Best Dog Friendly Trails Acadia National Park – If you’re looking for dog-friendly hikes in Acadia National Park, I’ve got you covered! There are so many beautiful trails waiting to be explored! In addition to hiking, hang out in Bar Harbor and enjoy food, drinks, and shopping. It was the first week of October when I went and the fall maple leaves were almost at their peak so it was beautiful! For me, the best time to hike Acadia is in the fall. Temperatures will be around 40 degrees Fahrenheit in the morning, 60 degrees Fahrenheit in the afternoon, then drop back to around 30 to 40 degrees Fahrenheit at night.
It was a great experience and it was so gratifying to see my Siberian Husky Gatsby enjoying every track (and Maine lobster too). If you’re traveling to Acadia National Park with your pup, here’s what you need to know.
Best Dog Friendly Trails Acadia National Park
I wanted a real camping experience, but I knew I couldn’t live without showers and toilets. So we decided to go glamping instead of Under Canvas Acadia. I am so glad we decided to stay here as this place is very dog friendly! Your dog can go almost anywhere. Staying at Under Canvas Acadia allows you to spend your time surrounded by nature in modern luxury. Plus, Acadia National Park is only a 35 minute drive away.
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A range of safari-style canvas tents with private bathrooms. Each tent comes with a king-size bed, West Elm furniture, wood-burning stove and organic plant-based bath products! For me, there is nothing better than being able to take a hot shower in my tent after a long day of hiking. The only problem was that there was a pull cord that had to be pulled down when bathing to get hot water. And there is no temperature control. The hot water didn’t seem too hot as the temperature in our tent was only in the thirties! Each tent comes with a USB battery pack to charge your phone.
We loved the dining experience so much that we ate breakfast and dinner at the campsite cafe every day. They offer seasonal and local produce, hot breakfasts, charcuterie boards, fresh salads, fresh seafood, daily dinner specials and wine. You can enjoy unlimited coffee, tea and hot chocolate at any time of the day!
After our hike, we return to the campsite and relax in the indoor lounge or listen to live music by the outdoor fire. If you like board games, there are plenty to choose from.
My favorite part of Under Canvas Acadia Campground is its private beach. It felt so peaceful walking here at sunrise and sunset with Gatsby and my husband. Gatsby and I saw the stars together for the first time.
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Terramor Outdoor Resort is tucked away in the woods on Mount Desert Island, closer to the town of Bar Harbor and Acadia National Park than Under Canvas. If you want a tent with all the modern luxuries such as hot water with a shower, electricity and Wifi, then Terramor is the better choice for you.
Acadia National Park is one of the few national parks that allows dogs on the trails. Dogs must be on a leash and must not exceed six feet in length. There are a few areas where access is not allowed: access to stairs, public water supplies, the beach or Echo Lake (during high season) and Acadia Wild Gardens.
Tip: Your dog may want to swim or even drink from lakes and ponds, but these are public water systems for the people of Maine, so be sure to keep them away!
There are over 120 miles of trails to explore, and we were only able to explore a few during our three-day trip. We found it here.
Visiting Acadia National Park With Your Dog: Faq & Activities
After parking in the Jordan Pond House parking lot, you’ll love taking an easy 5.5-mile hike along the trails surrounding Jordan Pond. The water is calm and clear! The puppies may want to drink the water here, so keep them away as the pond provides public drinking water. Start on the east side of the trail and enjoy a pleasant walk on compact ground to the beach area at the north end of the lake. From there, the trail becomes rougher and ends with a kilometer-long elevated boardwalk. After the tour, you will go to the Jordan Pond House restaurant. We wanted to try the food but it was full when we got there. We will definitely return here on our next trip!
The Ocean Trail begins at the beach parking lot along the loop of the park. Park your car here and hike this 2.2-mile trail along the rocky Atlantic coast between the sandy beach and Otter Point. Along the way, you’ll encounter famous landmarks such as Sand Beach, Thunder Hole, Monument Cove and Otter Cliffs.
Beach – If you take the path to the beach, watch out for snakes next to the stairs! We met a couple! Dogs are not allowed on the beach from 15 May to 15 September. We also didn’t see any signs that dogs had to be on a leash, so you will come across some dogs on a leash. Be careful if you know your puppy will not behave well in this situation.
Thunder Hole – This famous landmark is a cut along the rocky shores of Acadia National Park. If you want to go here, go 1-2 hours before high tide. At this moment, the waves collided with each other and hit this entrance, making a thunderous sound!
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In the morning, everyone went to Cadillac Mountain to watch the sunrise. It is the highest peak on Mount Desert Island. Tip: Reservations are required to drive to Cadillac Summit during peak tourist season. To reserve tickets for specific dates, visit therecreation.govsite. To get to Cadillac Mountain, enter the park from the Cadillac Mountain entrance and head south on Park Loop Road. From there, follow Cadillac Summit Road approximately 3.5 miles to the summit parking lot.
Maine’s most photographed lighthouse is located here. The lighthouse itself is fenced off, but you can drive up to the lighthouse and walk a short distance to the lookout where you can see the iconic old lighthouse along the rugged coastline.
Tip: The parking lot here is small, so expect long lines. You will wait in the car for a while.
Bar Harbor is a small town on Mount Desert Island adjacent to Acadia National Park. You’ll find many restaurants and quaint local shops selling handmade Maine products and souvenirs to take home. I picked up a Maine balsam-scented pillow embroidered with Maine balsam pine.
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If you love lobster or seafood, you must visit the Trenton Bridge Lobster Pound. The lobster here beats the lobster we had in downtown Bar Harbor. This is the freshest and best tasting lobster ever! The steamer, clams, potato salad and blueberry pie were also delicious. Just ask Gatsby totally agree!
Hiking in Acadia National Park is an incredible experience to share with your dog. I’ll never forget the day Gatsby’s eyes sparkled when we reached the track. He immersed himself in nature, smelling the new scents of pine and balsam fir in the forest and listening to the sound of the waves crashing on the rough beach. He happily left his paw prints in Arcadia for once.
Can’t wait to take your pup on all of Acadia National Park’s dog-friendly hikes. Your dog will love it! Don’t forget to bring all the hiking gear your dog needs so your dog can hike like a pro!
Ready to explore these dog-friendly hikes in Acadia National Park with your pup? Book your accommodation, pack your bags, collect your puppy and it’s time to go on an adventure!
Acadia National Park
This post may contain affiliate links, which means that when you click on a link and make a purchase, we receive a commission. Thank you for supporting this blog. With over 100 miles of hiking trails, wagon trails to explore, and a free pet-friendly shuttle, visiting Acadia National Park with your dog is a real treat for the whole family!
Traveling to Acadia National Park requires commitment. It is in the extreme northeastern part of the United States, which is not a place that should happen. Boston is the nearest big city, 250 miles away by car!
But like most things that require effort, the rewards at Acadia far outweigh the investment. For those traveling with pets, this is a national park that is guaranteed not to disappoint!
Over thousands of years, glaciers have carved this amazing landscape. Behind the rounded peaks and deep valleys now lie freshwater lakes and ponds. The advance and retreat of the ice removes the surface layer and exposes pink granite.
