Beehive Trail, Hike #8

Garrett Tershel

Beehive Trail, Hike #8

Photo courtesy of hikingproject.com project.com Photo courtesy of hikingproject.com project.com

 
Beehive comes with a warning. Beehive comes with a warning.

 

Beehive Trail is the second hardest climb in Acadia.  It is straight up, 500ft. in 1/10 of a mile. It is not for the faint of heart, this trail is full of ladder rungs and steep drop-offs. Due to the narrow paths and no railings this trail is meant to be one-way. Just before going on this trail we had stopped by the park rangers and the kids received another Jr. Park Ranger Badge. I asked the ranger if the trail was safe, her reply, "Just put the fear of God in them and don't look down. They will be fine."

The path is right up the face of the mountain. The path is right up the face of the mountain.

 
It has many rungs and thin paths to hike along. It has many rungs and thin paths to hike along. If you look close many people are leaning agains the rock and holding on for dear life.  It is not quite that dangerous but it feels like it when climbing.

 

So because of the difficulty of this climb I took very few pictures while we were climbing but these should give you an idea of the climb. The kids absolutely loved it and wanted to climb it again as soon as we were done.

This is Beehive from the ground. It is a little intimidating. This is Beehive from the ground. It is a little intimidating.

 
Beehive climb This is the only picture I was able to catch during the climb. I was more nervous than the kids.

 
Ladder rungs Ladder rungs

 
Scrambling Up. Scrambling Up.

 
More ladder rungs More ladder rungs

 
 

At the top of Beehive there are a number of ways to get down.  We chose Bowl Trail to complete our loop.  It was an easy decent and we were rewarded with some of the best sights in Acadia. With so many sights, seemingly similar, it may be hard to believe that one is better than another, and maybe they aren't.  But each experience was so different, the sights, sounds, and smells. Each had a different feeling depending on the lighting or time of day.

Well worth the climb. Well worth the climb.

 
Family climb Family climb

 
Great Views Great Views

 
Family Memories Family Memories

 
A little blue among the colors. A little blue among the colors.

 
The climb down is always easier. The climb down is always easier.

 
Switchback Switchback

 
Continuing down the trail Continuing down the trail

 
We made it!! We made it!!

 
Enjoying the view. Enjoying the view.

 

So our second to last hike was complete.