Top Things to do in DownEast and Acadia Maine
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What to do and see in DownEast and Acadia Maine, DownEast and Acadia Maine: The Best Mountains
Discover the best top things to do in DownEast and Acadia Maine, United States including Duck Harbor Mountain, Cadillac Mountain, Penobscot Mountain, Schoodic Mountain, Mansell Mountain, Pemetic Mountain, Klondike Mountain, Day Mountain, Great Pond Mountain Conservation Trust, Porcupine Mountain.
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1. Duck Harbor Mountain
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 18 reviews
A good hiking mountain in the lovely Isle Au Haut.
Reviewed By 31eliseg - Hudson River Valley, United States
Given the times of the mail-ferry's departure and return, we had four hours to pack in our adventure. Yes, the Duck Harbor Mountain hike was rated as "difficult". We are avid hikers normally, so we were up for the challenge. There are times that we chuckle when we read, "difficult" because everyone's view is so subjective. In this case, the trail was indeed difficult, as there were sections with exposed cliff faces that one needed to climb using all fours, and sometimes on very narrow ledges. This actually was quite fun! Being on the top of the mountain offered incredible views. We could have turned back once reaching the summit, but decided it was worth it to do a loop. To that end, we continued on Goat Trail, Cliff Trail, and Western Head Trail. We stopped for a quick dip in the waters of Deep Cove. That was sensational! The views from Cliff Trail were outstanding. Okay, now for my "well, almost" comment in the title of this review. The black flies were impossible on the Western Head Trail. Though we had bug spray which we applied numerous times, the bugs were just horrific. At times, there were dozens on any exposed skin. It was really difficult to take in the beauty during this stint of our day, but aside from this drawback, it was an ideal day. Regarding the ferry ride there and back, the staff were gracious and informative. And yes, as you'll see in the photos, it really is a mail boat after all!
2. Cadillac Mountain
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 3,467 reviews
The East Coast's highest mountain at 1,530 feet and Acadia's best known sight.
Reviewed By 866TaylorB - Chicago, United States
Cadillac Mountain in Acadia National Park on Maine's Mount Desert Island is, at 1, 532 feet, the highest point along the North Atlantic Seaboard and the first place in the United States to be touched by the light of a rising sun from October 7 through March 6 of each year. How's that for a notable piece of trivia? It also is the only mountain on Mount Desert Island--there are more than 20 of them--that has a road that travels all the way to the summit. The 3.5-mile road to the top opened in 1931. Cadillac Mountain is composed largely of pink granite, giving it a strong reddish appearance at sunrise or sunset. Spruce and pitch pine are the dominant trees on the mountain combined with tiny subalpine plants and wild blueberries. Views? Look in every direction. To the East, there is the Schoodic Peninsula on the mainland. There are several islands off the coast of Mount Desert Island, including Sheep Porcupine and Bald Porcupine. To the Northeast is the business district of Bar Harbor. To the North is Trenton. To the South is Islesford. To the Southwest is Southwest Harbor. To the West is Eagle Lake and Blue Hill Mountain. Yes, it is more scenic than a trip to the top of Pike's Peak in Colorado.
3. Penobscot Mountain
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 30 reviews
Reviewed By JCWillow
We took Spring Trail from Jordan Pond House to Penobscot Mountain Trail and returned via Sargent South Ridge and Amphitheater Trails. It was a beautiful, moderately strenuous hike with some steps, scrambles, and a few brook crossings. Beautiful views from the summit and all along the walk up. We are in our 50s and hike regularly, recommend poles especially for tricky knees.
4. Schoodic Mountain
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 46 reviews
Reviewed By wanderingpaynes - Bar Harbor, United States
If you want to go hiking away from the crowds in Bar Harbor and Acadia, come to the Schoodic Peninsula and enjoy the peace and solitude on this trail. It has amazing views from the top and is worth the trip.
5. Mansell Mountain
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 13 reviews
Reviewed By mynameispaulie - Shelton, United States
First off I have never been to the main Acadia island, my wife and I stayed on the quiet side during our first visit as the Island shuttle bus was not running which hindered our plans. However, we covered pretty much all the trails on the quiet side during our 3 day stay (with the exception of Bernard Mountain). For this hike we started at the long pond parking area. We started along the Long Pond Trail before ascending up the Perpendicular Trail to Mansell Mountain, then came down the Mansell Mountain Trail. Next, we went along the Gilley Trail and up the Razorback Trail before a slight descent to Great Notch. Then we took a detour up to Knight Nubble and back to Great Notch before returning on the Great Notch Trail and the Gilley Trail. All the trails were great and had their own distinct features, the only one I didn't really enjoy was coming down the Great Notch Trail, perhaps I was just tired at this point but it was mostly rocks and roots and felt like being in a river bed with nothing really exciting to see, I just wanted it to be over. I think if I were to do it again I would continue from Knight Nubble to Little Notch and try coming down the Sluiceway Trail instead. The whole trip took about 5 hours. Anyway, the Mansell Mountain peak had some okay views to the east, and the Mansell Mountain Trail itself was a pretty steep decent over a string of domes. It was enjoyable without being too difficult. I was surprised by how steep some of the descent was. I also have a crippling fear of heights but I survived. Throughout the whole hike the only part that I struggled was some sections of the Razorback Trail (where you climb over a slippery dome), and going up to Knight Nubble and back has some hairy sections where you need to use roots and careful stepping and maneuvers, so I would say maybe skip that part (another reason to push on to Little Notch so not having to climb back down). Overall the Mansell Mountain Trail was an enjoyable section in order to connect going to the Perpendicular Trail and the Razorback Trail and it was different from anything else we had done.
6. Pemetic Mountain
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 23 reviews
Reviewed By jamieleigh84 - London, Canada
There are 4 routes up to the summit, and we chose the most difficult, the Northwest route, up from the Bubbles parking lot. This was a very challenging hike/climb, with a lot of scrambling over rocks. We took the ravine path going up (which was very cool), and came down the ledge route (which I slid down on my butt). This was quite a hard hike, but we were rewarded by the amazing views at the top.
7. Klondike Mountain
8. Day Mountain
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 28 reviews
Acadia National Park mountain where visitors can take a horse-drawn carriage ride.
Reviewed By LoneStarDad
The Day Mountain trail is fairly easy and even though the summit is barely under 600 feet above sea level, the views to the south overlooking the Cranberry Islands are worthy of a much more difficult climb. The best views are actually before you reach the actual summit from an outcropping near the top. A carriage trail also winds up the side of Day Mountain and the trail crosses the road two or three times on the way up. There are no real challenges along the way so the trail is suitable for anyone in reasonably good health and fitness level.
9. Great Pond Mountain Conservation Trust
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 5 reviews
Reviewed By LoneStarDad
The great panoramic views from the top of Great Pond Mountain are well worth the climb - spectacular vistas spanning from the Bucksport bridge to well past the mountains of Mt. Desert Island await. It's a moderate, well-marked climb with only a few rather steep places and along the well-maintained trail. It was fairly busy on this beautiful late August afternoon with a wide variety of fellow hikers, from the obvious pros to families with kids and even a few well-behaved and nice restrained canines. It's not a long hike, maybe an hour and a half each way. At the top you have the option to take the 0.3 mile loop to the actual summit if you need to pose with the summit sign in the photo. I was hoping for some views to the North from the loop, but the trees were dense on that half of the top. Plenty of parking available at two different locations with one being closer to the trail head and the other about a quarter-mile away on a nice dirt road. Kudos to the Conservation Trust for their obvious efforts to make this trail a winner.
10. Porcupine Mountain
This mountain in Maine more closely resembles a hill.
