biggest risks that the National Park Service highlights in Acadia National Park are largely associated with falls, whether on slippery, wet granite or down one of the countless dramatic cliffs found throughout the park.
This is true both in coastal areas and on unsuspecting upper-elevation trails—not just on well-known challenging hikes, like the Precipice and Beehive Trail.
That being said, prepare for all types of conditions, as New Englanders will tell you that layers are your best friend in Maine—especially on the Atlantic Coast!
Apart from this, be aware that there are Black Bears in Acadia National Park, though the National Park Service reports that encounters are very unlikely. Even so, hiking with bear spray is never a bad idea, regardless that Black Bears usually present less of a risk compared to Grizzlies. However, it’s truly up to your own discretion and comfort level.
As always, find the most up-to-date information and conditions on the official National Park website.
National Park Service: Acadia National Park
U.S. National Parks Pass
Did you know that the same America the Beautiful Pass that grants access to all 63 U.S. National Parks can be purchased in advance at REI?
Yes, you can save time when you arrive by purchasing your National Park pass, along with your other outdoor gear, at REI before traveling to the park!
More U.S. National Parks
If you’d like to read more about some of my best recommendations when visiting other U.S. National Parks, check out some of my other posts below!
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