Acadia National Park: Ship Harbor Nature Trail (Blog Hike #769)

Trail: Ship Harbor Nature Trail

Hike Location: Acadia National Park

Geographic Location: southwest of Southwest Harbor, ME (44.23164, -68.32560)

Length: 1.3 miles

Difficulty: 3/10 (Easy/Moderate)

Date Hiked: July 2019

Overview: A lollipop loop partly along Acadia’s rocky shore.

Park Information: https://www.nps.gov/acad/index.htm

Hike Route Map: https://www.mappedometer.com/?maproute=760099

Photo Highlight:

Directions to the trailhead: The signed parking area for the Ship Harbor Nature Trail is located on the south side of SR 102A 4.4 miles from its eastern end or 2.3 miles from its western end; both ends are at SR 102.

The hike: For my introduction to Acadia National Park, see the previous hike.  The southern tip of Mount Desert Island’s western half features two short and easy trails that lead to Acadia’s rocky shore: the Ship Harbor Nature Trail and the Wonderland Trail.  I hiked the Wonderland Trail on my 2004 visit, so I returned to this area to hike the Ship Harbor Nature Trail on my 2019 visit.  While both trails offer nice hikes, I prefer the variety of the Ship Harbor Nature Trail to the more monotone nature of the Wonderland Trail.

Trailhead: Ship Harbor Nature Trail

            From the roadside parking area, the gravel trail heads southeast across a sunny meadow that is dotted with pine trees.  In only about 600 feet, the trail forks to form its loop.  To save the best aquatic views for last, I chose to turn left here and use the right trail as my return route, thus hiking the loop clockwise.

Hiking through large trees

            Now in a forest that features some nice large pine trees, the trail undulates gently as it continues southeast.  Just past 0.3 miles, you reach a trail intersection with a wooden post standing in the middle of it.  The two options to the right are the return route for this hike, so angle left to continue heading toward the coast.

            The trail climbs moderately over some log steps to soon reach the highest elevation on this hike.  After crossing a three-plank boardwalk through an area with a dense understory, a gradual descent brings you to the coast at 0.6 miles.  Great Gott Island and other islands can be seen straight ahead, but perhaps the best view is to the west across the entrance to Ship Harbor.  Jumbled chunks of pink granite make off-trail movement difficult, but many people wander around this scenic spot to take in the views.

Acadia's rocky shore

            Past the oceanside spot, the trail curves right to head away from the coast and toward Ship Harbor.  The trail surface becomes rockier, but careful stepping will get almost anyone safely over the rocks.  1 mile into the hike, you return to the trail intersection with the wooden post.  Turn left to continue the return route.

Ship Harbor

            The last part of the loop traces the east shore of shallow Ship Harbor, which opens up to the left.  Though not large or deep, Ship Harbor cuts far enough inland to provide safety for small ships in most storms.  At 1.25 miles, you close the loop.  Turn left to retrace your steps back out the entrance trail to the parking lot to complete the hike.