Ship Harbor Trail Guide
There may be no trail better than the one at Ship Harbor to show off many of Acadia National Park's best features. Sure, it may be lacking the high peaks of the park's interior, but this trail takes you through lush forest, along a rocky coastline full of sea-creature-filled tide pools, and high onto pink granite cliffs overlooking the ocean. At only 1.3 miles long, this trail has something to offer for everybody.
When to Visit
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Late spring, summer, and fall are prime times to visit Acadia, but expect the most visitors from mid summer through early fall, when the weather is most pleasant. Don't be surprised if the small parking lot is full during peak seasons; the earlier you arrive the better. As for winter, this part of the park remains open, but expect cold weather and snow. Be sure to know the tide schedule ahead of time as well, if you plan on exploring the tide-pools, which are only found at low tide.
How to Get There
The Ship Harbor Trail is found on Mount Desert Island, on Route 120A just past Bass Harbor and just before the Seawall Campground. The trailhead is marked by sign, where you'll find a small, roadside parking lot and pit toilet. The trail itself is a loop, in the shape of a figure-eight.
Ship Harbor Trail
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Time: 1 - 1.5 hours.
Distance: 1.3 miles.
Begin the trail, starting from the parking lot and leading through a sparsely-wooded area. It does not take too long from the start point to begin glimpsing the coast; if you're coming at low tide, chances are you'll smell it before you see it!
The trail's start.
The further you get, the more you'll begin to glimpse the water on your right--don't worry, there's a way down to it soon. Eventually you'll reach a crossroads---the center of the figure-eight. Stay to your right, as this will lead you to the area with the best tide pools.
Glimpsing the ocean.
Keep your eye out for a staircase on your right: this will lead you down to the rocks, and the ocean channel where the tide pools are found. You'll want shoes or sandals with good grip on the bottom, as many of the boulders can be wet. If you plan on wading into the water, probably best to bring appropriate footwear as to not step on anything sharp.
Stairs leading down to the tide pools.
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If you're not going to the tide pools, feel free to skip ahead. Otherwise, carefully make your way down the rocks to the channel--chances are you'll see some sea life even before you get there, as crabs caught out by the low tide scurry down to the water.
The rocky shoreline and tide pools.
When exploring the tide pools, tread extremely carefully--there's a lot of things, especially small ones, that call this place home and don't want to get crushed to death. It can take a bit of time to spot creatures in the water, but with patience, you're likely to spot life from hermit crabs, snails, and even star fish (sea stars).
A sea star and crab found in the Ship Harbor tide pools.
Once you're done tide pooling, return to the trail via the staircase and continue forward. At this point the trail takes you over a board walk portion, before the forest opens up and reveals high cliffs overlooking the ocean.
The trail leads back into the woods before allowing you to walk out on the cliffs overlooking the ocean.
Past the cliffs, the trail loops back into the forest and away from the coast, leading you back towards the center of the figure-eight. This is where the forest is most lush and green--keep an eye out for wildflowers and ferns aplenty here.
From here, stay right on the trail past the cross roads, where it will level out as it leads you through denser forest. The loop finishes soon after, placing you back in the parking lot where you started. Ship Harbor is an easy introduction to a lot of the different terrains found in Acadia National Park, and if it's your first trail, you've barely scratched the surface of the park known as the "crown jewel of the Atlantic." For more things to do in Acadia, click here.
Acadia's Otter Cliffs rise high above the Atlantic.
Acadia National Park Cinematic Video
Explore the tide pools of Ship Harbor, the peak of Cadillac Mountain, the beautiful coast of Otter Cliffs, and more in this cinematic video of Acadia National Park.