Trail name(s)
Eagle's Crag Loop Trail via Cadillac South Ridge Trail
Location
Acadia National Park, Mount Desert Isle, Maine, Route 3 across from Blackwood's Camping Entrance
Permitted uses
Hiking, Virtual Earthcaching, bird watching, nature study
Prohibited uses
No biking, No camping, No fires, No horses, No collecting of plants, rocks or animals, No feeding of wildlife. Do not build or add to any cairns along the trail. No use of drones
Hours
Parts of Acadia National Park are open year round and are open 24 hours a day. However, not all areas are accessible or staffed year round. It's best to check the park’s website and plan ahead for your visit. Follow the link below to find out if the area you want to visit is open during the time you want to visit.
https://www.nps.gov/acad/planyourvisit/hours.htm
Fees and Parking
There is no parking lot for this trailhead. There is a lot of room for street side parking on either side of the road. There is a fee to enter Acadia National Park. The fee schedule can be found at the park’s website or by following this link:
https://www.nps.gov/acad/planyourvisit/fees.htm
Pets
Dogs are allowed on the trails and must be kept on a leash that is not longer than 6 feet. Pets waste must be properly disposed of by the owner.
Accessibility
This hike is not wheelchair accessible and is going to be difficult for anyone with mobility challenges and balance problems.
Hiker amenities
There is an information kiosk at the trailhead with a posted map of the trails. There are no restrooms or trash bins. Since there are no restrooms either at the trailhead or along the trails, human waste must be buried 6 inches deep and 100 feet from the trail or a water source.
Length and Trail information
This hike was done as an out and back hike. The hike is 2.4 miles long and is a moderate hike due to the changes in elevation and the length of the hike. There are lots of trip hazards along the trail such as rocks and lots of protruding roots. There are also a couple of rock scrambles and some rocky ledges which were not too difficult and added to the fun and variety of the hike. The trail is marked by a blue blaze.
Our goal for this hike was to reach the summit of Eagle’s Crag and check out the views from the 702 foot rocky ledge. We took the Cadillac South Ridge Trail to Eagle’s Crag Loop Trail and after spending some time enjoying the beautiful views we headed back down the Cadillac South Ridge Trail.
During the hike we enjoyed the challenges and the variety of conditions we encountered. We hiked up granite steps, over large log boardwalks, stony ledges flanked by blueberry bushes, tree roots so thick they reminded us of bulging veins. We encountered large and small glacial erratics, some steep rocky scrambles all nestled in a beautiful mixed dense forest.
Our efforts were rewarded with beautiful views of the valley below and the Atlantic Ocean in the distance.
