Hiking the Great Head Trail in Acadia National Park
Distance: 1.6 miles / 2.6 km
The Great Head Trail, also called the Great Head Loop Trail in Acadia National Park, is an easy day hike along the rocky shores of Acadia’s coastline off Park Loop Road, near the Beehive Trail and Sand Beach.
That being said, this area between the Precipice Trail and Gorham Mountain is one of the busiest and most congested areas in all of Acadia, meaning that it’s best to arrive first thing in the morning during the busy summer travel season to enjoy the area without the crowds.
This could be parking at the Beehive Trail and walking across Sand Beach to hike the Great Head Loop or vice versa, but either way, my top recommendation for any adventure along this stretch is to arrive early and have plans to explore elsewhere once you decide to leave.
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
The trailhead parking at Great Head is one of the smallest lots in all of Acadia National Park, and it comes with some of the strictest no-parking rules along Schooner Head Road near the trailhead. Park staff have told me that they are quick to ticket illegally parked cars here.
With that in mind, parking is significantly easier at the Schooner Head Overlook, which is only 0.6 miles (1.0 km) up the 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: Great Head 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 Great Head Trail
This is the Great Head Trailhead, but, as previously mentioned, the Great Head Trail could begin at the path from Sand Beach shown below, or here, off Schooner Head Road.
Great Head Loop Trail
After less than 0.1 miles (0.2 km), the Great Head Trail splits into a 1.4-mile (2.3 km) loop around the peninsula.
Personally, I like to go right—the direction described in this article—because there are some rocky sections near Sand Beach that I prefer to climb up rather than descend by hiking clockwise.
For the most part, the Great Head Trail is fairly flat—outside of the few rocky areas near the water, as previously mentioned.
This split in the trail is nothing more than a faster path down to Sand Beach on the right, or, if you’d prefer to skip the beach, stay to the left.
I chose to go right.
Great Head Loop-Sand Beach Junction
This path down to Sand Beach is why I previously mentioned that parking at the Beehive Trail can be a great location to make one parking spot work for two adventures, which is something that can’t be understated in the incredibly popular area of Acadia National Park!
Sand Beach
Have you ever heard of J.P. Morgan?
Well, J.P. stands for John Pierpont Morgan, an American financier and Wall Street investment banker who once owned all of Sand Beach and Great Head until the National Park Service acquired the land in 1949.
Imagine all of this being off-limits to the public!
That being said, Sand Beach is one of the most popular destinations in Acadia National Park, and depending on the time of year, you can often find park-goers swimming during the warmest summer months.
Once back on the trail, the Great Head Loop begins to make its way toward the best viewpoint of the entire hike: the Beehive Overlook.
These are the rocky sections that were mentioned previously.
This isn’t quite the Beehive Overlook, but the views only get better and better as the trail ascends higher!
West Great Head Loop-Great Head Connector Junction
At just over halfway from the start of the loop to the end of the peninsula, the Great Head Trail splits, with this shortcut over to the east side of the loop, the trail that leads back to the trailhead.
This 0.2-mile (0.3 km) shortcut can be a great option for those uninterested in completing the full hike, as it shortens the full loop by about 0.5 mile (0.8 km).
Beehive Overlook
This is the Beehive Overlook, and in my opinion, it is undoubtedly the most beautiful viewpoint on the entire Great Head Trail!
Some notable landmarks that can be seen include Gorham Mountain on the left, Beehive Mountain on the right, and, obviously, Sand Beach just below the trail.
After the Beehive Overlook, the Great Head Trail simply continues around the loop, passing by a handful of other viewpoints along the rocky Acadia coastline—some of which can make for a beautiful east-facing lookout to catch the sunrise!
This is the southernmost point on the Great Head Loop Trail and the start of the hike back to the trailhead.
As the Great Head Trail parallels the east side of the peninsula, the loop passes by a number of different overlooks along the shoreline, which is why I mentioned previously that areas like this can make for beautiful places to catch the sunrise.
On account of the loop’s fairly mild terrain, the Great Head Trail can make for one of the best trail runs in Acadia National Park, so long as the ground isn’t slippery and wet.
I say this because slipping on wet granite is one of the leading causes of injury in Acadia.
That being said, I’ve linked my favorite trail-running shoes below, which can be great for both running and hiking on countless trails across the park.
This is an even closer area to hike out to for sunrise!
Great Head
Just before the trail re-enters the forest, the loop passes by the summit of Great Head at roughly 141 ft. (43 m), according to the National Park Service.
East Great Head Loop-Great Head Connector Junction
Not long after the summit, the Great Head Loop Trail meets the other side of the shortcut shown previously.
Here, go right to return to the trailhead if you decided to hike the full 1.4-mile (2.3 km) loop.
Great Head Loop Junction
This is where the Great Head Loop Trail returns to the beginning, with the trailhead located less than 0.1 miles (0.2 km) away to the right.
Overall, the Great Head Trail is a fairly easy, kid-friendly Acadia adventure, and as previously mentioned, it can make for one of the best trail runs in the park, so long as the granite isn’t wet and slippery.
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!
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