Norumbega Mountain (Acadia National Park)

Norumbega Mountain (Acadia National Park)

Hike Type: Out-and-Back
Distance: 3.2 miles
Elevation: 679 feet
Time: 1 hour, 45 minutes
Hiking Challenges: Acadia Ascents

The Hike

Still keeping with the theme of "coming to my senses" and trying to keep my body moving (read: not in a catatonic state), I altered my first plan of taking the Goat Trail up Norumbega and took the longer Norumbega Mountain Trail. The stats of the hike really remained unchanged, but instead of a silly steep climb there would be a gentle climb, which I was a much bigger fan of on the third day of hiking. The parking area is a pull-off on Hadlock Pond Road, a dirt road, right at Lower Hadlock Pond (there is a gate that clearly states where you cannot go past). 

The hike begins on a dirt-road walk along Lower Hadlock Pond, and then it turns onto another road and continues across the Lower Hadlock Pond dam, which offers great views of the water and nearby mountains. Soon after the dam, the Norumbega Mountain Trail turns left into the woods and starts its gradual climb. The forest starts open with threes scattered about - very scenic. There were one or two steeper sections, but the climb was overall very gentle. 

The trail opens up on the Norumbega Mountain ridge near its intersection with the Golf Course Trail. Very classic ridge walking - trees on either side, but lots of sun and lots of bare rockface. As the summer gets closer, the views increase in both directions and are quite lovely. One one side are Penobscot, Sargent, Parkman, Bald, and Gilmore, and on the other side is the Somes Sound, Acadia, St. Sauveur, Beech, Bernard, and Mansell. Up until this point I had only seen a few people as well, which was quite lovely. 

The summit sign was just off the trail on a large rock, and there was a grown family of four bickering about who knows what right at the summit sign. I understand the allure of eating your summit snack at the sign, but I also find it wildly inconsiderate. Anyone else who climbs the mountain probably wants a moment to poke the sign and take a few photos, and it's always awkward when I have to insert myself to get my a photo, especially when the family is bickering. A highlight of their conversation was mom saying "it's fine you're always right" and "I always do everything anyway so it's for the better that one of you step up."

There are partial views of the ocean on the return trip along the ridge, but I didn't have much time to enjoy them because the bickering family quickly started following me (i.e., continuing their hike), so I booked it down the mountain. I didn't slow down until I hit the Lower Hadlock Pond again, because there were hundreds of (what I assume to be) bullfrog tadpoles! They were HUGE, and some of them already sprouted their little baby frog legs. I was obsessed with them! They were all along the shore line, and they are my new favorite version of frog. The end.

Step-By-Step

• Park at Hadlock Pond Rd., park before gate. 
• Hike along road, turn at intersection.
• Follow signs for Hadlock Ponds Trail.
• Paying attention to signs, turn left onto Norumbega Mountain Trail.
• Hike to summit, turn around, return to car. 

Trail Descriptions from Maine Mountain Guide

Norumbega Mountain

        "Rising steeply from the sea-level waters of Somes Sound, shapely Norumbega Mtn. is the westernmost high mountain on the east side of Mt. Desert Island. The upper slopes may appear heavily forested, but the peak actually has a surprising number of excellent lookouts, at times east to Parkman Mtn., Bald Mtn., and Hadlock ponds, and at other times south and west, to Somes Sound and Northeast Harbor. Three trails ascend Norumbega Mtn., and several more went along its base."

Norumbega Mountain Trail

        "Norumbega Mtn. Trail climbs the peak from the south at Lower Hadlock Pond. To reach the start, from the jct. of ME 233 and ME 3/198, drive south for 3.8 mi. Just pas Brown Mtn. Gatehouse on the left, arrive at Hadlock Pond Rd. on the right. Turn left here. Park at several turnouts to either side of the road over the first 0.2 mi. from ME 3/198. No parking is allowed beyond the gate."

        "From the gate, walk along Hadlock Pond Rd., paralleling the pond (public water supply, no swimming). Bear right off the road at the fork, then soon pass a cul-de-sac. At 0.2 mi. from the gate, bear right to a jct. Here, Reservoir Trail leaves to the left, while Hadlock Ponds Trail goes straight ahead. Follow Hadlock Ponds Trail across the dam and spillway and past the pumphouse. There is a nice view here north to Parkman Mtn., Bald Peak, Gilmore Peak, Sargent Mtn., and Cedar Swamp Mtn. At 0.3 miles, reach a jct. on the shore of the pond. Here, Hadlock Ponds Trail leads straight ahead, while Norumbega Mtn. Trail begins to the left."

        "Norumbega Mtn. Trail climbs moderately through spruce woods, then more steeply on rocks and roots. At 0.8 mi., Golf Course Trail from the Northeast Harbor Golf Club enters from the left. At 1.9 mi., reach the high ridgeline of the mountain amid a fragrant forest of pines. Southwest Harbor and the nearby islands, Western Mtn., Somes Sound, Flying Mtn., and St. Sauveur Mtn. fill the view. Continue easily on the ridge for about a half-mile to a point just south of the summit where there are nearly 360-degree views. Meet Goat Trail at 1.6 mi. from the start."

Photo Album