Penobscot & Sargent Mountains

Penobscot Mountain, the fifth-highest peak in Acadia, is the spectacular north-south mountain that sits opposite of Pemetic Mountain in the Jordan Pond/Bubbles pantheon, with its steep and exposed cliffs looking down on Jordan Pond from the west. The Spring Trail provides a challenging and energizing climb with breathtaking alpine views Penobscot Mountain. Additionally, individuals willing to prolong the trip can hike further north to the taller nearby Sargent Mountain (the 2nd highest peak in Acadia).

To ascend Sargent Mountain's 1,373-foot summit, you must squeeze between stones as you scale Penobscot Mountain, descend to Sargent Pond, and then climb past the tree line. The expansive view spans nearly the entire Down East Coast and has water on three sides. This circle trek offers easy access to three of the stunning carriage-road bridges as well as crossing multiple carriage roads, which is a bonus for bridge hunters. This is one of the best place to hike in the US.

Nearly 3.7 miles south of the exit for the Cadillac Mountain Summit Road on the Park Loop Road is the Jordan Pond North parking area. The road is two-way in this area. The tiny Jordan Pond House parking lot also offers a limited amount of parking. (Summer afternoons see a lot of fill-up and congestion in both lots.)

Length: 9.0 km

Elevation: 391 m

Level: Easy to Moderate