Bar Island Trail is a short, 2 mile, family friendly hike where you walk through Bar Island sandbar and onto an island that is considered part of Acadia National Park. It is one of the most unique trails I have ever done! It was pretty surreal to be walking to an island in Maine during low tide. The hike starts just off just downtown of Bar

What to Know about Walking to Bar Island Maine
Getting to this trail is rather simple. You park on the street downtown (close to Bridge Street) and then follow the signs to Bar Island. Once you reach the edge of downtown, the views quickly transform from a quaint Maine beach town into a seaside escape. There are many reminders that
The morning we visited was foggy (as was our entire
In addition to the Bar Island crossing, there were plenty of things to do in Bar Harbor Maine that did not include hiking. The town is quintessential seaside Maine. We could have easily spent a day enjoying the downtown and taking a famous Acadia carriage ride, but we were visiting for too short a time. The food scene in Bar Harbor was spectacular as was the natural beauty all around us.
The Bar Island trail length is quite short – 1 mile round trip. The kids enjoyed finding little animals in the tide
Acadia National Park Hiking
Once we arrived at Bar Island, we took a stroll around. It is actually part of Acadia National Park. We got to the small summit, yet there was so much fog that you really could not see anything. Once again, the weather disappointed, yet I am determined to return and see this place on a sunny day and hike to Bar Island again.

Best of Acadia
Overall, this hike is a great option for all types of families. Hiking to Bar Island during low tide is the only time to can go walking to Bar Island. All other times, it is inaccessible. Even little ones would enjoy and be safe on this trail. I would not recommend a stroller here, as it is very bumpy. Check out the other two hikes we did in Maine: Ocean Path Trail and Bubble Rock or our stop in Portland, Maine.
Check out: 18 Tips for Hiking with Kids
Other National Park Options
There are 61 US National Parks, and while we have only visited a few, check out our reviews of why they should be on your radar of national parks to visit:
- 10 Best National Park Vacations
- Smoky Mountain National Park
- Glacier National Park
- Grand Teton to Yellowstone
- Mammoth Cave
- Theodore Roosevelt National Park
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