Great Head Trail Hiking Guide
Great Head is the bold headland that closes off the east end of Sand Beach, and its trail loops the edge of it with ocean on three sides. It mixes open ledges, a short scramble and spruce woods, and passes the stone ruins of a tea house built by the family that once owned the land. It is short enough for a morning, with a beach waiting at the bottom.
Permit: Acadia requires an entrance pass year-round: $35 per private vehicle or $20 per person on foot or bike (age 16+), each valid 7 days, or a $70 Acadia annual pass. Non-US residents 16 and over pay an extra $100 per person unless entering on an annual or America the Beautiful pass. Great Head needs no reservation.
Long Loop or Short
NPS describes a 1.9-mile loop with a 1.3-mile shortcut; AllTrails lists the full loop at 1.9 miles with about 270 feet of gain. Cross Sand Beach with the ocean on your right; depending on tide and season there may be a small stream to step across at the far end. Granite steps lead up from the sand, and a large millstone almost seven feet across sits near the top. Turn right for the full loop over open ledges facing the Beehive, or left for the gentler short loop through a rock field.
Ruins at the High Point
The trail reaches its highest point at 145 feet above the sea, where the Satterlee family built a stone tower with a tea room and an observatory in the early 1900s; the park dates the ruin to 1915. A plaque nearby remembers David Phillips McKinney, who died here in 1969. From there the path turns inland through forest, and a cedar post marks the junction for the short way back.
Scramble Up, Not Down
The full loop includes a steep rocky scramble where you will use your hands. The park advises against coming down it, so do that section going up and take part of the short loop to descend to the stairs. Keep well back from the edge: NPS warns that waves here can reach three to five feet or more, and you should never turn your back to the ocean.
Dogs, Fees and Parking
Leashed dogs may hike Great Head, but Sand Beach is off-limits to pets from June 15 to September 8; during those weeks, reach the headland by the Satterly Trail, as the park names it, instead of crossing the sand. Driving in means passing the Sand Beach entrance station with a pass on the windshield; the vehicle rate is $35 for seven days. The lot is crowded from about 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. in July and August, and the Island Explorer's Loop Road bus reaches Sand Beach in about 25 minutes from Hulls Cove.
Sunrise and the Off-Season
Great Head is one of the park's suggested sunrise walks; bring a headlamp, since the footing is uneven. In the winter months the park says to reach the trail via Schooner Head Road.
Hiking tips for Great Head Trail
- Wipe sand off your soles at the top of the beach stairs for better grip on the granite.
- Climb the scramble on the long loop rather than descending it.
- Check the tide before crossing to the far end of Sand Beach, where a stream can appear.
- Use the Satterly Trail with a dog during the June 15 to September 8 beach ban.
- Stay well back from the edge; big waves reach high on these ledges.
Nearby trails to explore
- Beehive Loop (Acadia)
- Ocean Path (Acadia)
- Gorham Mountain Loop
Hike this trail with TrailMates
Great Head pairs a short headland hike with a beach afternoon. Use TrailMates to find hikers heading to Great Head in Acadia. Download the TrailMates app to connect.