AMC Outdoors, January/February 2005

While it’s not a loop hike, the south ridge of Cadillac Mountain, with its open forests of pitch and jack pine, is worth experiencing twice in the same day. This hike starts on Maine Route 3 near the entrance to Blackwoods Campground and makes a moderate, enjoyable climb to Cadillac’s summit over a leisurely 3.5 miles. While the summit may not be the wildest spot in the park, with its gift shop and parking lot full of tourists, the south ridge of Cadillac is relatively quiet and full of excellent views—especially in winter when you’ll find even more solitude and open vistas.

The first mile of the hike rises gently, then moderately, through a forest dominated by white pine and spruce. At the one-mile mark, a spur path leads 0.1 mile to the right to an overlook called Eagle Crag, with good views of Otter Creek and the Atlantic Ocean. This is a worthwhile destination for families not up for the full hike to the summit.

The spur path loops around to reconnect with the main trail after a total of about 0.2 mile. The hike then enters a forest of pitch pine spread over a granite ledge—an open, airy feeling. The occasional boulder among the gnarly and twisted trees contributes to the forest’s look of a grown-up Japanese bonsai garden. Of course, this is a real forest, and wind and water are the gardeners. From here there are views of the island and ocean for most of the way to the summit. The trail then passes though one of the islands few pockets of jack pine just before it makes a short descent to the Featherbed.

A boggy area 2.3 miles from the trailhead, the Featherbed is one of the highest wetlands in the park. The trail crosses the Canon Brook Trail, which leads east to Dorr Mountain and west to Jordan Pond, and soon reaches its steepest climb. A trail junction 0.5 mile below the summit marks the Cadillac West Face Trail, which leads west to Bubble Pond. At this point, the trail nears the summit road before making its final ascent.

Shortly before reaching the summit, the trail descends into a thick spruce-fir forest, which stands in marked contrast to the open pine forest. This area is protected from the strong summit winds and collects just enough soil and water to allow the spruce-fir forest to thrive. The trail crosses a fire road and reaches the summit parking area just below the actual summit, which is marked by a set of signs describing the views that extend in all directions of Frenchman Bay, the Schoodic Peninsula, the islands to the west, and even Katahdin 115 miles to the north all are visible.

—Jerry and Marcy Monkman are frequent contributors to AMC Outdoors.

DIRECTIONS

From I-95 in Augusta, take Maine Route 3 east to Ellsworth and on to Mount Desert Island. Find the trailhead just past the entrance to Blackwoods Campground.

RESOURCES

Camping is available year round at Blackwoods Campground and in winter is first-come, first-served. The fee of $20 per night, per site may vary off-season. The Winter Visitor Center at Park Headquarters is open from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., seven days a week. Jerry and Marcy Monkman’s AMC book, Discover Acadia National Park, is available at the AMC Store.

LOCAL WISDOM

This very easterly summit is a famous sunrise-watcher’s gathering spot. Get up a little early and trek by headlamp to be among the first in the country to witness the dawning of the day. The scenic, 27-mile Loop Road around the park makes a great cross-country ski outing, weather permitting.