AMC 150 Relay – Hiking the Schoodic Peninsula Unit of Acadia National Park

Welcome to the Schoodic Peninsula (Maine) Leg of the Appalachian Mountain Club 150th Anniversary Relay! We’ll begin the fun by meeting at the Schoodic Woods Ranger Station at 8:30am and taking a short and easy 2-mile loop hike on the Lower Harbor Trail, with views of Mosquito Harbor and the nearby islands in the bay, and then back to the visitor center on the Frazer Creek Bike Path. Elevation gain is about 150 feet. The trail section has roots and rocks. It should take about an hour. We’ll then take the free Island Explorer Shuttle Bus to Ravens Nest and take a very short walk (less than half a mile) and spend half an hour enjoying the clifftop views above pocket beaches and across Frenchman Bay. From there we continue on foot about a mile and a half along the Park Loop Road and the gravel Ranger Cabin Road to connect to the Schoodic Head Trail and the Anvil Trail. We’ll explore Schoodic Head. The very pretty woods here are green and quiet and interspersed with boulders, sheer granite walls, and rock formations. Schoodic Head overlooks the coast, the islands, two lighthouses, and Cadillac Mountain on Mt. Desert Island. This 2-mile section of our outing is rated vigorous, with an elevation gain of approximately 600 feet. It travels along traditional trails with roots, rocks, and steep up and down sections. We’ll end up at the Blueberry Hill parking area where we can explore the beach while we wait for the bus. From Ravens Nest to Blueberry Hill should take about 3 hours. For the last portion of our trek, we will take the bus back to the Schoodic Woods Ranger Station, and either drive or take the bus to Schoodic Point, where we can walk out on expansive granite ledges and relax and watch the surf before we part ways.
What to bring: Sturdy hiking shoes/boots, lunch, snacks, 2 liters of water, wick away clothing, a hat, sunscreen, and bug dope. Optional: Trekking poles. No dogs allowed. Rain date 8/31/2026.
While the AMC does not charge for participating in this activity, you will need an Entrance Pass to enter Acadia National Park. If you enter by car, the fee is per car, NOT per person, so carpooling could save you some money. For information on getting a park pass, follow this link: https://www.nps.gov/acad/planyourvisit/fees.htm
This event is free but registration is required. Register here; https://activities.outdoors.org/s/oc-activity/a5UUN00000218s12AA/act00017735
Join the Appalachian Mountain Club 150th Anniversary celebration! This is a wonderful way to share your love of the outdoors with a like-minded and friendly community of fellow hikers.
If you are interested in participating but the cost of outdoor gear is a barrier, use this link to learn about our partnership with Maine GearShare: https://amcmaine.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/AMC-MGS-1-Page-flyer.pdf