Sand Beach: Acadia's Arctic Paradise
Nestled between mountains and ocean, this gorgeous beach offers some of the best views—and coldest water—in Maine.
In a park famous for pink granite and jagged cliffs, Sand Beach is a geological anomaly. Tucked into a cove on the eastern side of Mount Desert Island, this 290-yard crescent of sand is one of the crown jewels of Acadia National Park.
The Sand
If you look closely at the sand, you’ll notice it isn’t just quartz. It is actually composed of roughly 70% shell fragments—mussels, sea urchins, periwinkles—that have been pounded into fine grains by the surf over millennia.
The Water (The “Polar Plunge”)
Sand Beach is beautiful, but it is not a swimming beach for the faint of heart.
- Temperature: The water temperature rarely rises above 55°F (13°C), even in August.
- The Experience: Going for a dip here is a rite of passage. It is refreshing, shocking, and numbing. Most people run in, scream, and run out.
- Lifeguards: There are lifeguards on duty during the summer months.
Hiking Hub
The beach serves as the trailhead for two of Acadia’s best hikes:
- The Beehive: You can see this mountain rising directly behind the beach. The trail involves iron rungs and steep drop-offs. (Not for those with a fear of heights).
- Great Head Trail: A moderate loop that takes you out onto the headland protecting the beach, offering spectacular views back toward the sand and the Beehive.
- Ocean Path: A flat, easy gravel path that starts here and follows the coast to Otter Cliff.
Visiting Tips
- Parking: The lot is small and fills up instantly. The Island Explorer bus drops you right at the stairs and is highly recommended.
- Accessibility: There are stairs down to the beach, so it is not wheelchair accessible, but the Ocean Path above it is.
- Changing Rooms: There are restrooms and changing rooms in the parking lot area.
Location: Park Loop Road, Acadia National Park (Entry pass required).