Parking
Use the signed Blueberry Hill parking area on Schoodic Loop Road, about 5.1 miles after turning from ME-186. The Anvil entrance is a short walk from the lot; Blueberry Hill has less parking than Schoodic Woods.
Overview
About Anvil Trail
Why go
- The Anvil knob gives an open view toward Schoodic Head before the summit.
- The route reaches both a distinctive granite knob and the Schoodic Head summit area.
Heads up
- Steep, uneven rock makes the short mileage feel harder.
- The Anvil line is point-to-point; the simple return retraces the climb.
Map & elevation
The route
Plan your hike
Before you go
Parking
Safety
3 active Acadia alerts
- ClosureSouthern Ocean Path section closed for repairsThe southern section of Ocean Path is closed for repairs from the trailhead across from the Otter Point parking lot to the trail’s southern terminus.Official details
- ClosureSchoodic Mountain Road closed for repairsSchoodic Mountain Road is closed for repairs from Schoodic Loop Road to the summit of Schoodic Head.Official details
The highest, rockiest slopes around here are a summer buffet for grizzly bears.
Acadia Tour Guide
Your drive to Anvil Trail, narrated.
Parkwolf is a GPS audio tour guide for Acadia National Park. As you drive, it chimes in with what’s ahead: hidden gems, upcoming stops, history, geology, and wildlife, right through your car’s speakers.
See the Acadia audio tourRecorded for this trailhead
Blueberry Hill’s Island View0:00 / 0:18
“Blueberry Hill is ahead, a small roadside pullout overlooking Schoodic Island and Little Moose Island. People came here to picnic and pick berries before the historic parking loop was built.”
Plays as you drive up to this trailhead in the Parkwolf Acadia Tour Guide.
More stories near here in the app
- Rockefeller Hall’s Navy Past
- East Trail’s Steep Schoodic Climb
- Schoodic Head’s Wooded Summit
- Schoodic Point’s Dark Rock Bands
- 116 audio storiesacross Acadia’s roads, triggered by GPS as you drive
- Wildlife heatmapsfor Bald Eagle, Peregrine Falcon, White-tailed Deer, and 13 more
- Works offlinemaps, 142 trails, 72 places, and audio download before you lose signal
- CarPlay readysimple controls built for the drive
“…As we drove through Acadia it gave us a tour, which was really cool. Lots of great info about the parks and how to avoid the crowds. It’s a great travel companion!”
Trail guide
Hiking Anvil Trail
The climb and payoffAnvil Trail is a steep, rocky point-to-point climb from its entrance on Schoodic Loop Road to…
Anvil Trail is a steep, rocky point-to-point climb from its entrance on Schoodic Loop Road to the summit area of Schoodic Head. The mapped route is about 1 mile one way (the listed length is 1.1 miles); retracing it makes an about 2-mile out-and-back. Allow 1.5 to 2 hours for the return walk. You gain roughly 400 feet, and the rough granite makes this feel harder than the mileage suggests. I'd choose it for the Anvil knob and coastal views, not for an easy leg-stretcher.
The Anvil knobThe trail climbs through ash, birch, and spruce to the rocky Anvil, about 0.
The trail climbs through ash, birch, and spruce to the rocky Anvil, about 0.3 mile from the roadside entrance. A short branch to Anvil Overlook faces Schoodic Head, with Cadillac Mountain across Frenchman Bay in the distance. The bare granite and open view are the distinctive stop; this is the place to pause for a photo.
Continue to Schoodic HeadBeyond the knob, the trail dips, then climbs over roots and rough rock to join Schoodic Head…
Beyond the knob, the trail dips, then climbs over roots and rough rock to join Schoodic Head Trail. Follow the shared path to the 440-foot summit. The high point is wooded; a short continuation north opens toward Birch Harbor. Anvil Trail itself is not a loop. Returning the same way is the shorter outing; the Anvil–Schoodic Head–Alder circuit uses other trails and connectors and is a separate, longer route.
Start and footingUse the signed Blueberry Hill parking area on Schoodic Loop Road, then walk a short way to the…
Use the signed Blueberry Hill parking area on Schoodic Loop Road, then walk a short way to the Anvil entrance. Blueberry Hill has less parking than Schoodic Woods. Expect steep, uneven stone, roots, and exposed granite; the upper climb can involve careful scrambling. Dogs are allowed but must stay on a leash no longer than six feet.
Wildlife
Wildlife in Acadia
131 sightingsBald EagleMost seen around noonSighting map
21 sightingsPeregrine FalconMost seen around 10 AMSighting map
403 sightingsWhite-tailed DeerMost seen around 7 PMSighting map
307 sightingsPorcupineMost seen around 7 PMSighting map
205 sightingsBeaverMost seen around 7 PMSighting map
34 sightingsMinkMost seen around 7 PMSighting mapSighting maps show where each species has been reported across Acadia. Wildlife moves, so no sighting is guaranteed.
