 Bubble Pond near the trail's start |
Acadia National Park in Maine is full of great hiking trails. Just a few of them lead up to Cadillac Mountain,
Mount Desert Island's highest peak at 1530 (that may not sound so high, but remember the island starts
at sea level, so the height is more dramatic than most inland peaks). You can also get to the top of Cadillac by car
(not as much fun, but well worth the trip if you can't or don't want to walk it), by bicycle (that looks hard), and by
several other trails. I've also hiked the North Ridge Trail, which is less steep than this one, a lot easier, but also
a lot of fun. The South Ridge Trail is the longest, but also offers a more gradual ascent. And you can climb from
the east, too -- another steep trail.
But the West Ridge is the way we're going to go this time. This trail gets the National Park Service's toughest ranking;
I took it this time because I felt like a challenge (I usually try to do at least one of the harder trails each time I visit
Acadia).
CAUTION: As in all things related to hiking and the outdoors, know your limits and don't go beyond them. You can
get hurt on these trails (and this is not just a legal disclaimer!).
Customize your view of the trail!
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