Situated in Maine's Acadia National Park, The Beehive is the name given to the imposing peak that overlooks Sand Beach from the northwest - and seasoned outdoors enthusiasts in search of an adventurous hike with stunning views really need to look no further than the illustrious and challenging Beehive Loop. One of the most famous trails in Acadia National Park, this mind-boggling trail consists of steep granite staircases, exposed cliff fronts, and plenty of iron rungs, and is a fine sample of what the park has to offer that allows adventurers to familiarize themselves with the trails in the area.
But despite being a thrilling classic of the park with impressive popularity to match, it is not recommended for anybody with a fear of heights or who isn't steady on their feet. It's also not an ideal hike for small children due to its challenging terrain and various obstacles. Keen to give it a shot anyway? For those who think they've got what it takes, this article goes into what one can expect from a daunting jaunt along one of Maine's most infamous, yet exceptionally rewarding hikes.
What Is The Beehive Trail?
Among the park's most popular trails, the Beehive Trail truly lets people challenge their bodies and mind. They ascend this two-mile-long cliff trail consisting of a heart-pumping roster of iron rungs to climb up, granite steps, and plenty of handrails for scrambling along sections of exposed rocks.
Not for the faint of heart, the trail ultimately sends hikers to a remarkable rocky overlook that juts out from the side of the cliff - the high point of the trail that affords more than mere bragging rights; it also rewards challengers with epic views over Sand Beach, Thunder Hole, and the Gulf of Maine stretching to the horizon.
How To Hike The Beehive Trail
To begin with, hikers can park in the Sand Beach parking lot or in the right lane of the road where signs permit. The beach area is famous and popular, so visitors will likely need to arrive early and hunt for a parking space, or alternatively, they can reach the start of the trail by taking the free Island Explorer Shuttle buses.
Then, starting out at the Bowl Trailhead just across from Sand Beach along Park Loop Road, explorers follow the Bowl Trail to reach the forest lying just under the Beehive. After following the path for a short while, hikers reach the junction that connects the Bowl Trail with the Beehive Trail, which is marked by the majestic peak seen above.
Upon reaching this section, the rest of the ingenious Beehive Trail takes hikers on an adventure up the steep south face of Beehive peak. They can follow the route which takes them to the base of the peak, after which it takes them up through further sections of faults and breaks in the granite.
Difficult the trail might be, but a series of manmade steps, handrails, iron rung ladders, a grill plank, and many other kinds of installed hardware are there to assist hikers in their ascent up towards the peak. And despite the majority of the obstacles being fairly workable, adventures should expect there to be a decent amount of challenge - especially along the more exposed sections that demand a lot of scrambling.
Thankfully, challengers in control of their fear of heights and with hardy stamina are rewarded at the summit with unbeatable vistas of Sand Beach, Great Head, Thunder Hole, the Gulf of Maine, and the rest of the beautiful surrounding area. Plus, the peak is an amazing place to relax and have lunch - so don't forget to bring snacks and sandwiches for this part. Once the peak and its vistas have been sufficiently enjoyed, hikers can then continue down the backside of the Beehive to tag the actual highpoint, along with soaking up further mesmeric vistas of both Champlain and Enoch mountains.
The last section's timing couldn't be any better; it gets much easier as hikers descend along the west side and head towards The Bowl - a tranquil lake tucked in between the surrounding peaks and a lovely spot for taking a refreshing dip and cooling off, especially during the heat of the summer. However, be warned that leeches do live in the lake. Finally, when hikers have finished their time at The Bowl, they can continue sauntering along the rest of the Bowl Trail to complete the loop.
Points Of Note
Firstly, the ideal time to hike the Beehive Trail is spring through fall, however, it's important to note that it sees heavy crowds during high season, on weekends, and throughout the holidays. To avoid hoards of people and for the best views, it's also recommended to start the trail early at sunrise. When it gets crowded, there are parts of the hike that suffer backups, particularly on the narrow rocky cliff parts, which means people can sometimes end up waiting a while for other folks up ahead.
Secondly, there's no time limit in which to complete the trail, however, most people give themselves the day in order to take their time and truly enjoy it. Depending on one's speed, it's possible to complete it in anything from two to four hours. Also, it's advised that fast hikers and those with experience come with a hiking bag full of patience, since many nervous adventurers will likely be tackling the trail at the same time, but much more slowly.
As for length, the popular route (up the Beehive Trail and returning along the Bowl Trail) is around two miles in total and consists of an elevation change of 450 feet. However, when tackling the trail, hikers should take note of all of the intersections that connect to other trails, including the shortcut trail, the Gorham Mountain Trail, and the Champlain South Ridge Trail. Pay attention to these intersections and avoid accidentally heading towards these other peaks (unless that's the plan of course).
Furthermore, there's some good news for hikers who want to hike to the top of the Beehive but don't fancy all the exposure and scrambling; instead, they can hike the less taxing, more family-friendly Bowl Trail and come up along the backside of the Beehive peak.
Lastly, it is vital that hikers take the weather into account before challenging the Beehive Trail, avoiding doing so during fog or rain. Why? It's a very dangerous hike when wet because the rocks and metal ladders become too slippery, making it incredibly difficult for people to hold on as they climb. What's more, the end reward of jaw-dropping panoramas to be enjoyed from the rocky overlook simply aren't there when it's foggy - they just aren't visible.
Ultimately the Beehive Trail is one of the Acadia National Park's - or perhaps even Maine's - most incredible hikes. It's unimaginably intense with no lack of thrilling rock scrambling, with all efforts being rewarded with some of the most spectacular scenes in the state. If challenging exposure and the possibility of crowds are nothing of a bother, then this trail should be on the bucket list of the USA's, no, the world's, most intrepid and discerning outdoorsy adventurers.