A Fire-Tower Summit on Acadia’s Quiet Side
Beech Mountain sits on the western half of Mount Desert Island, the part of Acadia that the day-trip crowds usually skip. At 839 feet it is a short climb, but it has something most Acadia peaks do not: an old fire tower you can climb for an extra story of view. The first tower here was built by the Civilian Conservation Corps and used into the 1950s, then replaced by the steel tower that still stands. From its lower platform you look out over Long Pond, Echo Lake, Somes Sound, and the western ridgelines of the island. It is one of the best views-for-effort hikes in the whole park.
The mountain rises between Long Pond on the west and Echo Lake on the east, near Southwest Harbor. Because it is on the quiet side of the island, you can often hike it in summer without the parking battles and trail crowds of Cadillac or the Beehive. The standard loop is barely over a couple of miles, with open granite ledges partway up that already give you the lake views before you reach the top. It is a good hike for families, for an evening leg-stretcher, or for anyone who wants Acadia without the scrum.
Hiking Beech Mountain
The most common route is the Beech Mountain Loop, which climbs to the summit and the fire tower and comes back down a different way for variety. It runs roughly 1.2 miles for the direct trail and about 2.4 miles if you take the full South Ridge loop, gaining a little under 500 feet. The trail climbs through woods and onto open granite slabs that look down on Long Pond and Mansell Mountain about halfway up, so you get views well before the summit.
At the top, the fire tower is the draw. The lower platform is open to visitors and clears the trees for a wider look at Somes Sound, Echo Lake, and Acadia Mountain across the way. The summit ledges themselves are pleasant for a sit even without climbing the tower.
Combine Beech Mountain with the Beech Cliff trails for a fuller half-day on the quiet side. The cliffs above Echo Lake, reached from the same general area, give you a dramatic look straight down at the swimming beach. Do the cliffs and the summit together and you have seen the best of western Mount Desert Island without ever fighting the east-side crowds.
What You See
The view from Beech leans west and south, which is unusual for Acadia and part of what makes it worth the trip. Long Pond, the largest freshwater lake on the island, stretches out below to the west, with Mansell and Bernard Mountains beyond it. Echo Lake sits to the east, and on a clear day you can pick out Somes Sound, the only fjord-like inlet on the East Coast, cutting into the island to the northeast. Acadia Mountain rises across the way. The fire tower’s platform opens it all up another notch.
This western light is good in the late afternoon and at sunset, when the eastern peaks are already in shadow but Beech still catches the sun.
The upper trail crosses open granite that gets slick in rain and the summit is exposed to wind. The fire tower is old steel; climb only the open lower platform, watch the steps, and skip it entirely in wet or windy weather. As on all Acadia summits, fog can roll in fast and the smooth rock offers no obvious tread, so follow the cairns.
When to Go
Spring
The low elevation dries out earlier than the high peaks, but expect mud and lingering ice on the ledges into April. Bugs build by late May. Very quiet.
Summer
Warm and far less crowded than the east-side summits. Mornings and evenings are best for parking and light. A good family hike.
Fall
Clear air, foliage around Long Pond and Echo Lake, and cool hiking weather. Late September into October is the prime window.
Winter
Open year-round. The short trail is doable with traction in firm snow, and the western views over the frozen ponds are striking. Skip the icy tower.
Getting There
Beech Mountain is on the west side of Mount Desert Island near Southwest Harbor. From the village, follow the local roads toward Beech Hill and the Beech Mountain parking area at the trailhead, between Long Pond and Echo Lake. From Ellsworth and the head of the island it is a short drive around to the quiet side. Bangor is a bit over an hour away and Portland roughly three hours.
You need a valid Acadia park pass on your dashboard. A standard vehicle pass is $35 and good for seven days. The Beech Mountain lot is small, so arrive early on summer weekends.
Hike Beech, then drive five minutes to Echo Lake and swim off the sand beach at the foot of the cliffs. Echo Lake is warm by Maine standards, has a real swimming beach with a lifeguard in season, and is far calmer than the ocean at Sand Beach. A morning on Beech Mountain and an afternoon swim at Echo Lake is the local way to do the quiet side of Acadia on a hot day.
Beech Mountain Day Hike Checklist
- Acadia park pass on the dashboard
- Water for the climb (none on the mountain)
- Shoes with grip for the smooth granite ledges
- Light wind layer for the open summit
- Sun hat and sunscreen for the exposed rock
- Swimsuit for an Echo Lake swim afterward
- Current Acadia trail map or offline map
- Camera for the Long Pond and Somes Sound views
FAQ
How long is the Beech Mountain hike?
The direct Beech Mountain Trail is about 1.2 miles, and the full South Ridge loop runs roughly 2.4 miles with a little under 500 feet of climbing. Most people do it in one to two hours with time at the summit.
Can you climb the Beech Mountain fire tower?
Yes. The lower platform of the steel fire tower is open to visitors and clears the trees for views of Somes Sound, Echo Lake, and Acadia Mountain. Climb carefully and avoid it in wet or windy weather.
Is Beech Mountain a good hike for families?
Yes. It is short, the climbing is gentle, and the open ledges and fire tower give kids a real payoff. It is on Acadia's quieter west side, so it avoids the worst of the crowds and parking trouble.
Is there a fee to hike Beech Mountain?
There is no separate trail fee, but Acadia requires a park entrance pass. A standard vehicle pass is $35 and valid for seven days. The trailhead lot is small, so arrive early in summer.
What can you see from Beech Mountain?
The view looks west and south over Long Pond, the largest lake on the island, with Echo Lake to the east and Somes Sound and Acadia Mountain to the northeast. The fire tower platform opens the view up further.
