Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
most mountain hiking trails which, for much of their lengths, are little
more than tunnels through the trees.
The difficulty of trails ranges from easy, flat, self-guided nature hikes
along the shore at Ship's Harbor, to the challenging Precipice, which is
more of a non-technical climbing route featuring iron rungs and
handrailings cemented into tall cliffs to aid in the ascent.
Acadia Mountain, Acadia National Park
: Offers hundreds of miles of
trails and many splendid views and summits. It is hard to choose be-
tween them, but if you must,
Acadia Mountain
would be my recommen-
dation.
Beginning on Route 102, at the trailhead across the road from the park-
ing area, the route heads north, crosses the Man 'O War Fire Road and
then begins to ascend toward the 681-foot summit. There is only one
place where hands are needed as you climb through fragrant pine woods
on this half-mile trail. There are numerous open ledges at the top with
great views of the surrounding mountains as well as Somes Sound, the
only Fjord on the east coast of the United States. Retrace you steps to re-
turn or continue down to Man 'O War Brook on a very steep and rocky
trail. Follow the fire road a mile back to Route 102.
Cadillac Mountain, Acadia National Park
: No visit to Acadia is com-
plete without a hike up Cadillac Mountain, the highest point within 50
miles of the sea from Maine to Rio de Janeiro. There are four trails up
this 1,5320-foot edifice. The
South Ridge Trail
is the least steep. Begin
at the well-marked trailhead on Route 3 near the Blackwoods Camp-
ground in Otter Creek. The trail rises slowly through deep woods until
emerging in a loop at Eagle's Crag. The best views come with taking the
right fork.
Soon the trail hits barren ledge areas with low jack pine woods. Views are
great in all direction. The trail dips for a while to the shallow, weed-
choked pond called the Featherbed, which is a major trail intersection of-
fering log benches if you need a rest. Continue up steeply and then rise
steady on the open, treeless spine of the mountain until reentering forest
just near the top. Views are great in all directions, but you'll have to
share. There is an auto road to the top as well as a gift shop and restroom.
Distance one-way is 3.5 miles. Elevation gain is 1,300 feet. Strenuous.
Gorham Mountain, Acadia National Park
: Although this hill tops
out at less than 500 feet, its proximity to the ocean and other loftier peaks
makes it a favorite. The one-mile trail to the summit begins in the corner
of the Gorham Mountain Parking Lot on the Ocean Drive section of the
