Guide to the Schoodic Peninsula, Acadia National Park, Maine

"A quite slice of Acadia"

Schoodic Peninsula, Acadia National Park, Maine

Contrary to the often packed trails of Mt Desert Island, the Schoodic Peninsula is a much quieter part of Acadia National Park. This portion is the only part of the park that is not island based, but still provides similar beauty. Due to its location, 45 minutes away from Bar Harbor, the Schoodic Peninsula is a preferable location for those seeking solitude and minimal crowds. There are several hiking trails and a one way drive which can also be biked. So, if you have a wonderful day out in Downeast Maine, check out this gem within Acadia National Park.

Schoodic Peninsula Map, US National Park Service

Hiking Trails of the Schoodic Peninsula

There are three official trails of the Schoodic Peninsula. All three of them lead to Schoodic Head, the 440ft (134m) high point of the peninsula. All three trails will lead the hiker through the coastal woods of Maine which can be somewhat swampy at times. The East Trail is a steep but short 1 mile trail (1.6km) that takes you to the top of Schoodic Head. The other two trails are slightly more gentle.

Hiking these trails will give you a good glimpse of the woods, but exploring the shore is equally enjoyable. There are no formal trails upon the rocky coast, but there are several pullouts on the 6 mile (10km) one way road that tours the coast. When I was here, I simply pulled over on these sections and climbed around the coast. You can note the conspicuous, dark, black streaks of rock wedged between lighter sections; these are volcanic dikes. Sunset and sunrise are excellent times to enjoy some scrambling.

Schoodic Point, the edge of the peninsula

As you're driving along the the one way road, don't forget to visit the Schoodic Point, the southernmost point. This another great location where you can just hop out of your car and climb along the coast. In the summer, there are literally thousands of lobster traps set at this point. You may also notice several islands along the coast; Maine has over 4,500 islands (including inland islands within lakes). This is phenomenal when you consider that Maine is the 11th smallest state.

As you can see, this section of Acadia National Park is very small, but very beautiful. It won't take more than half a day to see the whole peninsula, but its a nice break from the hustle of summer vacationers on Mt Desert Island. If you have more than a day to check out Acadia, please, put this quite little point on your list!

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