12 29 2013 Sand Beach Great Head Loop

Hikers-Greg and Kim
After a morning ski and soaking in the hot tub we journeyed out again for an adventure before heading home.  In the winter the park only plows two sections of the park.  You can access the park loop road by traveling out of Bar Harbor to the Shore Road and then getting onto the Park Loop Road at the normally manned gate.  The right lane is plowed but the left lane is left for snowmobiles.  We drove into Sand Beach and had no problem finding a parking spot which is not what we are accustomed to in the summer.

The views of the Beehive and the mountains beyond were majestic against the try skies.
We walked across the beach and entered the trail that goes to the Great Head Trail.

Once again ice creepers assured us of proper footing and it was a warm day.  We went counter clockwise to the head and then up and around in a proper loop.

We had great views of Otter Cliffs, the open Atlantic, Baker Island, Schoodic Peninsula, the light in Frenchman Bay and the modern mansion at Schooner Head.

When we came back through the woods I detected movement through the trees and we finally saw the owners of the fresh tracks we had been following all afternoon-a small herd of white-tailed deer who scurried off.  We traveled along the ice-covered ledges and headed back to the car with the backdrop of surf sounds.

We drove along to the terminus of this plowed section past Thunder Hole and to a road that brings you back into Bar Harbor.


View the video of our hike: