Sargent Mountain Hike ♥ Acadia NP

Howdee all,

♥

Another wonderful hike in paradise.

Sargent Mountain

“The second highest mountain in Acadia, behind only Cadillac, provides spectacular 360-degree views of Somes Sound and Western Mountain to the right (west); the Cranberry Isles and the Gulf of Maine to the south; Pemetic and Cadillac Mountains to the east; and Porcupine Islands and Frenchman Bay to the northeast”

There are many ways to get to Sargent Mountain…we followed part of the hike on the map below highlighted in red.

We took the Grandgent trail up ..then a side trip to what is thought to be the oldest fresh water pond in Maine, down Sargent southridge trail to Hadlock trail and back.

 

 

 

 

 

     Sargent Mountain

     Distance:5 + miles

 

    Elevation Gain 1,170-feet

 

Difficulty:Moderate-Difficult

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

We parked and followed the carriage path to our trail head.  Lush moss and lichen Our trailhead.We take Hadlock Brook trail..  I call this part of the hike Rocks, roots and running water.

We walk over roots..We walk on rocks..

All uphill..in lush forest..

We follow a small brook……   Froggy.. We follow the signs to Sargent Mountain Up hill on rocks..   Most of the trail follows a small stream..we cross it several times..  Rocks..roots and running water..beautiful and refreshing on this warm day.  Along the trail I notice many webs in rock crevices and this one in a tree cavity.  More uphill..

I was very happy I brought my hiking sticks..very helpful walking thru water, roots and rocks..It was slippery.  Rocks and roots.. We are serenaded by Black-throated green warblers and Thrushes.  We take the Grandgent trail…one of the more difficult trails to the top.  Up ..up and more up..   Oh..I see the light Starting to get a view  Somes soundI soak in the views..    Still more to go… Jeff and Samarrah wait at the top  Samarrah in the clouds The top of Sargent MountainWe stop here and have lunch.. A white-throated sparrow sings to us.. Lichen on Granite..  Wood Lily     We start our hike down to Sargent pond I took tons of photos of the Rock cairns..A well balanced rock.. On our way to the pond..  Scenes from the top..

lots of water areas like this on top..I loved the slab of rock

   Gulls fly nearby and call out…   Its peaceful up here… More Wood lily..Blooming in small groups …  The pond is only .3 miles away Follow the cairns to the pond..

  Sargent Mountain Pond,

“ claiming to be the oldest lake in Maine, it is naturally fishless, being one of only two acidic lakes in the park. According to local folk lore the “Lake of Clouds” is not only bottomless, but home to a serpent “   See the serpent below?

Hee hee..thats me enjoying a wonderful swim..I went in with shorts and tee shirt.

Small blue dragonflies where flitting low over the surface. Larger dragonflies flew higher up.

It was magical.

 

The highlight of this hike…was swimming in the pond..the water was cool and refreshing..

 

 

Time to head back… We take the Sargent south ridge trail down..   We stop and snack on the way down..

  Yummy

   The trail down was more gradual, still rocky in areas and wet..

   A board walk crossing

We join the Hadlock Brook trail again

   Oh yes..I remember this rocky path..

   Jeff and Samarrah stop to watch the water fall

I stop and take a photo of this handsome mushroom..

Then I join them and watch the water falling…

We continue on the last leg of the hike..

Some sort of mushy room..More stream crossings.. And roots.. the parking lot is less than half a mile away.. Samarrah  the wood fairy peeks through a whole in a tree..   Amanita Almost home….

Hope you enjoyed our hike..

Now one of my favorite hikes in ♥Acadia National Park♥