Great Head - Acadia NP

This past weekend, we did another well-loved loop at Acadia.  Great Head above Sand Beach.

We access the trail "the back way" from a small parking lot off Schooner Head Road (left off Route 3 south of Bar Harbor).

From the lot, the trail goes through nice soft woods, out along the ocean.  After about half a mile, the trail climbs to the left, toward the ocean.  Once out on Great Head, the views out to the ocean are beautiful, walking along the height of land, you can see Otter Cliffs across the water.  Climbing, sometimes steep, sometimes scrambing up and down boulders, through some damp spots, across some precarious spots, and around the corner toward Sand Beach.  On a big open spot, there are great views way above Sand Beach.  Watching the waves hit the pocket beach from this vantage is amazing; when on the sand, the water comes and goes seemingly at our feet; but from above, the water undulates and is mesmorizing.

From this point, the trail goes either toward the beach or back toward the parking lot.  We love descending to the beach, kicking off shoes, and playing in the waves, as chilly as they may be! It was high tide when Leah ran though the sand and let the autumn waves tickle her toes.