Gorham Mountain Loop, Hike #9

Garrett Tershel

Gorham Mountain Loop, Hike #9

Our last hike, Gorham Mountain Loop, was a whimsical finish to two fantastic weeks in Acadia. There are many different kinds of hikes through Acadia.  It has the difficult climbs like Precipice and Beehive, the scenic including Bubbles Trail and Cadillac Ridge Trail, finally the historic Carriage Roads. Gorham Mountain made me laugh.

Picture courtesy of HikingProject.com

The Gorham Mountain Loop is a 3.5 mile loop including a great walk along the ocean bluffs called Ocean Path. This path follows one of the major roads through Acadia and every time we drove it we kept saying, "We should walk that trail." Well we squeezed it into the last hike.

We spent most of our final day walking and exploring hoping it would not end.  Another beautiful day in late fall accompanied us in Acadia, I started to think that every day in Maine was perfect. We started with the Ocean Path, a walk along the Mt. Desert Narrows coastline.  It was a little after low tide so the water was quiet but it left a lot of exposed rocks available to climb.

Rocky shoreline Rocky shoreline

This is Thunder Hole. When the ocean is rough and at high tide, giant waves crash into this area causing an amazing show. This is Thunder Hole. When the ocean is rough and at high tide, giant waves crash into this area causing an amazing show. You are just going to have to take my word for it.

Ocean View from above Ocean View from above

Checking out the coastline. Checking out the coastline.

 
After our walk along the coast we headed up the mountain. After our walk along the coast we headed up the mountain.

 
There is only one sand beach in Acadia, most of the shore is rock. It is appropriately named Sand Beach. There is only one sand beach in Acadia, most of the shore is rock. It is appropriately named Sand Beach.

 
We climbed over those rocks on the Ocean Path trail. Gorham Mountain Trail doubles back on the Ocean Path giving us a view at 500 ft. We climbed over those rocks on the Ocean Path trail.

Good times! Good times!

So, half way up the Gorham Trail there is a spur off trail called Cadillac Cliffs Path.  The description is, amazing cliffs and caves. Well, I don't know about that. It did have very cool niches, goofy rock faces and lots of different hiking options.  It is a great "look and find" and change of pace for kids of all ages.

Tight Squeeze Tight Squeeze

The choice to go over or under constantly appeared on this little path. The choice to go over or under constantly appeared on this little path.

It was a little .3 mile spur but the elevation of the path went both up and down even though we were climbing up the mountain. It was the first time when climbing up a mountain we climbed down a little first.

Found one, funny face.( side profile) Found one, funny face.( side profile)

Now we had no choice, we had to go under. Now we had no choice, we had to go under.

Ohh scary!! Ohh scary!!

Another face. Does he have a big nose or are his eyes popping out?

This I suppose would be the closest piece we found to a cave. The kids refused to climb into the hole, that is about as far as they got. This would be the closest piece we found to a cave. The kids refused to climb into the hole. That is about as far as they got.

Over the two weeks we saw more and more grey leafless trees mixed into the colors. It was a signal, time to go. Over the two weeks we saw more and more grey leafless trees mixed into the colors. It was a signal, time to go.

Our final summit. Our final summit.

Making our way down. Making our way down.

Never-ending colors. Never-ending colors.

It went so fast, our time at Acadia, and it was time to move on.  The campground we were staying at was closing and tonight was the last night they were open for the season. Acadia, an unplanned detour, may be one of the best stops of our first RV trip around the country. When I was younger I always said, "I loved that trip, I can't wait to go back." I have all the time in the world. Now being a little bit older I know I may never get back to Acadia, but I hope I do.