About
Length (round trip)2.4 mi
ShapeOut-and-Back
DifficultyHard
Typical time1 hr 30 min
TrailheadRoute 3 opposite the Tarn
SurfaceGranite stonework staircase
Best seasonLate spring through October; peak foliage mid-October. Many trails are icy and unmaintained in winter.
DogsLeashed / limited stretches
AccessibilityThe Beachcroft Path is not accessible. The trail has uneven footing and short, steep sections throughout. There are no accessible restrooms at the trailhead.
What you'll see ⛰️ Summit🌄 Big views

The Beachcroft Path is a memorial path constructed in 1915. It was funded by Anna Warren Ingersoll Smith in memory of her husband Charles Morton Smith. It is named after their summer cottage in Bar Harbor. In 1926, Mrs. Smith, upset with the condition of the trail under park service management, established an endowment fund for maintenance, which led to improvement of the trail. Take this trail to hike towards Champlain Mountain for panoramic coastal mountain views of Mount Desert Island, Frenchman Bay, and the outlying islands. Distance: 2 miles round trip Terrain: Forested path, steep, exposed rocky sections, cut stone steps Hike Description Start at the Beachcroft Path Trailhead, located off ME Route 3. Use care crossing the road. This trail can also be started from Sieur de Monts via the Wild Gardens Path (add .6 miles round trip). Once reaching the Tarn, turn left and continue to ME Route 3. The Beachcroft Path Trailhead is across ME Route 3 slightly to the right. Follow the cut granite stairs and flat stone pathways up the side of Huguenot Head, crossing a large boulder field. Enjoy views of Dorr Mountain and the Tarn below. After circling around Huguenot Head, the trail dips slightly before ascending Champlain Mountain. This section of trail has granite stairs and rocky scrambles up granite ledges. Before the summit, the trail goes over large expanses of granite. It is not recommended in wet weather. Reach the 1,058 ft peak of Champlain Mountain and enjoy views of Mount Desert Island, Frenchman Bay, and the outlying islands. Return back the same way to the Beachcroft Path Trailhead.

Tips
A 1915 memorial path built as more than a thousand granite steps - the finest trail masonry in the park.
Location

Route 3 opposite the Tarn

Other Hikers
No one has logged this trail yet.
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