If you’re looking for dog friendly hikes in Acadia National park, I’ve got you! There are so many beautiful trails you can explore! Besides hiking, you can hang out in the town of Bar Harbor for food, drinks, and some shopping. I visited during the first week of October, and the fall foliage was almost at its peak, so it was gorgeous! To me, the perfect time to hike Acadia is during the Fall. The temps were about 40F during the morning, low 60F in the afternoon, and then dipped back down to about mid 30F to 40F at night.
It was such an amazing experience, and it felt so fulfilling to see my Siberian Husky, Gatsby, enjoy every bit of the trails (and the lobsters of Maine, too). Here’s what you need to know if you’re heading to Acadia National Park with your pup.
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Best Places to Stay Near Acadia National Park
Under Canvas Acadia
I wanted an authentic camping experience, but I knew I couldn’t live without showers and a toilet. So, we decided on glamping with Under Canvas Acadia instead. I’m happy we chose to stay here because this place was incredibly dog-friendly! Your dog can pretty much go wherever you go. Staying with Under Canvas Acadia allows you to spend time in nature with modern luxuries. Plus, it’s only a 35-minute drive from Acadia National Park.
There’s a variety of safari-style canvas tents with en suite bathrooms to choose from. Each tent comes with king-size beds, West Elm furnishings, wood-burning stoves, and organic plant-based bath products! For me, nothing beats being able to take a nice hot shower in your tent after a long day of hiking. The only thing is, there’s a pull cord you need to pull down for hot water when taking a shower. And, there’s no temperature control. The hot water didn’t seem too hot since the temperature inside our tent was only in the mid-30s! Each tent comes with USB battery packs for charging your phone.
We enjoyed the dining experience here so much that we had breakfast and dinner every day at the campground cafe. They offered seasonal and locally sourced produce, hot breakfasts, charcuterie boards, fresh salads, fresh seafood, everyday dinner specials, and wine. There’s also bottomless coffee, tea, and hot chocolate you can enjoy any time of the day!
After our hikes, we went back to the campground and relaxed at the indoor lounge or outdoors by the campfire, where we listened to live music. If board games are your thing, there’s a ton of them for you to choose from.
My favorite thing about the Under Canvas Acadia campground is its private beach. Walking with Gatsby and my husband here during sunrise and sunset felt so serene. Gatsby and I even saw a sky full of stars together for the first time.
Terramor Outdoor Resort
Nestled in the woods of Mount Desert Island, Terramor Outdoor Resort is a bit closer to both the town of Bar Harbor and Acadia National Park compared to Under Canvas. If you want all the modern luxuries in your tent like running hot water with walk-in showers, electricity and Wifi, then Terramor will be the better option for you.
Want to know more about Terramor? Read my blog post about our dog-friendly glamping experience with Terramor.
Dog Friendly Hikes in Acadia National Park
Acadia National Park is one of the few national parks allowing dogs on trails. Dogs need to be kept on a leash no longer than six feet. There are a few areas they’re not permitted: the ladder trails, in public water supplies, Sand Beach or Echo Lake (during peak season), and at the Wild Gardens of Acadia. TIP: Your dog may want to swim or even drink the water from the lakes and ponds but these are public water supplies for the people of Maine so make sure you keep them out!
There are 120+ miles of trails to explore and during our three-day trip, we were only able to explore a few. Here’s where we explored.
Jordan Pond Trail
Once you park your car at the Jordan Pond House parking lot, you’ll love this easy 3.5-mile hike that follows the path around Jordan Pond. The waters were calm and crystal clear! Your pup will probably want to drink the water here, so keep them away because the pond supplies public drinking water. Starting at the east side of the trail, it begins as a leisurely walk on compact dirt to a beach area at the pond’s northern end. From there, the path becomes rockier and then finishes off with a one-mile section of an elevated plank boardwalk. After your hike, you can head to the Jordan Pond House restaurant. We wanted to try out the food here, but it was packed when we got there. We need to come back here during our next trip!
Ocean Path Trail
Ocean Path starts at the Sand Beach parking lot, located along Park Loop Road. Park your car here to hike this 2.2-mile trail along the rocky Atlantic coastline between Sand Beach and Otter Point. Along the way, you’ll encounter famous landmarks like Sand Beach, Thunder Hole, Monument Cove, and Otter Cliff.
Sand Beach – If you’re headed on a path towards Sand Beach, keep an eye out for snakes by the stairs! We came across a few! Dogs are not allowed in Sand Beach from May 15 through September 15. We also didn’t see any signs requiring dogs to be on leash, so you’re going to run into a few dogs running off-leash. Be careful if you know your pup won’t do well in this type of situation.
Thunder Hole – this famous landmark is a carved-out inlet along the rocky shorelines of Acadia National Park. If you’re headed here, go 1–2 hours before high tide. That’s when the waves crash and slap into this inlet, creating a sound just like a thunderstorm!
Cadillac Mountain Summit Loop
Everyone visits Cadillac Mountain first thing in the morning to catch the sunrise. It’s the highest peak on Mount Desert Island. TIP: You need reservations to drive to the summit of Cadillac Mountain during tourist season. Go to the recreation.gov site to reserve your tickets for a specific time slot. To get to Cadillac Mountain, you need to enter the park at the Cadillac Mountain Entrance and head south on Park Loop Road. From there, it’s about a 3.5-mile drive on Cadillac Summit Road to get to the parking area at the top.
Bass Harbor Head Light
This is where you’ll find the most photographed lighthouse in all of Maine. The actual lighthouse is fenced off, but you can drive to the lighthouse and take a short walk to a viewing platform to see the iconic old lighthouse along the rugged coastline. TIP: The parking lot here is tiny so expect long lines to get there. You’ll be waiting in your car for a bit.
Visting the town of Bar Habor
Bar Harbor is a town in Mount Desert Island, neighboring Acadia National Park. You’ll find a bunch of restaurants and charming, locally-owned stores selling handcrafted Maine items and souvenirs to bring home with you. I picked up a Maine embroidered scented pillow filled with Maine’s balsam fir.
Where to Eat
Must Go: Trenton Bridge Lobster Pound
If you’re a lobster or seafood lover in general, you MUST go to Trenton Bridge Lobster Pound. The lobsters here beat the ones we had in downtown Bar Harbor. It was the freshest, best-tasting lobsters ever! The steamers, clams, potato salad, and blueberry pie were also to die for. Just ask Gatsby; he definitely agrees!
The Best Moments Were Made in Acadia National Park
Hiking at Acadia National Park is such an incredible experience to share with your dog. I’ll never forget the day I saw Gatsby’s eyes light up when we got to the trails. He was immersed in nature, took in all the new smells of pine and balsam fir trees in the forests, and listened to the waves crash against the rugged coastline. He happily left his paw prints in Acadia one trail at a time.
I can’t wait for you to take your pup on all the dog friendly hikes in Acadia National Park. Your pup is going to love it! And don’t forget to bring all your dog hiking gear must-haves so your pup can hike like a pro on the trails!
Book Your Stay At Acadia National Park
Ready to explore these dog friendly hikes in Acadia National Park with your pup? Book your stay, pack your bags, leash up your pup and it’s time to go on an adventure!
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