Acadia National Park
Hike Village Green to Sieur de Monts with Island Explorer Bus
FamiliesAccessibilityHotel Walkers
0 mi Distance
1-1 hours Estimated Time
Out & Back Trail Type
What to Expect
This is the rare Acadia trail that starts at a coffee shop instead of a parking lot. You'll walk out of downtown Bar Harbor, cut through quiet residential streets, and within minutes find yourself standing at the edge of the Great Meadow — a sweeping wetland backed by Dorr Mountain and the Beehive that looks like a Hudson River School painting come to life. The trail is dead flat the entire way, transitioning from sidewalk to gravel path to the Jesup Path boardwalk, which floats you through a birch-and-hemlock forest that feels miles from civilization. The finale at Sieur de Monts delivers the Wild Gardens of Acadia and the Nature Center, plus a bus stop to ride back to town. Perfect for travelers who want to walk into a national park rather than drive into one, and for anyone recovering from yesterday's Precipice climb.
Trail Details
Estimated Time 1-1 hours
Trail Type Out & Back
Pets Dogs allowed (leash required)
Season Year-round
Trailhead Hike Village Green to Sieur de Monts with Island Explorer Bus
Pro Tips
Trail Tip
Catch the Island Explorer bus from the Sieur de Monts stop back to the Village Green — it runs frequently in summer and makes this a one-way walk instead of an out-and-back, which is the whole point of this route.
Trail Tip
Start from the Village Green right after breakfast at one of Bar Harbor's downtown spots. The morning light on the Great Meadow with mist rising off the grass is genuinely spectacular, and you'll beat the midday bus crowds at Sieur de Monts.
Trail Tip
The Jesup Path boardwalk section is the hidden gem here — most visitors drive straight to Sieur de Monts and miss it entirely. In early summer, look for lady's slippers and other orchids growing in the boggy areas alongside the boardwalk.
Photos
Photo courtesy of Maribeth Kambitsch. Used with permission.
