Jordan Pond Path

Jordan Pond Path is a 3.3-mile loop around the lake, with a crushed-stone east shore, a rocky west shore, and a long boardwalk below the cliffs. The pond-and-Bubbles view is the payoff; the west side is the catch. Give it about two hours, more if you want to stop often. Start at the boat launch and turn right along the east shore. You get the easier half first, and can turn around if the rocks on the west side look like too much.

The eastern half is mostly even underfoot, with compact stone, stepping stones and little bridges that carry runoff down the slope. About two-thirds of the way along, the path meets Bubbles Trail and Jordan Pond Carry. Keep to the water’s edge for this loop; the Bubble Rock hike is a separate spur. At the north end, look for the Jordan Pond Buoy and Bubbles Divide Trailhead, then cross the two wooden log bridges to continue west.

Past Deer Brook Trail, the forest opens onto a broad patch of boulders that fell from the cliffs above. It’s mostly level, but you have to pick your way across uneven granite and stepping stones, with a little scrambling. This is the part that catches people who expected an easy stroll. The raised plank boardwalk through the woods comes next; stay on it to protect the plants around the boggy ground. It’s narrow enough that passing can slow down when it’s busy. After a short stretch through the forest, cross the small stone bridge over the carriage road, turn left into the stone courtyard, and follow the shore back to the launch.

Jordan Pond fills a steep valley carved by glaciers. It covers about 187 acres and is roughly 150 feet deep, making it Acadia’s deepest lake. Penobscot and Pemetic mountains frame the water, with the North and South Bubbles rising at its northern end. Keep an eye on the water for common loons, watch the cliffs for peregrine falcons, and look for signs of beaver activity. They’re all possibilities, not a show on a schedule.

Jordan Pond House sits beside the boat launch, so its restaurant and gift shop are an easy separate stop before or after the walk. The 42-acre landscape around it has been a visitor destination for generations: George and John Jordan acquired the property in 1839, built the first house in 1847, and later owner Thomas McIntire shaped the lawn and plantings to keep the Bubbles in view. The present house dates to 1982. For a photo, use the open lawn at the south shore and keep the pond in front of the twin peaks.

Park in Jordan Pond North Lot just before Jordan Pond House, then walk down the boat access to the launch. Afternoons are often congested; the Island Explorer also serves the House. There’s no separate trail fee, but an Acadia entrance pass is required year-round. Dogs are allowed on a leash no longer than six feet, but pets can’t enter the water. Swimming and wading are prohibited because the pond is a public water supply. The rocky west half and its small bridge make this route inaccessible to wheelchairs.