Hiking the Beech Mountain Trail in Acadia National Park
Distance: 1.2 miles / 1.9 km
The Beech Mountain Trail, also called the Beech Mountain Loop Trail, is a local and visitor favorite in Acadia National Park because of the historic fire lookout at the summit, as well as the beautiful and dramatic views over Long Pond on the western side of the loop.
That said, hikers one of have four different options to access the Beech Mountain Trail, to include the Beech Mountain South Ridge, the Beech Mountain West Ridge, the Beech Cliffs Trail, and the Beech Mountain Trail from the upper parking area.
My personal recommendation is the Beech Cliffs Trail via Echo Lake because that is an Acadia highlight on its own. However, this article begins from the upper parking lot on Beech Hill Road, which serves as the joint trailhead for both Beech Mountain and the upper half of the Beech Cliffs Trail.
If you would like to learn more about the full hike up the Beech Cliffs ladders from Echo Lake to this trailhead, I encourage you to learn more in my separate article.
Read My Separate Post: Beech Cliffs Trail
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!
Beech Mountain Trailhead Parking
Parking for the Beech Mountain Trail is located at the joint trailhead for both the Beech Cliffs Loop and Beech Mountain, at the very end of Beech Hill Road.
Remember to purchase your National Park pass in advance and display your pass or entrance receipt here and at every trailhead in Acadia National Park, whether you went through an official entrance station or not. Yes, law enforcement officers check parked cars throughout Acadia, and I have seen tickets handed out to vehicles not following the rules of a U.S. fee area.
On a different note, be aware that Acadia National Park is one of the busiest parks in the country, and finding a place to park, even at less-known trailheads, can be incredibly challenging during the busiest times of the year.
Google Maps Directions: Beech Mountain 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!
Hiking the Beech Mountain Trail
The Beech Mountain Trail begins on a flat path before splitting into the loop less than 0.1 miles (0.2 km) away from the trailhead.
Beech Mountain Loop Trail
When I first hiked the Beech Mountain Loop, I noticed that some visitors would only hike half of the loop based on the distances shown below.
However, I highly recommend hiking the entire loop, as the fire lookout at the summit and the Long Pond views on the western side are fairly spread out from one another, making the complete loop more practical to see the best of both.
I chose to go left in the clockwise direction around the Beech Mountain Loop.
After the initial steep incline, the Beech Mountain Trail continues to climb gradually, gaining about 350 ft. (107 m) from the beginning of the loop to the fire lookout at the summit.
Some hikers may prefer to hike with trekking poles, which can be useful both here and on countless other steep trails around Acadia National Park.
Beech Mountain Loop-Beech South Ridge Junction
At the very top of the Beech Mountain Loop, the trail splits with the Beech Mountain South Ridge Trail.
Here, go right to continue on the Beech Mountain Loop, but I first recommend climbing up the fire lookout’s first flight of stairs to enjoy the views toward Saint Sauveur Mountain and Somes Sound!
Beech Mountain Fire Lookout
The Beech Mountain Fire Lookout was built by the Civilian Conservation Corps and operated throughout much of the 1940s and into the mid-1950s.
Today, visitors can climb halfway up the lookout to enjoy views of Acadia Mountain, Saint Sauveur Mountain, and Somes Sound to the south and east, making the Beech Mountain Fire Lookout one of the best sunrise hikes in Acadia National Park!
After the summit, the Beech Mountain Loop continues toward my favorite views on the entire trail, located about 0.3 miles (0.5 km) past the fire lookout.
Beech Mountain Loop-Beech Mountain West Ridge Junction
The last time the Beech Mountain Trail splits before completing the loop is when it passes by the Beech Mountain West Ridge Trail, a fairly steep trail that begins along the shores of Long Pond, about 650 ft. (198 m) below this junction.
In any case, go right to continue around the 1.1-mile (1.8 km) loop toward the best views on the entire trail!
When the Beech Mountain Trail emerges from the trees, the viewpoint will be found shortly ahead!
In my opinion, these views above Long Pond are best enjoyed in the late evening or even at sunset—especially when the fall colors are changing in Acadia!
That being said, be sure to carry a good headlamp for the hike back in the dark if catching sunset from this beautiful viewpoint is something you may be interested in seeing.
As the Beech Mountain Loop leaves the Long Pond viewpoint, there are only about 0.4 miles (0.6 km) left to hike back to the beginning of the loop.
Beech Mountain Loop Junction
Upon returning to the beginning of the Beech Mountain Loop Trail, I highly recommend continuing over to the Beech Cliffs Loop on the far side of the parking lot if you didn’t come up this way.
I say this because the views above Echo Lake on the east side of Beech Mountain are second to none, and they are only a short distance away compared to starting from the trailhead down at Echo Beach.
To learn more, you can check out the full trail, which includes all four ladders from Echo Lake, in my separate article.
Read My Separate Post: Beech Cliffs 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!
I travel quite a bit, and I know firsthand that finding a good rental car deal can be a challenge, but that’s why I recommend comparing all of your options with Discover Cars.
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!
Book Here: Discover Cars
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!
Disclaimer
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