Acadia National Park - Bald Peak and Parkman Mountain

A steep and rocky hike to the top of two barren granite peaks, affording great views.
Trail Activity
Hiking
Length
2.70 miles, Network
Difficulty
Advanced
Town
Mount Desert
Surface
Dirt/Forest Floor, Rock/Ledge
Pets
Permitted
Fees
Yes

Description

HIGH USE TRAIL:

This is a busy trail system, especially on weekends between 9AM-4PM. Consider visiting outside of peak periods. Use Maine Trail Finder to identify other nearby trails. If the parking lot is full when you arrive, please choose another trail. 

The hike descends slightly through the forest passing the Parkman Mountain Trail junction. In about 0.2 miles the junction for the Bald Peak Trail is on the left. The Bald Peak Trail becomes more rugged as it follows a stream and begins to ascend Bald Peak. There are two carriage road crossings. After crossing the second carriage road, the hike becomes significantly steeper and exposed. Blue blazes and stone cairns on the open granite face mark the trail. This section is not recommended in wet weather. There are views of Upper Hadlock Pond and the outlying islands.

Once reaching the summit of Bald Peak, the trail continues down the north side of the mountain into a gully before ascending to its terminus at the junction with the Parkman Mountain Trail. A right at the junction leads to the summit of Parkman Mountain. After reaching the summit, the hike retraces the Parkman Mountain Trail southward, passing the junction for Bald Peak, continuing to descend the rugged granite into the forest. There are two steep ledges to negotiate. One of them has a single rung, and these sections can be difficult when wet. The trail crosses the carriage road three times before ending at the junction where the hike started. A right turn leads back the ME Route 198 and the parking lot.

Other Information

Geocaching is prohibited within Acadia National Park; however, the park does sponsor an EarthCache Program for those seeking a virtual treasure hunt!

Trail Manager

Visit Acadia National Park online for more information or contact:

National Park Service, Acadia National Park

National Park Service, Acadia National Park
PO Box 177
Bar Harbor, ME 04609
Phone: (207) 288-3338
acadia_information@nps.gov

Nearby Events

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Trail Tips

Plan Ahead and Prepare
Tell someone your plan and when you’ll return, just in case.
Legend
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Trailhead Information

After reaching Mount Desert Island on ME Route 3, stay to the right to follow ME Route 102. At the stop light turn left following ME Route 198 towards Northeast Harbor. (From Bar Harbor, follow ME Route 233 to reach ME Route 198.) Pass the Parkman Mountain parking lot (on the left) and park at the next unmarked, pullout parking area on the right at the base of the hill. The trailhead is located on the opposite side of the highway.

Click on a parking icon to get custom directions
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meggy1
March 27, 2021
Parkman starts steep and continues to the summit. Great views. Coming back the Bald mountain was amazing. Great hike for picture taking.
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