Sargent East Cliffs Trail

Dogs Leashed

Features Fall Colors · Views · Wildflowers

This path is runnable, although only experienced trail runners should attempt it.

This is a short, rugged, trail that connects several of the key trails that are slightly removed from the northeastern part of Jordan Pond. It climbs the eastern side of Sargent Mountain to its summit, Acadia’s second highest peak at 1,373 feet. As you ascend (or descend) the path, you'll get some terrific views of Pemetic Mountain, Cadillac Mountain, the Bubbles, Eagle Lake and Jordan Pond to the east, and when you summit, some great vistas of some of the park’s western, and sometimes less appreciated, peaks. For an approximate 0.75 mile trail, this path provides a huge return of visual memories.

You can access this trail from either end, but the best approach is from its eastern side, where it connects with the Deer Brook Trail and Jordan Cliffs Trail. Traveling the path in that direction allows you to climb the steepest part of the trail very quickly, rather than saving it for the end, which can be very tricky to descend, especially when it’s wet. The closest parking for the eastern trailhead is actually at the small Bubble Rock parking lot on the west side of the Park Loop Road located approximately a mile away. If you choose this approach, you’ll have to run the Bubbles Divide Trail to the northern edge of Jordan Pond, where you’ll briefly connect with the Jordan Pond Path and the Deer Brook Trail before quickly meeting up with this path. You can also take a less strenuous approach by starting on the Jordan Pond Path around the pond in either direction, but that requires you to park in the Jordan House parking area, which is roughly double the distance from the eastern trailhead than the Bubble Rock parking lot.

This trail starts off from its eastern end in a mostly forested area and quickly climbs well over 400 feet up a very steep section for roughly 0.3 miles. At that point, the contours will start to spread out and become noticeably less steep as you work your way up large expanses of Sargent Mountain’s eastern granite face. The views to the east (i.e. Cadillac, the Bubbles, and Pemetic) will be quite rewarding, so be sure to take time to stop and enjoy them. Then, when you summit after about 0.75 miles of climb, you’ll be able to take in some great 360-degree views from Acadia’s second highest peak.

In sum, this is a short and rugged connector with great views, especially when you summit Sargent Mountain. It also connects several paths (the Jordan Cliffs, Deer Brook, and Sargent Mountain Trails) together so that you can create multiple extended options.

Rhododendron.