Added by Danielle Tourigny
Quick ascent leads to 360 degree views of Bar Harbor, Acadia National Park, and the surrounding water without the crowds on Cadillac Mountain!
To find the trail head, drive out of Bar Harbor down Route 3. There are no signs for the trailhead or for parking, so as soon as you pass Tarn Lake on the right, you can pull off and park on the side of the road.
Elevation on the ladder trail starts immediately and doesn't let up until you reach the summit, which is the downside of summiting a 1200ft mountain in one mile. The trail is 90% rock stairs, 5% large, sloping rocks, 3% ladders and 2% flat. About 0.75 miles up, you start to get a good view of the water and the views only get better from there. There are a couple of trail junctions, but just keep following the signs for Dorr Mountain!
From the summit take the Dorr South Ridge trail down to enjoy amazing views for the first quarter of the way down. At the first junction go left on the Canon Brook Trail and then take that straight onto Kane Path to lead yourself back to the Ladder Trailhead. The entire descent is 2.6 miles.
We wrapped up our hike with a stop at Lompoc Cafe, which has some of the more delicious and cheap food in Bar Harbor!
Pack List
- 1L water per person
- Camera
- Snacks
- Sunscreen
Reviews
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about 2 months ago
Loved It!
We accessed the Ladder Trail by hiking along The Tarn from the nature center parking lot. The Ladder Trail was definitely challenging due to the amount of stairs, but it was totally worth it. The views were gorgeous as we neared the summit, and even better at the top! We descended on the North Ridge trail, which I recommend, as the Ladder Trail's large steps might be precarious on the way down.
Added by Danielle Tourigny
Maine resident and Physician Assistant student with a love of all things nature. Traveling around to find the most beautiful spots and most delicious eats.
FollowActivities:
Photography, Hiking
Skill Level:
Intermediate
Season:
Spring, Summer, Autumn
Trail Type:
Loop
Distance:
3.6 Miles
Elev. Gain:
1100 Feet
Rating:
Features:
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