Hike Sieur de Monts to Jesup Path with Island Explorer Bus

This figure-eight loop through the wooded heart of Acadia is the rare trail that rewards you without making you earn it. Starting near the Nature Center and Wild Gardens of Sieur de Monts, the path moves through cathedral-quiet stands of white birch and hemlock — the kind of forest that feels deliberately peaceful, like the park is taking a breath. The boardwalk sections keep your feet dry through wetter stretches, and the compressed gravel path is smooth enough for strollers and wheelchairs. Scattered benches and pullouts frame views of Dorr Mountain rising above the tree line, which gives the walk a sense of destination without the grunt work. The trail opens into the Great Meadow on its far end — a wide, quiet expanse that offers a completely different texture than the surrounding woods. This one is made for families, anyone who wants a genuine Acadia experience without summit ambitions, and visitors who wisely let the Island Explorer do the driving.