Huguenot Head & Champlain Mountain (Acadia National Park)

Huguenot Head & Champlain Mountain (Acadia National Park)

Hike Type: Loop
Distance: 3.5 miles
Elevation: 1066 feet
Time: 2 hours, 2 minutes
Hiking Challenges: Acadia Ascents

The Hike

Good morning to day three! I arguably had the best sleep of my life (like due to pure exhaustion), checked out of motel room number one at 4:00am, and started my drive to The Tarn! I was the only car in the parking lot, minus one person who parked, read the kiosk, and left, got my everything together, and started my journey on the Beachcroft Path!

The Beachcroft Path was described frequently online as an incredibly engineered trail, and I completely agree with that. It quickly breaks out of the woods and hugs the cliffs of Huguenot Head, providing great views of ME-3, Dorr Mountain, and the lowlands on either side. The trail climbs steadily, but never too steeply (yet), and before I knew it I was skirting the summit of Huguenot Head. The true summit is off-trail, but there is a clear opening on the rockface that leads quickly to the summit. The summit area is wide, circular, and flat. Truly a beautiful area. I did have to sneak into the woods near the summit for a surprise number two (shockingly), but then I was able to enjoy my time up there.

The Beachcroft Path dips into the woods and then starts a steep climb up Champlain Mountain. This trail mostly followed rock slabs, and got pretty steep as the top grew near. It reminded me of the slab walking heading up North Percy in NH, but this area also had a bunch of wet areas that were sketchy - enough to make me decide to not take this same trail down. I'm sure I could have made it, but I didn't want to deal with the stress, and usually when a trail is called "________ Ridge Trail" in this park, it's bound to be scenic. 

The summit of Champlain Mountain was quiet and peaceful with not a soul in sight. I could have spent years looking at these views. Being able to be so close to the ocean from a peak like this is just awe-inspiring. Truly incredible. I took way too many photos as usual, gawked at the gorgeous pools around the summit area, and then started my journey down! I took the Champlain North Ridge Trail, which had views almost the entire time of Bar Harbor, the Porcupine Islands, and a nearby laboratory that emitted a dull hum the whole time (my only complaint). The trail was relatively gentle, and the memory of any steep sections have been overtaken in my brain with the beautiful views. 

The trail terminates right on Park Loop Road, which thankfully wasn't as busy early in the morning. Sometimes there was a footpath on the side of the road, sometimes it was overgrown, and sometimes it was a free-for-all, but it was still nice. I walked past Beaver Dam Pond, saw no beavers, but the pond acted as a mirror for Champlain and Huguenot Head. After the pond, one of those nasty mountain  chickens (aka, grouse) found me and wanted to end my life, but thankfully realized it couldn't take me. I remember thinking on Mansell/Bernard that it would be prime grouse location, as I always seem to find them, and then I wondered if they even had them out here. They do. The rest of the road walk was uneventful. I took a side path up the bridge of ME-3, and made it back to the parking lot where I was still the only car!

Step-By-Step

• Park at The Tarn parking area.
• Cross ME-3 and start hike on Beachcroft Path.
• Near topographical summit of Huguenot Head, follow vauge herd path to summit and return to main trail. 
• Continue on Beachcroft Path to summit Champlain Mountain.
• At summit, turn left to descend via Champlain North Ridge Trail.
• At terminus, turn left onto Park Loop Road.
• Before jct. with ME-3, there is a herd path that reconnects with Beachcroft Path, I did not take this.
• Go under ME-3 bridge, turn left to join road and return to parking lot.

Trail Descriptions from Maine Mountain Guide

Beachcroft Path

        "This path offers a convenient route from the Sieur de Monts Spring area to the summit of Champlain Mtn. via Huguenot Head. The trail officially starts at the jct. of Jesup Path, Kurt Diederich's Climb, and kane Path, 0.1 mi. west of ME 3 and the parking area at the north end of the Tarn. Most hikers, however, will simply start from ME 3. From the village green in Bar Harbor (jct. with Mt. Desert St. and Main St.), drive south on ME 3 for 1.6 mi. to the Tarn Parking lot on the right, immediately beyond the Sieur de Monts Spring entrance to ANP."

        "After crossing ME 3, Beachcroft Path starts up a flight of granite steps and then heads southeast, often on carefully placed stonework. Following switchbacks and stone steps, the trail rises across the west slope of Huguenot Head. It passes just below the summit of Huguenot Head at about 0.7 mi. A brief, gradual descent into the notch between Huguenot Head and Champlain Mtn. is followed by a sharp, difficult ascent over rocks up the northwest slope of the mountain to the summit at 1.4 mi."

Champlain Mountain

        "Champlain Mtn., the easternmost major ridge on Mt. Desert Island, consists of the main peak of Champlain Mtn. and the subsidiary peak of Huguenot Head, just west. The Beehive and Gorham Mtn. are immediately south of Champlain Mtn. All of these summits provide excellent views. Champlain and the Beehive are very popular because of their exciting ladder trails that climb steep cliff faces overlooking Frenchman Bay. Easier trails that are better suited for children or those with a fear of heights provide access to both peaks."

Champlain North Ridge Trail

        "Beginning on Park Loop Rd., 0.2 mi. east of the entrance to Bear Brook picnic area, this trail ends at the summit of Champlain Mtn., where Champlain South Ridge Trail continues on to meet Bowl Trail at the south end of the bowl, a pretty mountain tarn.

        The trail climbs gradually from Park Loop Rd. through a mixed forest of birch, pine, and spruce on the north slope of Champlain Mtn. to a jct. at 0.5 mi. To the left, a connector trail leads 0.1 mi. to Orange & Black Path. Continuing ahead on Champlain North Ridge Trail, the path climbs steadily to emerge from the forest canopy, giving outstanding views of Frenchman Bay and Schoodic Peninsula on the mainland to the east. Atop the summit ridge, Beachcroft Trail enters from the right (west), and just ahead at 1.1 mi., the trail reaches the open, rocky summit of Champlain Mtn. At the large summit cairn is the jct. with Precipice Trail and Champlain South Ridge Trail."

Photo Album