Acadia National Park

The hike

The Beehive Loop is Acadia's best-known rung and ladder trail, and a good introduction to them. It starts on the Bowl Trail across the Park Loop Road from Sand Beach, then climbs a 450-foot cliff on granite steps, iron rungs and short ladders, with one stretch where you walk across iron bars. The views open up as you climb: Sand Beach, Thunder Hole and the Gulf of Maine to the horizon. From the 520-foot summit the trail drops gently past the Bowl, a small pond, and returns to the start, about 1.4 miles in all.

It's short, but it isn't easy: the cliff section has exposed edges and steep drop-offs with no railings, and wet granite is very slippery. If heights aren't for you, the Cadillac South Ridge Trail is the long, rung-light alternative: 7.1 miles round trip through forest and along an open granite ridge to the 1,530-foot summit of Cadillac Mountain, the park's highest peak, with one iron rung. Arrive early either way, because parking fills up in summer.

Plan your trip

Permits & fees

No permit or trail reservation needed. A park entrance pass is required year-round ($35 per private vehicle or $20 per person on foot or bike, valid 7 days; non-US residents aged 16+ pay an extra $100 unless they hold an annual or America the Beautiful pass; the park is cashless). Only if you drive up Cadillac Mountain: Cadillac Summit Road needs a separate $6 timed vehicle reservation, bought in advance on Recreation.gov, from 20 May to 25 October 2026.

Getting there

Drive the Park Loop Road on Mount Desert Island, Maine, through the Sand Beach Entrance Station and park in the right-hand lane or the Sand Beach parking lot; expect congestion 9 am–3 pm in summer. The Park Loop Road is closed from mid-December to mid-April. Or take the fare-free Island Explorer bus (routes 3, 4 or 10) to Sand Beach. The trail starts at the Bowl trailhead next to the crosswalk at the top of the Sand Beach entrance.

Good to know

• The cliff section has exposed edges and steep drop-offs with no railings, and some ladders mean reaching overhead to grab the next rung. If you are uneasy with heights, choose a non-ladder trail such as Cadillac South Ridge. Rangers advise against climbing back down the rungs and ladders.
• Skip it in rain or ice: wet granite becomes extremely slippery and the trail is very dangerous in bad weather. Wait for the rock to dry, and wear sturdy shoes with good grip.
• Dogs are not allowed on Acadia's rung and ladder trails, including the Beehive, so leave pets with someone or choose another hike.

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