Acadia National Park · Maine

Beech Cliff Trail

0.4 mi of trail, end to end · about 450 ft of climbing · 102 ft–539 ft · earth surface

102 ft 539 ft · 0.4 mi high 539 ft

Hike Beech Cliff Trail with Island Explorer Bus the Park Service's write-up

2-4 Hours · no dogs · Spring, Summer, Fall

Start Beech Cliff Trail, Beech Cliff Loop, and Canada Cliffs Trail

Echo Lake and Beach are nestled at the bottom a mountain ridge while granite cliffs rise steeply.
View from the top of Beech Cliff Trail onto the deep blue Echo Lake and Beech below. Photo: Photo courtesy of Maribeth Kambitsch. Used with permission.

This short but strenuous hike climbs the cliffs above Echo Lake with expansive views of the lake directly below, multiple nearby peaks, and the ocean beyond. It includes four sets of iron ladders helping hiking hikers reach the rewarding vistas at the top.

This hike is located on the west side of Acadia National Park and while the parking lot and beach area of Echo Lake can be quite busy on summer days, the trail soon ascends the cliffs and the crowds are left behind. With four iron ladders and steep cliffs at the top of the climb fear of heights may pose a problem for some visitors. For those who wish to avoid the ladders, there is an overlook prior to the ladders that offer some great views. The Beech Cliff loop at the top of the cliffs is a must-do but take care not to get too close to the edge of the cliffs at 480 feet above the lake.

While this hike doesn’t include the summit of Beech Mountain, a trail at the top of the cliffs connects to the Beech Mountain parking area with a hike to its peak. Take the Canada Cliffs Trail down to the Echo Lake Parking area for a relaxing, gradual walk to complete the hike. On a hot day, a dip in Echo Lake is a sure way to finish off the hike.

Note: This hike is not safe young children or people who are not steady on their feet. Dogs are not allowed on this trail.

Pets Dogs are not permitted on Beech Cliffs Trail.

Accessibility The Beech Cliff Trail is not accessible. It includes stone stairs, exposed roots and rocks, and four iron ladders. It has an elevation gain of 480 feet in the first .4 mile.

This hike on nps.gov

On the parks map

All 219 trails in Acadia National ParkFind a trailOn the parks mapPark on nps.gov

About this trail's facts

The lines are the National Park Service's public trails layer, the trailheads and the waterfalls, views, peaks and historic places along them the Service's public points of interest, read 2026-10-16 and simplified for the map; the length is the line's, end to end. The write-ups are the Service's own "things to do" text, unedited. Heights come from USGS 3DEP through Terrain Tiles on AWS (Mapzen/Tilezen), read along each line and rounded; a short trail on steep ground can be off by a few tens of feet. Closures change: check the park's own site before you go.