Acadia National Park is one of the few national parks allowing dogs on trails. Pets must be kept on a leash no longer than 6 feet and are not allowed on ladder trails or in public water supplies. They are also not allowed at Sand Beach or Echo Lake during peak season, in public buildings, on ranger-led programs, or at the Wild Gardens of Acadia. Service animals are an exception to these rules. Enjoy these hikes for dogs in Acadia National Park! And check out our blog post “Dogs have best friend in Acadia National Park.”

Welsh Corgis Howie,14, and Robbie, 6, go on a walk with Ken Nicholls on the Cadillac Summit Loop Trail.

1) Bar Island Trail
Description: Low-tide walk to forested island, accessible 1-1/2 hours on either side of low tide
Difficulty: Easy
Trailhead: Bridge Street off West Street in Bar Harbor
Round-trip distance: 2 miles

The dog-friendly Bar Island Trail, which stretches from Bar Harbor to Bar Island, can only be hiked at low tide.

2) Schooner Head Path
Description: Well-graded path with views of ocean at Schooner Head Overlook, and of forest and mountains
Difficulty: Easy
Trailhead: Schooner Head Overlook, east of Acadia Entrance Station on one-way park loop road
Round-trip distance: 5.4 miles all the way to Bar Harbor and back, but can turn around sooner

3) Compass Harbor Trail
Description: Well-graded dirt path to former site of park founder George B. Dorr’s estate, view of ocean
Difficulty: Easy
Trailhead: 1 mile south of Bar Harbor on ME 3, small parking lot on the left after Nannau Wood, a private road
Round-trip distance: 0.8 mile

4) Wonderland Trail
Description: Evergreen forest to rocky coastline
Difficulty: Very easy
Trailhead: From Southwest Harbor head about 1 mile south on ME 102. Bear left onto ME 102A and follow for 4 miles to Wonderland Trail.
Round-trip distance: 1.4 miles

5) Cadillac Summit Loop Trail
Description: Spectacular views from top of Cadillac Mountain along paved walkway
Difficulty: Easy
Trailhead: Top of Cadillac Summit Road
Round-trip distance: 0.3-mile loop