Hiking the Bubbles
Trail Name: North and South Bubble
Location: Acadia National Park
Distance: 1.5 miles, roundtrip
Elevation Gain: 495 ft
Difficulty: Easy
Pets: Allowed, on leash
The Bubbles are one of Acadia National Park’s most popular hiking spots. They’re easily accessible, family-friendly, and provide great views of Jordan Pond. South Bubble is very well-known for being a go-to photo spot in Acadia. Hikers (and photographers) love to take pictures on top of the large boulder that looks like it could topple over at any minute.
In this blog post, I will share everything you need to know before hiking North and South Bubble in Acadia National Park—including how to access the trailhead, parking information, trail descriptions, the best time to visit, as well as several insider tips for visiting Acadia National Park.
Preparation
Check the weather forecast to ensure safe conditions
Research trail information and conditions
Pack all the hiking essentials, such as water, snacks, and a basic first-aid kit
Wear season-appropriate footwear and clothing
Click here to learn more about what to pack for a Maine hike
Directions/Parking
To get to the trailhead from Route 1, follow the signs for Bar Harbor, continue on ME-3 East until you reach the entrance of Acadia National Park. After entering the park, follow the road and look for signs directing you to the Bubbles Trailhead. Turn left onto the Bubbles parking area road. The trailhead parking lot will be on your right after a short distance.
Although there are a good amount of parking spots in the parking lot, it is often full from 9:00a.m.-4:00p.m. Try and visit early morning or late afternoon to get a parking spot. Or hitch a ride from the free Island Explorer shuttle, which stops right at the Bubbles parking lot.
Trails
The trailhead is conveniently located right near the middle of the parking lot. Immediately after the trailhead, the trail will gradually incline as you make your way towards South Bubble. These trails (especially South Bubble) are ideal for all ages and hiking abilities, due to their smooth terrain. The trails are also very highly trafficked, which has made them level and wide.
About 0.3 miles in, you will come to a fork in the trail with a small sign signaling where you can go left (towards South Bubble) or straight (towards North Bubble). We decided to summit South Bubble first, due to it’s lower elevation. From this point, the summit of South Bubble is only about 0.3 miles away. On a clear day, the summit has beautiful views of Jordan Pond, Pemetic Mountain (another one of my favorite hikes!), Penobscot Mountain, Seal Harbor, and surrounding islands.
To get to North Bubble, return to the fork in the trail and go straight instead of left. This trail is a tad bit more difficult than South Bubble, and similarly short in length. The summit of North Bubble is only about 0.2 miles from the sign. There are a couple of small outlooks along the way that you could use to escape the crowd and enjoy a snack or a meal. Besides that, the outlooks aren’t really worth the extra effort.
The summit of North Bubble faces more towards Penobscot Mountain, also providing great views of Jordan Pond. For some reason, a lot less people take the time to summit North Bubble, so we found it to be a lot quieter than South Bubble. One thing I really love about this summit is that it sits lower than the mountains on either side of it, which makes for some great photos.
Insider Tips
Best nearby breakfast: Two Cats Cafe and Sunrise Cafe (delicious bagels and crepes).
Best nearby lunch: Side Street Cafe and Lunch Bar Harbor.
The best time to visit: June through October. Enjoy post-hike swims in the Summer months and amazing foliage in the Fall.
The parking lot fills up quickly, so aim to arrive before 8:30a.m. and have a back-up hike in case the parking lot is full. Or you could take advantage of the free Island Explorer shuttle.
There is spotty cell phone service in Acadia, so be sure to tell people your hiking plans or bring a satellite communication device with you so you can let people know when you have summited and when you have made it safely back to your car.
Leave no Trace
When it comes to enjoying time outdoors, remember the golden rule: Leave No Trace. It’s as simple as picking up after yourself, staying on the trails, and leaving nature just as beautiful as you found it. By practicing Leave No Trace, you help preserve the magic of Maine for future adventurers to enjoy, so everyone can keep enjoying the same beautiful, wild world we love.
Interested in more Maine hiking information and tips? You can find them all here.
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With love,
My Maine
