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If you are looking for a short, but challenging hike to do while visiting Acadia National Park, then the Beehive Trail is the perfect choice. Being just one step below its strenuous its big brother, the Precipice Trail, the Beehive is a gentler introduction to navigating narrow ledges and steep cliffs.
That said, the Beehive Trail is not for the faint of heart. Having a fear of heights, I initially wasn’t sure whether this trail was for me. After all, it was only been a few years ago when I couldn’t even climb up the spiral stairs of a historic lighthouse.
Still, there was a pull within me to do this hike, so I consumed every medium of content to see what the Beehive would entail. While there’d certainly be some heart-pumping moments, I felt deep down that this was something I could do. Better yet, it might even be fun!
Guess what? I can officially say that I’ve successfully navigated the Beehive Trail. Now, I want to be one more positive voice encouraging you to do the same. Below I am sharing what to expect and tips for managing the scary sections when hiking Acadia’s famous Beehive Trail.
Hiking the Beehive Trail at Acadia National Park
Beehive Trail – Quick Facts
- Length: 1.4 mile loop
- Difficulty: Hard. You will be ascending a 450 ft cliff face on exposed cliffs using iron rungs and granite staircases.
- Time: 60-90 minutes, depending on crowds.
- Terrain: Rocky. Beware of slippery sections. It is not advised to hike this trail in wet conditions.
- Scenery: Dreamy views out towards the Atlantic for much of the hike. The trail also passes through wooded areas.
What to Bring
Here are some items you’ll want to pack when hiking the Beehive Trail in Acadia National Park for a comfortable and safe experience:
- Athletic apparel. Wear comfortable athletic clothing that allows for a good range of motion when climbing up the metal rungs.
- Bug Spray. Even if you cover up, mosquitos can bite through some fabrics.
- Hiking shoes. I cannot emphasize this enough – wear good shoes. This trail has rocky sections that can be slippery and tricky to navigate. I personally adore my Keens.
- Hat to shade your face from the sun.
- Sunscreen. Expect almost no shade on the Beehive section of the hike.
- Water bottle. These vacuum seal water bottles (which come in super fun colors!) accompany us on every hike. The upward climb on the Beehive can be strenuous and you’ll definitely get thirsty.
- Camera to capture the stunning scenery. I’ve been using the Sony A6000 for years, and I still love it.
- Cell phone: For photos or in case of an emergency (although there isn’t great cell service in Acadia).
Note: Pets unfortunately are not allowed on the Beehive Trail.
How to Hike the Beehive Trail
Although the Beehive Trail is one of the most popular hikes at Acadia, it’s a doozy and should not be taken lightly. In fact, this trail is more of a climb than a hike in certain sections.
You’ll essentially be scaling the side of a mountain as you ascend about 450 feet. This involves rock scrambles, navigating steep ledges, and climbing iron ladders.
This upward hike is physically exerting, so expect a workout and bring plenty of water. Having a baseline level of fitness is favorable, although I saw people of varying ages and fitness levels complete this trail.
1. Park Near the Trailhead
Arrive to Acadia in the morning (preferably by 9am) to find a good parking spot and uncrowded trails. The Beehive is less than ideal at busy times, since you’ll likely wait around while hikers in front of you work through tricky sections.
Aaron and I arrived into Acadia around 10am on a Sunday in mid-October, and spots were already filling up. I recommend parking in the lot for the Sand Beach or along the adjacent road, which are both near the trailhead.
Take advantage of the bathrooms in the Sand Beach lot, since you won’t get the chance to relieve yourself again until after the hike.
2. Make Your Way Down the Rocky ‘Bowl Trail’
This loop begins on the Bowl Trail, which intersects with the Beehive Trail a short ways in. You can reach the trailhead across the street and then a little to the right from the Sand Beach parking lot.
This portion of the hike has bumpy, uneven footing due to being covered in small-to-medium-sized rocks. We found it super muddy for our visit and some rock surfaces were slippery.
The trail was already filling up, but I didn’t mind being around people. In fact, I enjoyed the feeling of camaraderie with our fellow hikers, as well as the chance to watch others handle tricky sections before me.
3. Turn onto the Beehive Trail
After hiking .2 miles, you will reach the intersection for the Beehive Trail. This is your chance to turn around if you don’t feel up for the climb, as the Beehive Trail should not be hiked in reverse.
Despite my nerves, I gave quitting zero thought and stayed focused on the task at hand. Without hesitation, Aaron and I started up the Beehive Trail ready to tackle each portion as it came.
This portion of the hike is only .6 miles, although it is definitely the most thrilling part. It’ll take about 15-30 minutes to ascend the Beehive depending on how long you and others in front of you take. Your climb begins with some rock scrambles and granite staircases until you quickly encounter your first obstacle: the metal grate.
4. Cross the Grate
This infamous section of the Beehive Trail requires crossing a metal grate that joins two sections of granite. Although it is short, the grate can really mess with people’s psyches. I got nervous watching videos of various men, women, and children struggling to cross this section.
In real life, the grate was even tinier in person than in the photos and videos, although I was surprised to see that it was slanted slightly downward. Also, the metal is a little bit slippery, so I navigated slowly with two hands on the cliff to my left (3-4 points of contact is key). Thankfully, this tricky part was over in a matter of seconds.
Although navigating the grate was a little precarious, it did not feel as high and exposed as other spots to me. However, it’s important to take it slow so you don’t slip.
5. Ascend the Metal Rungs Up the Beehive
The first ladder of the hike came up quickly and made me slightly more nervous than I’d expected. For a moment, I wondered if I had underestimated my discomfort with heights. However, those thoughts didn’t linger as we continued higher and higher, especially as the trail opened up to wonderful views of the Atlantic ocean.
We soon reached a section I’d been dreading: a narrow ledge with a shear drop that looked higher and steeper than other sections. It led to an equally narrow, albeit short, wooden bridge that preceded a handrail-assisted turn up and around a rocky corner.
In reality, the section was wide enough for me to feel comfortable and did not necessarily have a shear, knife’s edge drop either. Since most of the videos I watched were recorded on GoPros, which have a very wide angle lens, the trail ends up looking narrower and longer than it actually is. Don’t get me wrong – it was definitely still high off the ground, so it’s best not to look down.
We did have to wait on this ledge for a second because the climbers on the ladders ahead of us were starting to get backed up. Once moving, the transition from the rocky path to the wooden bridge was quite easy, as well as hoisting myself up to the rocky path turn ahead of me.
After those sections, all you have left is a bunch of fun climbing. Once again, do not torture yourself by looking down in this section if you are afraid of heights. Stay focused on the task at hand, which is not hard to do because the ladders require your full attention and you will start to feel tired from the physical exertion.
6. Rest and Take Photos at the Top
Eventually the ladders will give way to the rocky summit. Congratulations – you did it!
It’s an awesome feeling to enjoy the view with the other hikers around you who just completed the same physical feat. Now it’s time to rest, eat snacks, and take some celebratory photos.
I personally felt elated and a giant sense of accomplishment upon completed the Beehive climb. It’s a feeling I hadn’t experienced since I stopped running races back in 2016 due to stubborn injuries.
7. Complete the loop via the Bowl Trail
While the hard part is over, you actually aren’t quite done with this hike yet. Now it’s time to complete the loop and navigate back to the road.
Before you reach the Bowl, you’ll pass a few more scenic spots and will run into an intersection for the Bowl Connector Trail on your left. Taking this route will shorten your hike by .2 miles if you are feeling extra tired.
Otherwise, continue onward, passing the Bowl, which is a pretty pond, along the way. After curving along the pond, the you’ll reach an intersection for either the Bowl Trail or Champlain South Ridge Trail. Turn left for the Bowl Trail.
The trail will remain quite rocky, so be mindful of your footing. I saw multiple people slip on the same rock, even after watching other struggle! Wearing sturdy hiking shoes go a long way on this hike, although I did see people wearing normal tennis shoes.
Fear of Heights Thoughts
It is my belief that you can hike the Beehive Trail even if you have a fear of heights. You will increase your chances of success and of enjoying yourself by going in prepared, both mentally and physically.
To prepare myself mentally, I watched as many YouTube videos as possible, read reviews, and looked at so many photos to see whether I could handle this trail. The videos helped me know what to expect so that challenging sections weren’t a surprise.
Sometimes I read reviews that basically said to avoid this trail if you have a fear of heights. I even saw a review by a poor individual who said they’d considered the expense of being airlifted off of the Beehive during a trying moment.
However, I realized is that it didn’t matter how many positive or negative reviews I read. I was looking for someone to give me permission to take on this mental and physical challenge, when ultimately it was a call only I could make.
You will also have to be the one to decide whether today’s the day you will confront your fears, thus allowing this expansive experience into your life. Consider the fact that maybe this hike doesn’t have to be hard. Remember, climbing all those ladders is actually quite fun – it’s like an adult jungle gym!
As this hike is a bit of an athletic endeavor, physical preparation matters too. You don’t have to do a bunch of training for this hike, but your confidence will be much high going in with the more fitness you have. I exercise fairly regularly at home for this very reason and knew I would not have trouble getting up the ladders.
Have More Time? What to Do Next
- Eat Lunch on the Beehive: If you are like me, you’ll be super hungry after this hike. Eating a packed lunch on top of the beehive allows you to soak in the rewards of your hard work for a little bit longer.
- Sand Beach: Being right across the street from the Bowl trailhead, it is easy to visit the Sand Beach next for some relaxation.
- Do another Acadia hike: For a bigger challenge, try the Precipice Trail now. For a more mellow option, stroll the flat and scenic Ocean Path.
- Check Out Thunder Hole: Two miles down the Ocean Path from the Sand Beach, you can hear the thunderous sound the wavy Atlantic makes when hitting this rocky cavern at high tide.
- Stand on the Otter Cliffs: Another two miles down the Ocean Path, you’ll encounter the Otter Cliffs for majestic sea views.
- Explore Bar Harbor: For shops, lobster rolls, and breweries, explore this quaint seaside town.
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Now you are fully prepared to make the trek up the Beehive Trail at Acadia National Park. If you are here and this trail wasn’t already an automatic no for you, some part of you wants to have this experience. I hope this post shows you that conquering the Beehive is totally worth facing your fears!
