Hiking the Ship Harbor Trail in Acadia National Park
Distance: 1.4 miles / 2.3 km
The Ship Harbor Trail, also called the Ship Harbor Loop Trail, is one of the most beautiful, easy coastal hikes in Acadia National Park!
Interestingly, the name Ship Harbor stems from the legend of the "Grand Design," a shipwreck off the coast that may or may not have occurred. This was never proven, but nevertheless, the name stuck!
Today, visitors can enjoy the Ship Harbor Trail, which traverses two separate loops—one along Ship Harbor itself and the other through the forest of Mount Desert Island’s southernmost coastline—making it a great, uncrowded Acadia destination to catch the sunrise!
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!
Ship Harbor Trailhead Parking
Parking for the Ship Harbor Trail is located directly off Highway 102A, on the right-hand side when coming from Tremont.
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: Ship Harbor 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 Ship Harbor Trail
The Ship Harbor Trail traverses a relatively flat path, which splits into the Ship Harbor Loop Trail after just 0.1 miles (0.2 km).
North Ship Harbor Loop Junction
Unlike traditional loop trails, the Ship Harbor Trail is actually two separate loops that meet shortly ahead, hence the name North Ship Harbor Loop.
That being said, I personally recommend going left first to hike both loops in the clockwise direction because the Ship Harbor side of the trail is, by far, more beautiful, which I think makes for a better way to end the hike!
Regarding my thoughts above, I chose to go left.
South Ship Harbor Loop Junction
About 0.25 miles (0.4 km) past the beginning of the North Ship Harbor Loop, the two loops come together once again to begin the South Loop.
Here, I chose to go left once again, to hike the forested side of the Ship Harbor Trail first.
The South Ship Harbor Loop Trail is slightly longer than the North Loop, at 0.7 miles (1.1 km), compared to 0.5 miles (0.8 km).
Ship Harbor-Wonderland Junction
At the very southern end of the Ship Harbor Loop, the trail makes a hard right turn to begin the hike back.
It is also here that the Wonderland Trail, just up the coast, can be connected with Ship Harbor, which entails about 0.6 miles (1.0 km) of walking along the rugged coastline to get between the two.
Furthermore, this southernmost area of the Ship Harbor Trail is the best place to catch sunrise—much like the far reaches of the Wonderland Trail. That said, remember to bring a good headlamp when traveling to Acadia, if this is something you’d be interested in.
Read My Separate Post: Wonderland Trail
The hike back along the western side of the Ship Harbor Loop begins what I see as the most beautiful half of the full 1.4-mile (2.3 km) loop.
Along with sunrise, this rocky section along the mouth of Ship Harbor can be a great place to catch the sunset, with sunsets closer to the winter solstice being better than those in summer because of the sun’s position.
Ship Harbor Access
Just before the end of the South Ship Harbor Loop, the trail comes to a little access trail down to Ship Harbor itself.
Ship Harbor
The shores of Ship Harbor can be a great place to explore at low tide, and the National Park Service boasts an abundance of birds that visitors can look out for, including Loons, Eiders, Great Blue Herons, Black Guillemots, Ospreys, and Eagles!
South Ship Harbor Loop Junction
After completing the South Ship Harbor Loop, I chose to go left to return along the Ship Harbor side of the North Loop.
North Ship Harbor Loop Junction
This is the original Ship Harbor Trail split from the beginning of the hike, with the trailhead located just 0.1 miles (0.2 km) away to the left.
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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