Little Hunters Beach Guide
While Acadia National Park's Sand Beach is probably its most famous and frequented, just down the road, tucked into a cove you'll find the unique beauty that is Little Hunters Beach. A semi-secret, this beach isn't marked by road sign, and doesn't feature sand, but instead, smooth cobblestones that grow larger in size the closer they are to the shoreline. It's a quick stop, but one you need to keep your eye out for, so you don't miss it--it's well worth the effort.
When to Visit
​
Acadia's best weather comes in the summer, namely the months of July and August, where you'll also find the most visitors, along with the fall months of September and October, with the park's vibrant foliage. Spring brings cooler weather and less crowds, but the Park Loop Road, which Little Hunters Beach is located on, may still be closed for the winter. Find updates on winter road closures here.
How to Get There
​
Begin the one-way Park Loop Road, located on the eastern side of the park, entering through the Sand Beach entrance station. Take the road past Sand Beach, around the cliffs of Otter Point, and then across the bridge at Otter Cove. From here, the road ascends, and near the top you should spot a small turn off that fits around 4-5 cars--park here, and across the street is the wooden staircase leading down to Little Hunters Beach. While not marked by road sign, it is on the park map.
Little Hunters Beach
​
Time: N/A.
Distance: N/A.
Park your car and then carefully cross the Park Loop Road, where you should spot a wooden staircase leading down into the cove. A small sign here describes the process of the beach's formation, along with other information. Take the staircase down, which immediately pops you out onto the beach.
While difficult to spot, the staircase (center image) takes visitors down to Little Hunters Beach.
Your first view of the beach.
You'll notice quickly that this is certainly not a sand beach--it's all smooth cobblestones. In fact, sand beaches in Maine are a rarity, with the nearby Sand Beach happening by chance--most beaches in Maine look more like Little Hunters. The cobblestones are formed by a combination of glacial activity, and the waves of the Atlantic Ocean. While they start out small, the closer you get to the shore, the bigger they get.
Larger cobblestones near the shoreline.
About Me
Hi there, I'm Dan: videographer, travel-addict, and beer-lover. I left corporate life behind to start my own video business and travel the world. Want to know more about me and Dan Treks?
Top Posts
Yosemite's most popular and perilous hike: Half Dome
​
​
​
Boost your creativity through travel
​
​
​
​
National Park Guides
Videos
​
​
​
​
​
​
​
​
​
​
The larger ones make for very cool pictures, but be warned: they are extremely slippery. If you're thinking of swimming here (or any part of the ocean in Acadia), not only is there no lifeguard on duty, there's an extremely strong undertow, and the water never gets warmer than 55 degrees Fahrenheit. When particularly strong waves roll through, listen for what sounds like marbles rolling--the force of the waves pushing the cobblestones over each other.
Little Hunters Beach is a spectacle, and while it's maybe not the spot for a classic beach day, it's still worth the visit for its uniqueness alone. Stay for sunset, or even come back at night, during a full moon for a spectacular view of the Milky Way--one so good, it made it onto the national park pass several years ago. There's plenty more in Acadia National Park though, so for more information on things to see and do, click here.