Gorham Mountain - Member Hike
| Hike Name: | Gorham Mountain |
|---|---|
| Country: | United States |
| State: | Maine |
| Nearby Town: | Bar Harbor |
| Rating: |  |
| Directions: | Take the loop road in Acadia to the Gorham Mountain trailhead just past Thunder Hole. Follow the trial up to the summit, taking either the right or left hand option at the trail split (they join back up with no side trails as far as I know). At the summit, follow the trail back down to the loop road, keeping right at all trail intersections. At the loop road, pick up the Ocean Path back to the trail head. |
| Total Hike Distance: | 2.75 miles |
| Hike Difficulty: | Moderate |
| Permit Required: | No |
| Hike Type: | Roundtrip, Loop Hike |
| Hike Starts/Ends: | Gorham Mountain Trailhead |
| Trails Used: | Gorham Mountain Trail, Ocean Path |
| Backcountry Campsites: | No |
| Backcountry Water Sources: | Springs |
| Management: | National Park Service |
| Contact Information: | http://www.nps.gov/acad/index.htm |
| Best Season: | Spring, Summer, Fall |
| Users: | Hikers, Dogs |
| Road Conditions: | Primary Paved Roads, Secondary Paved Roads |
| Hike Summary: | This was my first really serious hike in the park, though I've wandered other trails in the past. I started out at Gorham Mountain Trailhead and headed up the path. It was a cool day but I quickly shed my windbreaker. I was breaking in new shoes and was a little concerned about blisters or other problems (I'm sadly prone to foot problems) but this proved not to be an issue. I was also trying out a new pair of Smartwool hiking socks, which it turns out I love. Anyway, I made good progress despite the rocky terrain. You really have to watch your step in Acadia, and this trail is no exception. A "moderate" Acadia trail includes some climbing with installed metal rungs and hopping from rock to rock (for the short-legged), plus some pretty serious short climbs and descents. Gorham Mountain is 525 feet, but because in Acadia you start many hikes nearly at sea-level, you easily ascend 450 or more of those feet over about a mile. The best views, I discovered, are not at the summit but a bit below it, looking southeast over the ocean. The summit view looks north toward Great Head, Egg Rock and its lighthouse, and Bar Harbor (though the town isn't visible). The climb down is less strenuous and if possible more beautiful; you scramble through fewer rocks (slightly) and have a few flat areas for easy walking. I spotted a couple squirrels and made friends with a downy woodpecker that let me watch her for maybe 5-10 minutes as she foraged among birch trees along the trail. At the Loop Road, I picked up the Ocean Path that follows the loop road for a good distance, which makes this hike a loop hike (Acadia has the Island Explorer shuttle, which makes point-to-point hiking much easier, but this hike doesn't need it). I had, by the way, forgotten water (will NEVER do that again!), but I made it back to my car ok, with a couple stops along the way to admire the view of the ocean from maybe twenty-thirty feet up along the road. All in all, a great hike I would do again. |
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