Flying Mountain in Southwest Harbor, Maine is a dog friendly hike with beautiful views of Somes Sound and descends to a secluded rocky beach at Valley Cove.  Part of Acadia National Park, Flying Mountain is their lowest peak at 284 feet above sea level, with a steep moderate to difficult trail to the summit.  The hike to the summit is a short 0.3 miles from the parking lot, through dense forest over ledges to exposed bedrock at the top with views of Somes Sound, Northeast Harbor and the nearby Greening Island, Sutton Island and Great and Little Cranberry islands.  To extend your hike, follow the blue blaze markers along the ridge to descend the mountain by way of Valley Cove Trail.  At the cove there is a former dirt road, Valley Cove Truck Road, that will lead back to the parking lot, making this an approximately 1.5 mile loop hike.

Dogs are allowed on-leash.  Please keep dogs on the trail and use the wooden bridge and steps to access the water, to help promote shoreline restoration efforts.  Flying Mountain is difficult in some areas.  We recommend dogs should be seasoned hikers before attempting Flying Mountain.  However if you’re looking for a trail less frequented by visitors to Acadia, this is the hike for you!  There is a small dirt parking lot, with limited parking.

Please Note: Acadia National Park passes are needed to access Flying Mountain from May through October, but are not available for sale at the parking area.  To purchase a park pass please visit the National Park Service.  Also note that as of 2016 the section of Valley Cove Trail which connects Flying Mountain to St. Sauveur Mountain is closed for reconstruction, with no details as of 2017 on when it will reopen.

To plan your visit including directions, weather forecast, photos and more, please visit our Flying Mountain page.  For our recommendations for additional trails and dog beaches in the area of Acadia National Park, please visit our Dog Friendly Places page.