2014-06-24 Hiking Cadillac Mountain

Another Tuesday off and nice weather! Gary and I decided to have little race up Cadillac Mountain. He dropped me off at the trail head for the Cadillac North Ridge Trail and I hiked to the summit (2.2 miles, 1150' vertical gain). He headed into Bar Harbor, parked the truck and took the Oli's Trolley up to the summit. (Gary will do just about anything to avoid walking the uphill part.) It took me about 1 hour to the summit (moving quickly and passing a lot of folks along the way) and I beat him to the top by about 15 minutes. :-) That was fun!

This is actually a fairly easy, good-footing trail up North Ridge (and continuing down South Ridge). It really is a "must do" trail for those who like to hike and have limited time in Acadia. I would like to find time to do this hike again.

Trail Head on the loop road

moving up

Immediate Rewards - views all the way, looking east towards Bar Harbor



Blue paint and rock cairns mark the way

Passing through wooded areas

Lots of blooms along the way too!

Granite path through the trees

More deciduous forest - fall colors will be fantastic

Pitch pine - the smell was amazing



I can't resist a rocky shaded path

Up and to the left is the summit

To my left, views of Frenchman Bay and the Porcupine Islands

Stone stairways assist where the elevation gain is greatest

These trails were made to last

Looking back to the north, note the road to the summit

Walking the granite

Approaching the summit, view of Bar Harbor



Final bit of climbing, starting to see people



Last bit to the top includes barriers as you approach the crowded summit



The parking lot and summit are full