Backpacker Magazine – April 2008

Best Damn Weekend Ever: Acadia National Park

Avoid the crowds in Maine's Acadia National Park by skipping getting a jump on the season and hiking the park in the Spring. Stephen King country never looked so good.

by: Lesley Suppes

Tags:
• Weekends
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• Adventures
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• Maine
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• Acadia
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• Secret Spots
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Saturday
Rise early for an 11-mile hike right from camp on the South Ridge Trail. Out of the gate, you'll ascend 4.3 miles on sloping granite to Cadillac Mountain's 1,532-foot summit. Cool fact to ponder while you enjoy the view: You're standing atop the highest peak on the Atlantic coast north of Rio de Janeiro. From Cadillac, head east on the Notch Trail to 1,270-foot Dorr Mountain. As you lunch on the exposed summit, peer over the western edge to see rockslide debris released by a 3.8 earthquake in 2006. Descend east from the summit on the Dorr Mountain Ladder Trail (yes, some sections are actually ladders), which plunges down sheer rock walls to the Tarn, a shallow pond where great blue herons often fish. From there, bear south after one mile on The Gorge Trail, then head west 1.1 miles on the Cannon Brook Trail. Round back to camp on the South Ridge Trail.

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