Flying Mountain Trail and Valley Cove

The western side of Mount Desert Island gets quieter the further you push from Bar Harbor's crowds, and Flying Mountain is where that quiet pays off. The loop runs 1.5 miles, starting at Fernald Point Road — log and gravel steps through forest, then exposed ledges, then views of Somes Sound opening to the east and ocean to the south. The trail descends to Valley Cove, a rocky beach, before returning through forest on a foot-traffic-only road. NPS rates it moderate, built for families with capable young hikers. Plan on one to two hours.