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Guide to the South Bubble Hike, Acadia National Park

Perched on a rocky outcrop above Jordon Pond, the short and fun South Bubble hike offers an excellent view across Acadia and out to the ocean. With several options for parking and hiking, South Bubble can be done as a quick loop or a longer hike that includes walking around Jordon Pond.

We parked at the Jordon House parking lot and did the walk around the lake and the loop up South Bubble on a Saturday morning in August and had a lovely walk and a high reward for our effort!

In this article, we’ll share exactly how to do the South Bubble Hike.

Almost at the summit of South Bubble
Almost at the summit of the South Bubble Hike

Quick Look at the South Bubble Hike Acadia

Distance: 1.4 miles
Elevation: 500 ft
Difficulty: Moderate with a challenging section

(this distance is just for the loop up South Bubble.  If you want to add on the loop around Jordon Pond, the elevation is the same, but the distance is about 3.5 miles - the Jordon Pond Section of the trail is easy walking).

The South Bubble Trail (sometimes called the Bubble Rock Trail) is a 1.5-mile loop with a scramble up a rocky section to the top of the Bubble Rock Overlook. The trail is steep and involves a bit of climbing to get to the short summit, but once you get up this section, the hike offers excellent views out across Jordon Pond to the ocean.

If you park and just do the South Bubble Loop Trail, you will descend down a much easier trail and loop back around (it’s also possible to come up this trail which offers a more gentle slope). If you are up for a slightly longer hike, you can also do the loop around Jordon Pond (this is what we did).

The trail around Jordon Pond is mostly flat, wide with easy walking. It was also the most crowded part of the South Bubble hike. In general, this was one of the more crowded hikes we did in Acadia, so it’s best to get an early start if possible.

Scroll to the end of the post for a step by step description of our hike on South Bubble.

The View North from the Top of the South Bubble Hike
The View North from the Top of the South Bubble Hike

Where to Park for hiking to South Bubble Acadia

There are several options for parking to hike the South Bubble Trail in Acadia. You can park right along Park Loop Rd. From here you can hop right on the South Bubble Trail which quickly becomes a loop. Take the route in a clockwise direction to go up the steep section and down the more moderate trail.

You can also park at the Jordon Pond House and hike the trail around Jordon Pond and the South Bubble trail. Note that there are 2 parking lots here, one is reserved for people eating at the Jordon House Pond and the other is if you want to bike or walk.

We did the hike from Jordon Pond House and ended right at 11:00 when Jordon Pond House opened and got a table to eat some popovers and lemonade. It was a great way to start the morning!

The View from Jordon Pond House with South Bubble in the Background
The View from Jordon Pond House with South Bubble in the Background

South Bubble Hike Map

Things to Know about Hiking the South Bubble Trail Acadia

Is the South Bubble Trail Good for Kids?

The South Bubble Hiking Trail is a great options if you are hiking with kids. Young kids may have trouble with some of the boulders, but this part of the trail is short and most kids will enjoy the short scramble. We hiked with trail with older kids (ages 10 and 14) and they found the trail easy and fun and enjoyed the viewpoint.

Can you hike to South Bubble with a dog?

While dogs are allowed in many parts of Acadia National Park as long as they are kept on a leash, there are no dog allowed on the South Bubble hike. Since this trail is relatively steep, this will ensure that you furry friends are safe.

Is there a Fee to Hike South Bubble?

In order to do the South Bubble hike, you will need to pay to enter Acadia National Park. You can see details on the National Park Service website.

When is the Best Time of Year to do the South Bubble Hike?

The best time to hike in Acadia is typically late spring-Oct. This is when you’ll find the best weather for hiking, but also the most crowded hiking conditions. Fall is especially beautiful when the leaves change color.

Hiking up to South Bubble

Details of the South Bubble Hike

This description will outline the hike we did starting at Jordon Pond House and going up South Bubble. If you want a shorter hike, you can also park at the base of South Bubble and hike up the trail from here as a 1.5 mile loop. Remember to hike in a clockwise direction so you can go up the steep section.

If you want an even easier and shorter hike, you can also just go up the northside of South Bubble as an out and back. This avoids the steep rocky section and makes the hike just over 1 mile.

We parked at the Jordon Pond House lot on a Saturday morning in May. By 9:00 this lot was mostly full and many other people were heading out on hikes and bike rides. There are bathrooms and facilities at this parking lot.

The view walking along the edge of Jordon Pond
Walking along the edge of Jordon Pond

We followed the main trail around Jordon Pond to the right (going counterclockwise around the lake). This trail was busy, but flat and easy walking. There are a few places with bridges. This part of the trail can be done quickly.

After about 1 mile, you will come to a trail off to your right. This is actually where the trail splits for the South Bubble Loop. Head straight up the rocky section in front of you. This will lead to the summit of South Bubble. This section of the trail is steep with rocky sections and a few steep scrambles. We enjoyed this part of the trail.

The South Bubble Hike near the summit
The South Bubble Hike near the summit

The summit offers views in several directions and is worth pausing at or having lunch. The trail continues over the summit and down the north side of South Bubble. At this point the trail is much more moderate with a smoother trail with several switchbacks. The trail eventually winds around to the right and you will pass several trails to the left that will lead you to the parking lot of out to the Park Loop Road.

The summit of South Bubble
The summit of the South Bubble Hike

If you are continuing back to Jordon Pond House follow the trail until it intersects back with Jordon Pond Trail. At this point you can turn left to go back to the Jordon Pond House or turn right to complete the loop around Jordon Pond. There is also an option to take the trail down off the summit of South Bubble and head northwest. This will take you down to the Jordon Pond Trail directly and shorten your hike. This trail is steeper than the trail that loops back down to the parking lot.

If you’re looking for some other excellent short hikes in Acadia, check out:

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