2014-07-08 Ancient stone stairways of Acadia


After the short Kebo Mountain trail, I still had daylight remaining so I decided to explore a couple of ancient trails leading up Dorr Mountain from Sieur de Monts Spring. Many of the trails in Acadia are over 100 years old, and exhibit amazing craftsmanship using granite from the immediate surroundings, set into mountainsides and winding through rockfalls. A must-do short trail/stairway in Acadia is Homan's Path. It is .3 miles up masterfully crafted granite steps, then returning to the spring via the half mile Emery Path (or you can continue up Schiff Path to the summit of Dorr Mountain). Homan's Path was built in 1915; it is hard to believe such an amazing trail was abandoned and overgrown until rediscovered in 1993 and then restored in 2003. This trail was also damaged by earthquakes in fall of 2006 and re-opened again in 2007. Thank you to the Pathmaker for this one!

Amazing stonework
 
 
trail leads under rock overhang



The steps continue in switchbacks up the hillside




Looking back down the staircase, a view across Frenchman Bay


Trail junctions are well marked - I'm heading back to Sieur de Monts via the Emery Path


Emery Path rounds a corner and provides views of Huegunot Head and Champlain Mountain


Heading back down more amazing stone steps

 
Stone steps winding through a gap in the granite


Coping around the corners
 

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