Acadia National Park Hiking Guide | Gorham Mountain and Cadillac Cliffs Trail

Distance: 1.6 Miles
Elevation Gain: 429 Feet
Location: Bar Harbor, ME

Gorham has become one of my favorite hikes on the Island, largely because it has a bit of everything. Rock scramble, stairs, rungs, caves, cliffs, great views of Beehive, Otter Point and Sand Beach on the ascent and of Cadillac and Dorr at the top.

I should say here that, if you’re out hiking alone, I really recommend letting someone know where you are and when they should hear from you. Since most days have been hovering around freezing at sea level, elevation promises tracts of ice hidden under snow or leaves. Best to have the right gear, too, like cleats.

I always take the Gorham Mountain Trail up and Cadillac Cliffs down.

Big rock faces with deep crevasses. 

As soon as you get back among into the trees, you get this golden speckled forest. 

I'll admit, some of the ice isn't so well hidden.

The end of the Cadillac Cliffs detour is full of narrow passageways, some small caves. I always feel like I'm in the Shire, about to turn the corner and see a hobbit pop out of a round doorway.