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Acadia National Park

Sunday, June 30, 2024 - Sunday, July 7, 2024 -- $1650 ★


Maine's Acadia National Park is the first National Park to be created on the Eastern Seabord, boasting the highest coastal peak (Cadillac Mountain) on the Atlantic Coast all the way down to Rio de Janiero. It covers the lions share of Mount Desert Island, but shares the island with the quaint and touristy vacation destination Bar Harbor.


Our trip will explore several terrains and eco-systems within the park that include rugged and steep mountain peaks, the Atlantic seashore, wooded forests, historic carriage roads, 338 species of birds and freshwater lakes. We will day hike for all 6 days, staying in the Blackwoods frontcountry campground.


This trip will occur as the summer high season begins when it stays light well into the evening.



Weather

Weather is always an important concern when hiking. Expect daytime hiking temperatures in the low to mid-70s and nighttime temperatures in the low 50s. However, be prepared for the possibility of day temperatures as high as 90 and as low as 30, with a reasonable chance of rainfall and possibly lots of mosquitoes and black flies, hopefully mitigated by salty ocean breezes. Here is the average June weather for nearby Bar Harbor, ME.



Probable Trip Leaders

Dan Shafto
Kara Siglin
Any Other Guide(s) TBD

Difficulty


The trails in Acadia are well marked and well maintained. However, many of them can be rocky and/or steep in places. In fact, in some areas you are walking on gigantic rock slabs or rock staircases and the trail is marked by rock cairns in the shape of an 'A' (yes, really). There's usually clear and solid footing with rock or even iron staircases in some places. Carrying only a day-pack will make the trek much less strenuous, but on some days expect a fair amount of climbing and descending sometimes steep trails.



Cost

$1650 per person double occupancy. Here, double occupancy means that you will share a hotel room with another trip participant. You will also be responsible for transportation to and from Bangor Airport (BGR), as well as personal equipment, restaurant meals and any gratuities for guides. You may also be assessed parking charges if you leave your car at the hotel all week. Shuttling to the park may also be an option


Covered expenses include 1 hotel night, 6 nights in front country campgrounds, 5 days of trail meals, airport ground transportation, ground transport to/from Bangor and Acadia, National Park permits and excellent guides.


Tipping: In order to keep our prices competitive with (and hopefully favorable to) other outfitters, we shamefully can’t pay our guides as much as we think they deserve. Like most other guiding services, we rely on the generosity of our participants to make up this shortfall by tipping the guides. While tips are not required or expected, if your guides have served you well, please consider a gratuity so they can continue living their extravagant lifestyles of eating powdered meals, sleeping in the dirt and pooping in smelly outhouses and small holes they've dug.



Notes


Although daily mileages appear to be moderate and we are day hiking only, do not underestimate this trip. Many of the hikes traverse vertical rock scrambles with steep precipices and ladders. Furthermore, some trails may be full of rocks, roots, mud or all of these things. We find that terrain is the most difficult impediment most participants face. And then it might rain.


Fortunately we will only be carrying around 10 pounds on our backs, plus we expect almost 17 hours of daylight, plenty of time to complete our daily mileage or even do optional extra hiking.


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Itinerary
Weather
Guides for this trip
Cost
Important Note
Difficulty (Please Read)
 
 

Itinerary


Sunday, June 30, 2024

Drive or fly into Bangor Airport (BGR). The best time to arrive is between around 9AM-Noon. However, if you have completed your online shakedown and will arrive fairly ready to go, you can fly in a little later.

We'll pick you up at the airport and shuttle you to a local hotel to gather the group

We will assemble at: TBD, To Be Determined

Mini-equipment shakedown, following up your virtual shakedown done prior to the trip

Make-Your-Own Trail mix bar

"Before" body composition measurements taken

Buy last minute and forgotten items at LL Bean Outlet Store, 534 Stillwater Ave., Bangor, ME 04401, 207-942-0146, open 'til 9PM

Option 2: Epic Sports, 6 Central St, Bangor, ME 04401, 800-466-2296, 207-941-5670, open 10AM-7PM

All the items that you won't bring on the trail will be set aside and put in storage.

At around 3PM, shuttle to campsite: TBD, To Be Determined Site(s) TBD

Shuttling will take about 1.5 hours

Guides prepare dinner in camp. On some trips with longer shuttle times, we may opt to go out for an opening dinner at a local restaurant. (Cost of restaurant dinner not included in trip price)

Camp at TBD, To Be Determined Site(s) TBD


Monday, July 1, 2024

Begin hiking Northbound on the Quarry Trail

Hike 0.5 miles on the Quarry Trail to the Otter Cove Trail

Hike 0.6 miles on the Otter Cove Trail to the Ocean Path

Hike 0.5 miles to Thunder Hole, a rocky inlet whose wave action can send sea spray 40 feet high when the tide is right.

Hike 0.9 miles to Sand Beach. Wading and swimming is available here (if you dare)

Hike 1.3 miles around Great Head on the Great Head Trail

Hike 0.4 miles on the Satterlee Trail to the Park Road

Hike 0.2 miles to the Beehive Trail

Hike 0.6 miles on the Beehive Trail to the summit of the Beehive at 505' for sweeping views of the Atlantic Ocean. Along the way, you will be climbing on iron rungs hammered into the rock face.

Hike 0.6 miles on the Gorham Mountain Trail to Gorham Mountain, elevation 525'

Hike 2.0 miles back to the vehicle

Return to Blackwoods Campground sites TBD

Miles today: 7.6. Total miles: 7.6

Possible bailout: Park Loop Road


Tuesday, July 2, 2024

Shuttle to the Brown Mountain Gatehouse

Hike 1.0 clockwise miles around Hadlock Pond

Hike 0.3 miles on the Hadlock Ponds Trail to the Park Road

Hike 0.7 miles on the Hadlock Ponds Trail past Hadlock Brook Bridge to the Maple Spring Trail

Hike 0.9 miles on the Maple Spring Trail to the Grandgent Trail

Hike 0.5 uphill miles on the Grandgent Trail to the summit of Sargent Mountain, elvation 1373'

Hike 0.5 miles along Sargent South Ridge to the Hadlock Brook Trail.

Hike 1.4 miles along the Hadlock Brook Trail to the Maple Spring Trail.

Hike 0.9 miles on the Maple Spring Trail to the Park Road

Hike 0.9 miles back to the Park Road at the Brown Mountain Gatehouse

Shuttle back to Blackwoods Campground

Miles today: 7.1. Total miles: 14.7


Wednesday, July 3, 2024

Shuttle to the Acadia Mountain Parking Lot on Route 102 on the West Side of the park

Hike 0.1 miles to the St. Sauveur Trail, elevation 250'

Hike 1.0 miles to the summit of St. Sauveur Mountain, elevation 679'

Hike 0.4 miles on the St. Sauveur Trail to Valley Peak, elevation 500'

Hike 1.1 miles on the Valley Peak Trail to Man O' War Brook Fire Rd, elevation 320'

Hike 1.0 uphill miles on the Acadia Mountain Trail to the summit of Acadia Mountain, elvation 681'

Hike 1.0 miles on the Acadia Mountain Trail back to the parking lot.

Shuttle to Bass Harbor.

Shuttle to the Ship Harbor Nature Trail

Hike 1.5 round trip miles on the Ship Harbor Nature Trail.

Shuttle to the Wonderland Trail

Hike 1.5 round trip miles on the Wonderland Trail.

Tonight we will be dining at an authentic Maine Lobster Pound

Shuttle to Thruston's Lobster Pound for an authentic Maine Lobster Dinner (note: Cost of dinner not included in trip cost. Also, there is no obligation to order lobster as there are other options available.)

Shuttle back to Blackwoods Campground

Miles today: 7.6. Total miles: 22.3

Possible bailout: ME Route 102


Thursday, July 4, 2024

Today we will be hiking along the famous Acadia carriage roads with moderate elevation changes.

Shuttle to the Brown Mountain Gatehouse

Hike 2.8 miles on Aunt Betty Pond Carriage Road

Turn left and hike 1.2 miles past Seven Bridges to the Around Mountain Carriage Road

Turn left and hike 0.2 miles to the Eagle Lake Carriage Road

Turn right and hike 3.8 miles on the Eagle Lake Carriage Road, hugging the shore, back to the parking area.

Shuttle back to Blackwoods Campground

Miles today: 8.0. Total miles: 30.3


Friday, July 5, 2024

Today we will hike Cadillac Mountain, the highest peak on the Eastern Seabord and the classic Acadia hike

Begin hiking at the Blackwoods Campground, possibly long before sunrise if the group would like to start several hours before dawn to catch the sunrise over the Atlantic Ocean.

Hike 0.7 miles to Otter Creek Road, Route 3, elevation 180'

Hike 1.0 miles on the Cadillac South Ridge Trail to the Eagle's Crag Loop Trail, elevation 600'

Hike 0.2 miles on the Eagle's Crag Loop Trail to the summit of Eagle's Crag, elevation 700'

Hike 1.1 miles on the Cadillac South Ridge Trail to the Cannon Brook Trail, elevation 1000'

Hike 1.2 miles on the Cadillac South Ridge Trail to the summit of Cadillac Mountain, elevation 1530'

Hike 2.2 miles on the Cadillac North Ridge Trail to the Cadillac North Ridge Trailhead Parking Area, elevation 420'

Take the free park shuttle to the Wild Gardens of Acadia

Spend between 15-30 minutes on a self-guided tour of the Wild Gardens of Acadia

Hike 0.8 miles on the Kane Path to the Ladder Trail

Hike 0.4 steep uphill miles on the Ladder Trail to the Schiff Path, elevation 800'. Note: As you might suspect, there are a few actual metal ladders attached to rocks that you will be climbing.

Hike 0.8 miles on the Schiff Path to the Emery Path

Hike 0.5 downhill miles on the Emery Path back to the Nature Center

Take the free park shuttle back to the Blackwoods Campgroun

Miles today: 8.9. Total miles: Hiking 39.2

Possible bailout: Cadillac Mountain Summit


Saturday, July 6, 2024

Break camp and shuttle to the Parking Area along Park Loop Road near Jordan Pond, North Bubble and South Bubble.

Hike 0.4 miles to Jordan Pond on the Jordan Pond Carry Trail

Hike 0.6 miles over South Bubble (elevation 768') on Bubble Trail to the Bubbles Divide Trail

Hike 0.1 miles on the Bubbles Divide Trail to the Bubbles Trail

Hike 0.3 miles on the Bubbles Trail to the summit of North Bubble, elevation 872'

Hike 0.9 miles on the Bubbles Trail to Conners Nubble

Turn back around and hike about 1.0 miles on a carriage path to the Jordan Pond Carry Trail

Hike 0.5 miles on the Jordan Pond Carry Trail back to the vehicle

End of hiking portion of trip

Miles today: 2.8. Total miles: 42.0

Shuttle back to local hotel: TBD, To Be Determined

Gather your off-trail items from storage

After body composition measurements taken

Dinner and awards ceremony at a local restaurant (Dinner cost not included in trip price)

Stay in our local hotel (included in trip cost)

Gather your off-trail items from storage

After body composition measurements taken

Dinner and awards Ceremony (Dinner cost not included in trip price)

This is the official end of the trip. You are welcome to spend the night at the hotel, however if you drove and would like to get on the road or if you flew and would like to schedule a late flight (or a red-eye if this is a West Coast trip) you can definitely do so.


Sunday, July 7, 2024

Take free airport shuttle or we will pay for a shared cab/Uber


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