Last Updated on September 12, 2023 by
Cadillac Mountain is perhaps one of the most popular hikes in the park. It is also one of the most popular tourists destinations. So much so that separate reservations are required to drive up to the summit. Having three separate routes to the summit as well as a fourth that will also have you traverse Dorr Mountain lessens the congestion on the trails, but prepare yourself for the summit. Cadillac Mountains principle routes are the aptly named North Ridge, South Ridge, and West Face trails. The north and south are similar difficulty with the south trail being slightly longer. The West Face is the shortest of the three but far more challenging and generally considered too dangerous to hike in inclement weather. We opted for the South trail. This is a perfect trail for just about every skill level. It is not overly steep or strenuous, but it is a steady climb throughout. It involves a combination of forest and open space, and naturally includes great views of the entire southeast portion of the island from Seal Harbor almost all the way around to Bar Harbor and out into the Atlantic Ocean.
South Ridge Trail
Cadillac Mountain South Ridge Trail Quick Facts
Trailhead – Just south of the entrance to the Blackwoods camping area on Route 3 is a small parking area (not a lot, just a widened out section of the road). Even though you don’t pass through a gate, you are just barely within the boundary of the park so you will need to display your park pass on your windshield.
Trail Stats
Length – 7.9 miles
Difficulty – Moderately Strenuous
Elevation Gain – 1,621 feet
Route Type – Out and back
The early stages of the trail take you through pine forest on a steady climb with a few steep sections until you reach a small meadow that provides a good photo op and a moment to rest before really starting to climb the granite.
For most of the rest of the hike, you are pretty exposed, moving along the solid granite surface of the mountain.
As you can see here, in a Goldilocks sort of way, Mama bear is freezing in her yoga pants, fleece AND fleece vest while wifey bear is grin and bearing it in her shorts and puffy vest. Meanwhile, the stout fellow in the rear is perfectly comfortable in his shorts and long sleeve T-shirt. It is why we rarely comment about the weather or what to wear during a hike.
Once you are near the summit, there is a large area with almost completely unobstructed views. It’s a great spot about 100 yards from the peak to rest on your laurels before returning back down the trail. Unless you’re one of those A-types, and then the last 100 yards is an absolute biological imperative.
Once you crest that last tiny ridge, you come to the true summit, and the throngs of folks who had reservations to drive up to the summit. I try not to hold it against the cheaters, but I like to earn my views. See all those tiny specks between blue sky and rock in the picture below? Those are the cheaters lining the entire ridgeline.
Sunrise at Cadillac
Naturally, after bemoaning the cheaters, I must immediately issue a caveat. Unless you are very comfortable with hiking in the dark, joining the cheater class to witness sunrise is a necessity. This is a very popular event and advance reservations are required. As a special treat we still had to get up at 4AM to get to the entrance which is about 10 minutes from Hulls Cove Visitor Center with another 10 minute drive to the summit. We also queued up at the entrance for about 10 minutes while the rangers verified each reservation time for every car. Once you arrive at the parking lot, there is a large enough area to pick a spot not too close to anyone to allow for unobstructed photo ops. Part of the reason this is such a popular event is that Cadillac Mountain is the very first point in the United States to see the sun every day. Pretty cool, right? I’ll admit it was pretty cold up there on the ridge, but we packed tea and treats, chairs and a blanket, and settled in for the sunrise with all the rest of the early risers.
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
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Beautiful pictures, thanks for sharing ! So nice to see your blog back online.
Now if I can only get Angela back in the game!