Geology

Explore vast slabs of pink granite, picturesque cliffs, and breathtaking oceans views as the Ocean Path takes you along the bold coast of Maine. The Ocean Path is a great way to access Thunder Hole and Otter Point from Sand Beach on a gradual hike. Find a plaque dedicated to John D. Rockefeller for all of the work he did in providing the experience that people continue to have today in Acadia National Park. Distance: 2.2 mile traill one way, 4.4 miles round trip. The trail is 0.7 miles from Sand Beach to Thunder Hole. Terrain/Safety: From Sand Beach to Thunder Hole the trail is a mix of concrete and packed gravel surfaces. The rest of the trail is gravelly and rocky with uneven surfaces. There are two staircases present 1.4 miles into the trail as the path climbs around a rocky cliff section. Steep drops into the ocean. Keep children away from the edge. Good footwear is recommended. Visitors can ride the fare-free Island Explorer to visit Ocean Path. The bus drops off and picks up at regular intervals throughout the day at the Island Explorer sign located in the right lane of Park Loop Road at Thunder Hole, and on the right side of Sand Beach lower parking lot. Hike Description The trail begins from the upper parking lot of Sand Beach. It can also be accessed from the Thunder Hole and Otter Point parking areas. Leaving from Sand Beach the trail consists of concrete and packed gravel sections that gradually rise over a hill providing a overarching view across the entire ocean path coastline. Gradually descend on accessible trail to Thunder Hole, an underwater sea cave that with the right conditions (2 hours before high-tide and high winds) can produce thundering crashes heard up and down the trail. Continuing past Thunder Hole the trail becomes uneven but remains gradual as it begins climbing up through a spruce/fir forest. Arrive at Otter Cliffs, 110-ft cliffs that mark the highest point along the Ocean Path. Climb up a granite staircase to a walkway that parallels the road to cross over the cliffs and descend down another staircase on the other side. The trail continues down to Otter Point where granite slabs are surrounded by ocean on both sides. Many people return to Sand Beach from here but a couple hundred more feet the trail ends at Otter Cove with a small staircase and a stunning view across the Otter Cove causeway with Cadillac and Dorr Mountain in the background.

Crack-In-Rock Day Hikes Day trips to Crack-In-Rock will be offered each year in April and October. The number of participants on each hike is limited to 12 to preserve these fragile resources. Hikes may be conducted with smaller groups depending on staff availability. Spots are filled on a first come first served basis with a waitlist of 5 people per hike. Two people maximum can be signed up at one time. The 2026 October hikes are now FULL and registration is closed. For questions about this hike please contact FLAG_Ranger_Hikes@nps.gov . Participants will be driven by NPS staff in 4x4 vehicles and then led on a guided hike to the Crack-In-Rock Pueblo and other nearby archeological sites to experience protected petroglyph panels and Ancestral Puebloan structures. This day hike will be approximately four miles total in desert conditions. The hike is strenuous to include uneven terrain and steep talus slopes, participants will be exposed to outdoor conditions all day. These sites and the lands they are on are culturally significant to the 13 Traditionally Associated Tribes of Wupatki National Monument, all of whom have ancestral ties to this area.

Hiking at Chiricahua National Monument is an experience like no other. Many of the trails immediately bring visitors into an epic landscape of rocks of all shapes and sizes. Visitors don't just gaze at the formations from above, but stand under and beside the towering giants.

A good way to view the rocks without driving up the road, this mostly-level trail takes you to Rhyolite Canyon, a canyon lined with rock pinnacles. Walk 1.5 miles / 2.4 km until you reach the junction between Upper Rhyolite Canyon and Sarah Deming trails. Return the same way.

After descending from the high rim of the Upper Black Canyon of the Gunnison, the trail follows Curecanti Creek as it descends toward Morrow Point Reservoir. The Curecanti Needle, a 700 ft (213 m) granite spire, towers above at the trail's end. The first half of the trail begins in the sun on a southwest facing slope and the second half is partially shaded by fir and spruce trees. Good shoes or boots are recommended. Carry at least 2 quarts of water per person. Distance (one-way): 2 mi (3.2 km) Difficulty: Strenuous

Be sure to always check the Calendar or stop by the Visitor Center to find the programs that will be available during your visit. Typically offered year-round at sunset as weather permits. Those planning to join a ranger-led full moon hike at Bryce Canyon National Park can make reservations online via Recreation.gov . Tickets for each month’s hike are released in two phases, 14 and 5 days in advance. This is a "ranger's choice" hike and can range from an easy hike along the rim of the plateau to a more strenuous hike that descends down into the canyon along steep and rocky trails. More information will be given on the day of the event. Hikes are typically 1 to 2 miles. For more information on full moon hikes, including schedules and how to participate, please visit our Full Moon Hikes page. Due to the nature of this special activity all participants must agree to the following rules: Children 7 and younger are not permitted. Hiking boots or hiking shoes (lug soles) in good condition are required for your safety and the safety of Park Staff and other Participant(s). White light flashlights, headlamps are not allowed to be used during the hike (you may bring them for later use). Red light flashlights and headlamps are permitted as necessary. Flash photography may be permitted under key restrictions. Bring drinking water and a jacket - night time temperatures can be cold. Due to steep and rocky trails this activity is not wheelchair accessible.

Combine two of our most iconic trails, the Navajo and Peekaboo Loop trails, into a a mini Figure-8 combination loop. Start the hike at Sunset Point, descend down either side of the Navajo Loop (Two Bridges in winter), connect to the Peekaboo Loop (we recommend hiking it in a clockwise direction), and ascend Navajo back to Sunset Point. Trailhead: Sunset Point Parking: At trailhead (check when parking lots are busiest ). Oversized vehicles are not permitted in this parking area when the shuttle is in operation. Distance: 4.9 miles (7.9 km) Approximate Time: 3-4 hours Elevation Gain: 1475 feet (450 meters) Difficulty: Strenuous (rapid elevation gain, longer length) Services: Accessible restrooms available at Sunset Point (year-round). Pit toilets on the west side of Peekaboo Loop (summer only). Water-fill stations available at Sunset Point (seasonally) and the Sunset Point restroom (year-round). Shuttle Service: Yes. In winter, use the Two Bridges side of the Navajo Loop. Pets are not allowed on this trail. Service animals are allowed in national parks. What is a service animal? Hikers will encounter horses and mules on the Peekaboo Loop and should give the right-of-way to these riders. You can hike these two trails individually as the Peekaboo Loop and the Navajo Loop .

The iconic Navajo Loop Trail begins and ends at Sunset Point. Its switchbacks wind between narrow walls of colorful limestone with views of towering Douglas-fir trees and the park's most famous hoodoo: Thor's hammer. The loop has two sides: Two Bridges and Wall Street. The Two Bridges side is open year-round, however, the Wall Street side is closed during the winter months. During this time Two-Bridges can be hiked as an out-and-back trail or combined with other trails. Trailhead: Sunset Point Parking: At trailhead (check when parking lots are busiest ). Oversized vehicles are not permitted in these parking areas when the shuttle is in operation. Distance: 1.3 mile (2.1 km) Approximate Time: 1-2 hour Elevation Gain: 515 feet (157 meters) Difficulty: Moderate (less than 1000 feet elevation gain, moderate length) Services: Accessible restrooms available at Sunset Point (year-round). Water-fill stations available at Sunset Point (seasonally) and the Sunset Point restroom (year-round). Shuttle Service: Yes. Only a loop in summer. During this time, we recommend hiking in a counter-clockwise direction. During winter months, Two Bridges can be hiked as an out-and-back trail or combined with other trails. Pets are not allowed on this trail . Service animals are allowed in national parks. What is a service animal? This trail is commonly combined with Queen's Garden to create a 2.9 mile round trip trail where you can descend Queen's Garden at Sunrise Point and ascend Navajo Loop to Sunset Point. Complete the loop using the Sunset to Sunrise section of the Rim Trail.

The Citadel and Nalakihu Pueblos were the central hub of a vibrant agricultural community between the early 1100s and mid 1200s CE. About half the size of Wupatki Pueblo, Citadel was around 50 rooms and is strategically located on the top of a small cinder hill overlooking a limestone sinkhole. The area provided good opportunities for farming and hunting game animals such as mule deer, elk, and pronghorn. Soil studies have revealed evidence that people here grew cotton which could have been an important trading commodity. The Nalakihu Pueblo is a smaller structure built at the base of Citadel and was once used as the monument headquarters in the 1930s. The reconstructed portions of this pueblo have since been removed. This trail is located a 4 mi. (6.4km) drive from the northern entrance off of HWY 89, or a 10 mi. (16km) drive from the Wupatki Visitor Center. It offers an intimate experience with an Ancestral Puebloan heritage site and grand views of the surrounding San Francisco peaks and volcanic field. The first portion of the trail is accessible with a compacted decomposed granite surface. The parking lot is parallel to the road with an entrance/exit on both sides. There are 7 single car spaces, 2 accessible spaces, and 5 oversize vehicle spaces available. Pets are not allowed on this trail, leashed service animals are ok. Although it is no longer physically occupied, descendent communities believe the people who lived and died here remain as spiritual guardians. These places are remembered and cared for, not abandoned. Thank you for visiting respectfully and leaving no trace. These sites and the lands they are on are culturally significant to the 13 Traditionally Associated Tribes of Wupatki National Monument, all of whom have ancestral ties to this area.

Swamp Canyon appears relatively small and sheltered from the overlook, allowing the viewer to develop a more intimate connection with the landscape than some of the grander viewpoints in the park. The Swamp Canyon Loop, which starts at the viewpoint, is more rugged than the Bryce Amphitheater trails, taking hikers into a more forested backcountry hike. There is less signage on this hike and hikers are encouraged to carry a map. Trailhead: Swamp Canyon Viewpoint (Mile 6 on the Southern Scenic Drive) Parking: At Swamp Canyon Viewpoint (check when parking lots are busiest ). Oversized vehicles permitted. Distance: 4.0 mile (6.4 km) Approximate Time: 3-4 hours Elevation Gain: 800 feet (244 meters) Difficulty: Moderate (less than 1000 feet elevation gain, moderate length) Services: None. Shuttle Service: None. Private options may be available. This trail may be inaccessible during mid-winter due to snow depths ranging from 2-15 ft. (.7-5 m) Pets are not allowed on this trail. Service animals are allowed in national parks. What is a service animal?