Mira Monte Inn

Acadia Hiking Guide: Hadlock Ponds

Upper Hadlock Pond

Upper Hadlock Pond in the fog

 

Not all hikes offer spectacular views of the ocean and lakes, but what good are those hikes on foggy days? There are plenty of hikes that weave in and around the mountains and lakes that offer tranquility and peace. The Hadlock Ponds area is one of those worth taking in on foggy days.

One good thing about these hikes is that there are plenty of different loops that one can do. I prefer the hike that starts out near Lower Hadlock Pond and comes back around by Upper Hadlock Pond. It takes about an hour-and-a-half and can be done in multiple different ways. We recommend having a trail map with you because there are also plenty of non-Acadia hiking trails (read: private property) that are definitely OK to hike on but aren’t as well signed as those in the actual park. This is especially true on the southern end of Lower Hadlock Pond (Schoolhouse Ledge in particular).

I start out at the Brown Mtn. Gate parking lot and cross Rt. 198 to find the trail that will take you to Lower Hadlock Pond. Go right at the pond and follow that to the end until you get to the wooden bridge. To stay on Lower Hadlock, and to do the easier hike up Norumbega Mtn, go left. To head north, as I do, stay right until the next trailhead. At that next trailhead, go left toward the Goat Trail parking lot. Take this until you get to one of the parking areas off Rt. 198 an the start of the Goat Trail hike, which is the harder trail going up Norumbega Mtn..

From there, cross the street to the north side of Upper Hadlock Pond. At the carriage trail, you can go right on the carriage trail, which will bring you back to the Brown Mtn. Gate parking area, or you can head straight up to continue on the Hadlock Brook Trail. Going straight probably adds about 30min to the hike or so. I like to stay on the carriage trail because I like the walk along there, especially with my dog in tow (or in the lead, depending on how many chipmunks are about). The carriage trail is the Around Mountain trail.

Along the carriage trail you’ll eventually find the Hadlock Ponds Trail on the right. If you take that, it’ll cross back over Rt. 198 and bring you back to Lower Hadlock Pond and eventually the wooden bridge. I stay on the carriage trail still. When on the carriage trail, you’ll come to a couple of sign posts. Just follow the road back to the Brown Mtn. Gatehouse and all will be well.

The entire hike the way I described it is about 1.5 hours. Staying on the Hadlock Brook Trail makes it about 2 – 2.5 hours, and cutting over to the Hadlock Ponds Trail is about 2 hours flat.

For info on what these hikes are like, come stay with us and we’ll gladly point you in the right direction: www.miramonte.com.

Garden Seekers Come Hither

Asticou Azalea Garden

The sand garden at the Asticou Azalea Garden

Of course Mount Desert Island is famous for Acadia National Park, but would you believe that not everyone comes to the island for the park? Well, it’s true, and while it may seem a bit funny to ignore the park as a destination, there are plenty of other things to do and places to see. There are three gardens in particular that bring many tourists to the island each year. Two of them are in Northeast Harbor and owned by the Land and Garden Preserve while one is near Bar Harbor and is in the park itself. You can do all three in a convenient loop. It doesn’t matter which way go, but stopping for lunch at the Asticou Inn is a wonderful idea, especially if you can get out on the terrace.

  • Asticou Azalea Gardens: Part of the Land and Garden Preserve set up by the Rockefellers, the Azalea Gardens are small but quite tranquil despite being right off Rt. 198. If you’re going to Northeast Harbor, there’s a turnoff to the left before you get into town. This turnoff goes to the Asticou Inn. You can park there if you’re going to the restaurant after the garden (or before), but the parking for the garden itself is right before that intersection on the left-hand side. Many people who can’t get into the small parking lot end up parking on the road. My favorite part is the sand garden, but there are some wonderful ponds, stone bridges, benches, and plenty to admire plant-wise, of course.
  • Thuya Gardens: Also part of the Land and Garden Preserve, the Thuya Gardens are on Rt. 3 between Northeast Harbor and Seal Harbor, and they’re right around the corner from the Azalea Garden as well. At the turnoff for the Asticou Inn, before you arrive in downtown Northeast Harbor, turn left and drive past the Asticou Inn for a minute or so. Down the road a bit you’ll see the path that ascends up the left-hand side of the road. There is a small dirt parking lot right across the street from that path on the right. It only holds about 10 cars, so if that’s full, or if you don’t fancy the hike up (not long and worth it), drive a minute down the road and find Thuya Drive on the left. Drive up the hill and find maybe another 10 parking spaces closer to the garden. My favorite thing here is the smells. All those flowers lined up that way really challenges the senses.
  • Wild Gardens of Acadia: These are on Rt. 3 just outside of Bar Harbor (between the Jackson Lab and the parking area for Dorr Mtn.and Champlain Mtn.) at the Sieur du Mont Springs section of the park. You can get here either off Rt. 3 or via the Park Loop Road as well. These gardens are famous for having a sample of all the native species on the island. There are also plenty of hikes in the area, and not all of them go up mountains, such as the Jesup, Stratheden, and Hemlock trails, which all form loops off the Great Meadow Trail. These hikes can be accessed on foot straight from the Mira Monte, too.

 

To get directions to any of these, check out our availability calendar and we’ll set you up right: www.miramonte.com.

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