Winter weather may be lingering here in Maine, but that isn’t keeping us from looking forward to summer by looking back to our Acadia National Park adventure last year!  Here is a trail we explored in the fall, but haven’t shared with you yet.  The Lower Harbor Trail on the Schoodic Peninsula in Winter Harbor, Maine is a dog friendly narrow path through the woods following the shoreline of Sargent Point.  This easy to moderate trail is approximately a mile one way, but on the day we visited we extended our hike to over 2 miles by making a loop on a nearby bike trail.

There are two trailheads for Lower Harbor Trail.  One is located directly across the street from the Schoodic Woods parking lot entrance.  However rather than cross the street there, we chose to follow the signs at the Schoodic Woods Visitor Center on a bike trail to the second trailhead for the Lower Harbor Trail further north along Schoodic Loop Road.  Located on the quiet side of Acadia National Park, Schoodic Peninsula draws far fewer crowds than the more popular destinations on Mount Desert Island.  In fact on the September Day we visited, we only met 4 people on the trail, who of course paused on their journey to greet our Golden Retrievers.  The trail itself offers views of Sargent and Norris Islands, with plenty of rocky outcroppings for quiet reflection.

Please Note: Acadia National Park passes are needed to access the Lower Harbor Trail from May through October.  Passes are available for purchase at the Schoodic Woods Visitor Center, and online at the National Park Service.

Dogs are allowed on-leash.  Parking and restroom facilities are available at the Schoodic Woods Visitor Center.  Lower Harbor Trail is part of a network of hiking trails across the length of Schoodic Peninsula that range from easy to difficult.  For directions, current weather, photos and more, please visit our Lower Harbor Trail page.  If you’re interested in a more challenging hike, with breathtaking views from Schoodic Head, we recommend the Anvil Trail.  For additional Hiking Trails and Dog Beaches in the area of Acadia National Park, please visit our Dog Friendly Places recommendations.