Acadia National Park is a busy summer destination, thanks to the National Park’s location on the scenic Maine Coast. Many travel from all over to spend the day hiking and eating fresh lobster rolls.
While many popular trails, such as Beehive, are packed in the summer, others are less crowded. I love finding lesser-known hikes to escape when the National Park traffic seems too much to bear.
Not only is finding parking easier, but having more space on the trail allows you to take in the nature around you without hearing all the conversations from hikers nearby.
Here is my guide to one of Acadia’s quieter hikes, which still packs in all the views and a fire tower!

The Beech Mountain Trail
The hike to Beech Mountain is a short, moderate loop on Mount Desert Island’s west side. The trail provides hikers with endless views of Long Pond and Mansell Mountain on the way up and access to one of the few remaining fire towers in the area.
The hike’s distance is a quick 1.2-mile round trip, but don’t let the short distance fool you. You will go uphill most of the time as you climb to the top of Beech Mountain.
Most of the terrain is a forested path, but some areas have large rocks you will climb up and granite stairs. If you want a workout to start your day, Beech Mountain is the place to do it.
Step By Step Guide To The Hike
The loop begins from the Beech Mountain parking lot. At the first junction, you can stay right to follow the longer path to the summit. The trail begins as a gradual forested path; however, the trail becomes rockier as elevation increases.
The trail opens up at .5 miles to granite slabs, which provide sweeping views of Long Pond and Mansell Mountain. This is a popular spot to watch the sunset. After .1 miles, keep left at the intersection towards Beech Mountain summit. The trail will feature granite and wooden steps to the summit.
Now you will see the Fire Tower and have a chance to climb it yourself! The first platform of the fire tower provides views of Somes Sound, Echo Lake, Acadia Mountain, and other mountains on the east side of Mount Desert Island.

Climb the fire tower and take views of the area before enjoying a snack or lobster roll on one of the rocks near the fire tower.
This hike is so beautiful at sunset or sunrise, but carry appropriate gear and headlamps since you will be hiking back down in the dark.
The History of Beech Mountain Fire Tower
The Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) workers built the original Beech Mountain Fire Tower, a wooden structure, which served as a lookout from 1941 to the mid-1950s. It played a critical role in fire warning communications during the Fire of 1947.
In 1960, a helicopter flew in the steel tower as part of the Operation Beech Project because the steel tower began to deteriorate.
The lookout resumed operations in 1962, but staffing eventually reduced from daytime hours to only times with fire danger. No one has manned it since 1976.

Lookouts help tell a story of fire management history on Mount Desert Island. Two were officially located on Beech Mountain and Sargent Mountain and used for short periods of the park’s history. Only Beech Mountain Fire Tower remains and is one of over 140 lookouts across Maine.
Is Beech Mountain on your Acadia Hiking List?


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