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Details

Distance

2 miles

Elevation Gain

120 ft

Route Type

Loop

Description

Added by John Maurizi

Experience a loop hike along the rugged coast and back to a sand beach cove in Acadia National Park.

The Great Head is a small peninsula just north of Sand Beach. The western shore of the peninsula faces Sand Beach. There is a loop hike that goes along the east end of the peninsula to the Great Head, which is a rocky outcropping into the ocean. The trail returns along the western shore to Sand Beach.

Of course the trail can be done in either direction. Parking for the trail is the same parking area for Sand Beach. If hiking in a clockwise direction from the Sand Beach parking area, there is an access trail from the parking lot near the exit. This trail takes you to a short half mile trail called the Satterlee Trail then onto Schooner Head Road. From here, the actual Great Head trail begins. There is also a small parking area at Schooner Head Road so you
can access the trail by driving there as well.

The loop exits at the east end of Sand Beach where the trail splits. If you parked at Sand Beach you can cross the drainage of Beehive Lagoon. If you parked at Schooner Head Road, turn right and continue to the parking lot after another half mile walk.

I parked at Sand Beach, which gets overcrowded. However,Sand Beach was a nice surprise to see. It is nestled in a cove and has fairly gentle waves. The beach is nearly 900 feet wide and has a gradual approach to the water. The tide variation is large here but even at high tide there is plenty of beach available. The water is cold, with an average temperature of 55 degrees. Lifeguards are on duty during the summer months and no pets are allowed from May 15 to September 15.  

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