I have hiked many of the trails in Acadia National Park, but Ship Harbor is one I never made it to. When President Obama hiked the trail earlier this summer I knew it was time to cross this hike off my list.
Hiking The Ship Harbor Nature Trail
On a recent trip to visit my family in Bar Harbor I was searching for an easy hike in Acadia with my wife and nearly 1-year-old son. The jury was still out on whether my son would enjoy riding in the backpack we were planning to use. A few test hikes had gone well, but the thought of carrying a crying 22-pound toddler back down the side of a mountain was out of the question.
The Ship Harbor Nature Trail was just what we were looking for. High on the effort-to-reward scale, the hike offers great ocean views from a mostly level path. Located on the quiet southwestern side of the island, the area has only a fraction of the foot traffic on some of the more popular trails on the eastern side of the island.
The 1.5 mile trail follows a figure eight pattern along a sheltered harbor. We started on the inland side of the figure eight and curve our way through trees and shrubs along the way to the ocean. The path is quiet with only a few families and dog walkers, while the distant roar of waves crashing on the rocky shore provides a relaxing backdrop.
At the halfway point, the trail intersects the shoreline providing views of the open ocean and the treacherous ledge across the mouth of the harbor. Several ships have met their fate on this ledge. Typical of the Maine coast, granite rocks form impromptu seats and tables for a perfect picnic spot and a chance to relax and gaze out to sea.
After enjoying the views for a while we return along the shoreline . The trail becomes slightly more rugged maintaining a distance close enough to look down into the water without ever risking falling over the cliffs. The protected harbor quickly becomes calm and peaceful offering hikers a view into the clear water. About halfway back we pass a series of steps leading down to stones jutting into the water, forming another perfect picnic area for several families enjoying the sunny day.
As we return back to the top of the figure eight and intersect the inland portion of the route a signpost clearly points the way back to the parking lot. We take a left turn and make our way back to the parking lot capping off a great hike.
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