Giant Slide

Short version: nominally 1.5-hours
Click for Giant Slide Plus for a 2.5-hour version
Click for Giant Slide Plus Plus for a 5.5-hour version

In sticking with our "uniquely Acadia" theme, this hike offers great views of a glacially carved river valley that has wonderful cascades of water if it has been wet. Since the views are mostly tens of feet in front and around you, this hike is particularly good for overcast days and days when visibility is low.

Finding the Trailhead

From the Junction of route 233 and 198, drive south about 0.9 miles. The trail head should be on the left. There is a very small parking area there that has space for two or three cars. (Brown Mountain Bus will leave you off here if you ask the driver.) If there is no parking available, continue another 0.2 miles to Giant Slide Road (on the left) and park. Walk up Giant Slide Road and you will cross the Giant Slide Trail and get all of the good parts of the trail!

Details of the Hike


Type of Hike: Modified Loop
Total Distance: about 2.5 miles
Vertical up/down: about 500feet
Rating: Difficult
Map of Hike

The views on the Hike:

Until you reach the intersection of the Trail and Giant Slide Road, it's just a flat walk in the woods. When you reach Giant Slide, the glacial remnants are all around you. In places, you are going under tunnels of glacial rock remnants. If it has been rainy, there are waterfalls and cascades everywhere. When you reach the first signpost, bear right. (If you go straight, there is a tunnel.) Follow along this trail until you reach a carriage road. Go left on the carriage road. When the carriage road crosses the Giant Slide Trail, take a left and return down the Giant Slide.

In Summary

In a short distance, you've gotten a pretty good work out and a set of "Uniquely Acadia Views." On my "uniquely Acadia scale", I rate this hike a B+ to A-.