Great Notch Trail,
Acadia National Park

Located 2.4 miles from Southwest Harbor, Maine (ME)
4 Stars
4,644 Steps 1  (2.1 mi)
Trails National Parks Acadia Great Notch Trail

Elevation

The Great Notch Trail has a maximum elevation of 686 ft., a minimum elevation of 177 ft. and an elevation range of 509 ft.

Metrics

[ A to B ] or [ B to A ]
Length 2Min Ele 3Max Ele 4Range 5
2.1 mi177 ft686 ft509 ft
[ A to B ]
Time 6Floors 7Gain 8Loss 9
60 min39.1469 ft295 ft
[ B to A ]
TimeFloorsGainLoss
57 min24.6295 ft469 ft
Data Accuracy
4 Stars
Data Reliability
5 Stars

Calories

The following chart shows the total calories that you may expend on the trail while hiking in both directions. The chart is based on data derived from a statistical model of energy expenditure that relates gross weight, typical speed and trail topography.

Topo Maps

Download the PDF Great Notch Trail topo map and the adjoining quads to plan your hike. These are full-sheet, 7.5 Minute (1:24,000 scale) topographic maps.

Adjoining 7.5' Quadrangle Legend

1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
  1. Northwest Topo Map: Blue Hill, ME
  2. North Topo Map: Newbury Neck, ME
  3. Northeast Topo Map: Salsbury Cove, ME
  4. West Topo Map: Brooklin, ME
  5. Topo Map: Bartlett Island, ME
  6. East Topo Map: Southwest Harbor, ME
  7. Southwest Topo Map: Stinson Neck, ME
  8. South Topo Map: Swans Island, ME
  9. Southeast Topo Map: Bass Harbor, ME

Difficulty

The following chart illustrates the difficulty of hiking the Great Notch Trail compared to two other trails. The x-axis is cumulative elevation gain and the y-axis is maximum elevation. The length of the trail is reflected in the size of the bubble.

FAQ

What is the length of the Great Notch Trail?

The length of the trail is 2.1 miles (3.4 km) or 4,644 steps.

How long does it take to hike the Great Notch Trail?

A person in good physical health can hike the trail in 60 minutes in one direction and in 57 minutes in the opposite direction.

Warnings

Prevent tick bites: Treat clothing and gear, such as boots, pants, socks and tents with products containing 0.5% permethrin. (cdc.gov)

Footnotes

  1. Steps is a unit of distance equal to the sum of stride lengths that vary with the terrain.
  2. Length is the distance of the trail between the two trailheads, measured on the trail.
  3. Min Ele is the minimum elevation on the trail.
  4. Max Ele is the maximum elevation on the trail.
  5. Range is the difference between maximum and minimum elevation.
  6. Time is the typical total time required to hike the trail.
  7. Floors is the gain divided by twelve feet, the height of one floor.
  8. Gain (cumulative elevation gain) is the sum of every gain in elevation.
  9. Loss (cumulative elevation loss) is the sum of every loss in elevation.

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