Ocean Path: Acadia's Coastal Walk from Sand Beach to Otter Point
4.4 miles along Acadia's pink granite shoreline
Ocean Path is the easiest way to experience Acadia's most spectacular coastline. The trail runs 2.2 miles from Sand Beach to Otter Point — paved and packed gravel, nearly flat, and pressed right up against the Atlantic the entire way. Walk out and back for 4.4 miles, or catch the Island Explorer back from Otter Cliff.
The path passes three of Acadia's most photographed landmarks: Sand Beach (one of the few sandy beaches in the park, with water that averages 55°F in summer), Thunder Hole (a narrow chasm in the granite that funnels waves into a booming surge — best seen two hours after low tide), and Otter Cliff (90-foot pink granite headlands that drop straight into the ocean).
The pink granite along this stretch is estimated to be 420 million years old. It formed from magma that intruded into older metamorphic rock and cooled slowly underground — the coarse crystals you can see in the rock face are the result of that slow cooling. Glaciers then smoothed and scoured the surface, leaving the rounded forms visible today.
Ocean Path is one of Acadia's most accessible trails for wheelchairs and strollers along the paved sections near Sand Beach. The further south you go, the rougher the surface becomes near Otter Cliff.
Key Waypoints
- 1
Sand Beach
0.0 mi from start · 10ft elevation
One of the few sandy beaches in Acadia. Water temperature averages 55°F in summer — cold but swimmable. Lifeguards on duty in July and August.
- 2
Thunder Hole
0.9 mi from start · 15ft elevation
A narrow chasm in the granite where waves compress and boom. Best experienced two hours after low tide when seas are moderate. Can be underwhelming at low tide or dangerous at high.
- 3
Monument Cove
1.4 mi from start · 20ft elevation
A small cove lined with rounded granite boulders smoothed by wave action. One of the quieter spots along the path.
- 4
Otter Cliff
2.2 mi from start · 60ft elevation
90-foot pink granite headlands — one of the most photographed spots in Acadia. The Island Explorer stops near here for the return trip.
Seasonal Notes
Ocean Path is walkable year-round. Sunrise from the granite slabs near Thunder Hole is exceptional — arrive before dawn for the best light. The path is one of the few in Acadia accessible in winter when other trails are icy.
Conservation Note
The pink granite along Ocean Path is estimated to be 420 million years old — do not collect rock samples or disturb the shore. The intertidal zone along this stretch harbors a rich marine community; stay above the high-tide line to protect it.