Dorr & Cadillac Mountains (Acadia National Park)

Dorr & Cadillac Mountains (Acadia National Park)

Hike Type: Loop
Distance: 5.4 miles
Elevation: 1683 feet
Time: 3 hours, 37 minutes
Hiking Challenges: Acadia Ascents; Wicked Wild 25; Summit Beer Society

The Hike

The original plan was to combine this hike with Huguenot Head and Champlain Mountain, but thankfully I came to my senses (and now had some extra time with the bonus day) and split them up into two seperate hikes. I parked at the trailhead for the Ladder Trail up Dorr Mountain, crossed a lovely stream and the Kane Path, and officially began my hike! I chose to do the Dorr Ladder Trail for a few reasons: I loved the Beehive Trail last year, so I figured a trail with the word "ladder" would be just as fun (wrong), it is on the "Wicked Wild 25" hiking list (a list similar to NH's Terrifying 25, but for Maine), and I have masochistic tendencies. A better name for the Ladder Trail would be the "Stairs Trail" because this trail was 95% stone stairs that were just a little too high and 5% ladders - one ladder was a literal ladder loosely bolted into the rockface that was sketchy, and the other ladder was the classic iron rungs like those on the Beehive. It took me a long time to get up this trail, but thankfully there were occasional views. I also passed a few people who were coming down this way which seemed quite adventurous!

When the Ladder Trail terminates it joins the Schiff Path, which turns into slab walking instead of stairs. Still hurts, just different kind of hurt. The views began quickly, though, of Huguenot Head, Champlain Mountain, and Frenchman Bay, which were beautiful. The trail junction to reach the official summit gives a glimpse of Cadillac Mountain's grandeur, which is the next challenge. The Dorr Mountain summit had lovely views along it's long ridge, and was insanely windy. I had a beef stick to celebrate, and continued on!

The Dorr Cadillac Connector trail was a steep drop into the col between Dorr and Cadillac, which continued to grow bigger the closer I got. The Connector terminates at Gorge Path, which then goes right up Cadillac. The views from Gorge Path were unique and made me feel like I was deep in the wilderness, which was very cool for a small, busy national park. Dorr Mountain continued to get smaller and smaller as the views grew larger and larger. I knew I was getting close when I could see over the neighboring mountains, and when I could hear the hubbub of the crowds atop Cadillac. 

The views from Cadillac were magnificent - it provided the feeling of being on top of the world - but the crowds were a massive distraction. I did my best to get over it! I took in some views, found the official summit marker just off of the Cadillac South Ridge Trail, and made my way down the same trail to hopefully find some solitude. The Cadillac South Ridge Trail starts off winding through scrubby woods, but then opens up to truly breathtaking views in almost all directions. I found a nice rock, took a long sit, ate a lovely snack, and had my first summit drink of the trip! I could have stayed there forever.

The entire hike along the Cadillac South Ridge Trail was open, following cairns and occasional blazes. The trail then dips down to an overgrown pond called the Featherbed, and then continues for even longer. At the Featherbed, I turned onto the Canon Brook Trail to truly start my return trip. The Canon Brook Trail was steep but scenic. My knees definitely felt the steepness, but it had its redeeming qualities. The trail follows the brook, sometimes a little too closely over slabs. I wouldn't want to hike it while wet, but I would soon learn that applies to most trails in the park. It felt that it went on forever, but that was mostly my legs talking. The bottom of the trail runs through nice, gently, flat forest, and eventually turns into the Kane Path which travels along a few ponds, and eventually right back to the trailhead!

This hike was magnificent and brutal, and paired with the McFarland/Youngs hike, made for an excellent start to my vacation. I finished the day driving the park loop road while the sun was setting, and then set up camp at the Walmart parking lot with about 20 of my closest friends in their respective vehicles. My only complaint with my lodging was that my car is just a few inches too short for me, and is slightly angled so I was always sliding down to my trunk. 

Step-By-Step

• Park at Ladder Trail Trailhead (labeled "Dorr Mountain Trailhead" on Google Maps).
• Enter woods onto the Ladder Trail, cross Kane Path, and hike the Ladder Trail.
• At end of Ladder Trail, turn left onto Schiff Path.
• Hike Schiff Path to terminus/jct. with Dorr South Ridge Trail, Dorr North Ridge Trail, and Cadillac-Door Connector. Turn left onto Dorr South Ridge Trail.
• Short walk to Dorr Summit on Dorr South Ridge Trail, turn around back to jct.
• Back at jct., turn left onto Cadillac-Dorr Connector.
• At the jct. with Gorge Path and A. Murrary Young Path, continue straight to ascend Cadillac via Gorge Path.
• Summit Cadillac Mountain, walk west to trailhead for Cadillac South Ridge Trail.
• Find official summit on Cadillac South Ridge Trail and hike to jct. with Canon Brook Trail at the Featherbed.
• At jct., turn left onto Canon Brook Trail.
• Hike to terminus, continue on Kane Path.
• At jct. with Ladder Trail, turn right to return to parking lot.

Trail Descriptions from Maine Mountain Guide

Ladder Trail

        "This trail leaves from ME 3 just south of the Tarn and 0.5 mi. south of the Tarn trailhead parking lot. Parking for Ladder Trail is along the west (Dorr Mtn.) side of ME 3. From ME 3, the trail soon crosses Kane Path, then makes a steady ascent to reach Schiff Path at 0.6 mi. The trail is steep, climbing some 1,200 stone steps and over several sets of iron ladders. At the end of Schiff Path on the summit ridge, turn left (south) to reach the top of Dorr Mtn. in 100 yd."

Schiff Path

        "This trail begins part way up the east slope of Dorr Mtn. at the jct. of Emery Path and Kurt Diederich's Climb, 0.5 mi. above Sieur de Months Spring and 0.6 mi. above the north end of the Tarn. Schiff Path traverses above the steep east face of the mountain, ascending moderately, to reach a jct. with Ladder Trail. Here, Schiff Path makes a sharp right and climbs steeply, then more moderately, to meet Dorr North Ridge Trail at 1.2 mi. Follow Dorr North Ridge Trail south for 0.1 mi. to the summit of Dorr Mtn."

Dorr Mountain

        "This mountain, named for the founding father of ANP, George B. Dorr, lies immediately west of Sieur de Monts Spring and the Tarn. Two routes up the mountain originate from Sieur de Monts Spring, while two more trails begin from the Tarn on ME 3. Trails also ascend from the north and south over long ridges, and another trail rises from the gorge east of Cadillac Mtn. The east slope of Dorr Mtn. is particularly steep, and views from the high ridgeline on Dorr are superb. Ten trails form an extensive network for exploring this mountain from all sides."

Cadillac-Dorr Connector

        "This short trail (only 0.2 mi.) starts just north of the summit of Dorr Mtn. and runs east to west, connecting Dorr North Ridge Trail with Gorge Path at its jct. with A Murray Young Path in the high, narrow valley between Cadillac Mtn. and Dorr Mtn."

Gorge Path

        "This trail ascends the scenic gorge between Cadillac Mtn. and Dorr Mtn. and provides good access to both peaks. The trailhead is on Park Loop Rd., 0.9 mi. east of where it becomes a one-way. The trail rises moderately up the gorge, passing Hemlock Trail at 0.4 mi. Ascending a narrow valley next to a brook much of the time, Gorge Path finally reaches a jct. with Cadillac-Dorr Connector and A. Murray Young Path at 1.4 mi. in the deep notch between the two mountains. At this point, Gorge Path turns right (west) and climbs steeply to the summit of Cadillac mtn., reaching it at 1.8 mi."

Cadillac Mountain

        "The highest point on Mt. Desert Island, this mountain is also the highest on the eastern seaboard of the Atlantic Ocean between Newfoundland and Brazil. An automobile road, the Cadillac Mtn. Rd., leads 3.5 mi. to the summit, where there is a parking area, a paved 0.4-mi. walking trail with interpretive signs, a small gift shop, and restrooms. The open expanse offers commanding views in all directions. Accessibility by car makes this rocky summit the busiest in ANP. Six traverse the mountain's slopes."

Cadillac South Ridge Trail (Excerpt)

        "[...]. After leaving the woods, the trail rises gently over open ledges before dropping down to meet Canon Brook Trail at the Featherbed at 2.0 mi. Continuing a long climb of the broad south ridge, mostly in the open, Cadillac South Ridge Trail reaches a jct. with Cadillac West Face Trail on the left at 2.7 mi. Ahead, the trail passes close to a switchback in the Cadillac Mtn. Rd. near Blue Hill Overlook and then ends at the Cadillac Mtn. summit parking area, adjacent to the gift shop and restrooms. The true summit of Cadillac, often overlooked, is 100 yd. before this - a large flat rock with USGS marker on its surface 30 ft. west of the trail."

Canon Brook Trail (Excerpt)

        "The trail then swings away from the brook, passes a beaver pond, and ascends to a small wetland area known as the Featherbed. Here, it intersects Cadillac South Ridge Trail, which leads 2.0 mi. south to ME 3 near Blackwoods CG, and 1.2 mi. north to the summit of Cadillac Mtn. [...]."

        "This trail begins on ME 3, 0.8 mi. south of the Tarn trailhead parking area. There is parking in a paved lot on the east side of ME 3 and in a gravel area along the west side of ME 3. Canon Brook Trail leaves from the south end of the gravel lot. It descends west to cross a beaver flowage, then intersects Kane Path at 0.2 mi. Turn left (south) at the jct. and follow the beaver flowage down through the valley. After a brief, sharp rise, the trail reaches a jct. with Dorr South Ridge Trail, which diverges right at 0.9 mi. Canon Brook Trail then descends to a jct. with A Murray Young Path, which goes right at 1.1 mi. Here, Canon Brook Trail crosses a branch of Otter Creek and climbs gently along the north side of Canon Brook before crossing the brook and then climbing steeply past the cascades on the upper part."

Kane Path

        "This trail starts at the north end of the Tarm, 0.1 mi. west of the parking area on ME 3 via Beachcroft Path. Kane Path leads south to Canon Brook Trail and links the Sieur de Monts Spring area to the southern trails of Dorr Mtn. and Cadillac Mtn. At its start, Kane Path runs south over a talus slope directly along the west side of the Tarn. After reaching the south end of the pond, the pat continues past Ladder Trail at 0.5 mi. to end at Canon Brook Trail at 0.8 mi. Follow Canon Brook Trail south and then west to reach Dorr South Ridge Trail and A. Murray Young Path."

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