 Gorham
Mountain Trail is one of the most popular hiking trails in Acadia National Park. With a 525 foot summit, it is not one of the higher
mountains on Mount Desert Island,
but because of its coastal location, the views are
close enough to be intimate and spectacular.
Your ascent begins from the Gorham Mountain Trail parking
area located on the Park Loop Road,
a short distance on the right side past Thunder
Hole. Rated as moderate, the hiking trail begins as an easy steady
climb through a spruce forest, gradually becoming more rugged as it
opens to a granite ascent.
 Not
long after your start, you will come upon a picturesque
setting where the trail splits. You will notice a plaque honoring
Waldron Bates - Pathmaker. He was the first to utilize stone stairways
and iron rung ladders in the trails to help hikers traverse cliffs,
talus slopes (the sloped mass of rocks at the base of a cliff),
and other steep areas. The Gorham Mountain Cadillac Cliffs Trail, which
breaks to the right, is a good example of his work. However, I suggest
that you take the left option for your climb. The right trail can be
very rough in places and there are some outcroppings where rocks jut
out over one's head. Use your own judgment on this.
 Soon,
you will reach what is known as Gorham Mountain's false
summit where you will have an open view of Otter
Cliff, Otter Point, Baker Island,
and the Cranberry Islands. This
false summit area was scorched by the famous 1947 fire that devastated
a large part of Mount Desert Island and you may see some of its remnants.
Further up ahead is the true summit, your goal for this hike. The blue
trail markers and cairns are visible
and well placed to guide your direction. The Park Service does a good
job of inventorying them. I was recently on this trail early on a Sunday
morning and they were checking their locations and accuracy.
 Once
you have arrived at the true summit of Gorham Mountain, you will want
to relax, breathe in the ocean breeze, and devour the panoramic visual
buffet that Acadia National Park provides. To your north is the Beehive.
To your northeast - Sand Beach.
To your east - Thunder Hole. And, to your southeast is Otter Cliff.
Round trip from here is approximately 1.8 miles (2.9 km) but you may
choose to continue on to The Beehive. When hiking during the end of
July and most of August, don't forget to pause and sample some of the
Wild Maine Blueberries that grow each year along these mountainous
trails. Enjoy!
Refer to the Acadia
Hiking Trails page for suggestions and rules while hiking in
Acadia National Park. |
