Dorr Mountain

Last Updated on September 12, 2023 by

This was a great hike for the variety it provided. Although the ultimate destination was Dorr Mountain, we used several connecting trails to get us there. Dorr may be one of the most accessible mountains in Acadia with no less than six options for your hike to the summit.

We began our hike along a flat, well traveled, path through Great Meadow Loop and into a beautiful copse of poplar with just a touch of the fall reds and oranges New England is so famous for.

We diverted slightly off trail to visit the Wild Gardens of Acadia. The year round gardens are maintained by a group of community volunteers and reflect the typical habitats as found on Mount Desert Island. More than 300 native species are labeled to make identification easy in nine separate display areas.

Back on trail, we connected to Kurt Diedrich’s Climb to start our hike to the summit. The Climb is 700 steps of the largest rocks used on any path in Acadia. The path takes you along a pretty steep (they are steps after all) route past several fantastic waterfalls, through the forest, and ultimately connects to Schiff path to take you to the top.

Did You Know?
Woodrow Wilson originally denied George Dorr’s request to create a national monument protecting the mountains of Mount Desert Island. The reason given was too many disconnected parcels of land. That spurred a campaign by Dorr and others to secure donations of more acreage to fill in the gaps. They also built a network of trails to include Kurt Diederich’s Climb that finally created a cohesive area worthy of federal protection. With President Wilson’s designation of Sieur de Monts National Monument, Acadia officially came into being in Acadia’s beginning was secured on July 8, 1916. It is fair to say without the Climb and several others created during the same time, we would not be able to enjoy the park as we know it today.

Once we got to the peak, the trail down suddenly looked much more treacherous. It had rained the day before and the rock was still a bit wet with streams still actively running down the path. With very few options, we made our way VERY carefully down the rock, doing our best to avoid water and occasionally heading significantly off-path to stick to the safest route down.

It was a little nerve racking to be sure, but we did eventually get to a spot that was literally the dry(ish) stream bed that doubled as the trail. While safer than the granite, it was murderous on the feet, and we were certainly glad to be finished with the trail by the time we got back down to flat land.

Always Remember the Seven Principles of Leave No Trace

Plan Ahead and Prepare, Stay on Designated Trails, Dispose of Waste Properly, Don’t Take Anything You Didn’t Bring with You, Minimize Campfire Impacts, Respect Wildlife, Be Considerate of Other Visitors

Courtesy: Leave No Trace Center for Outdoor Ethics