Hiking Cadillac Mountain South Ridge: Dare To Prepare

Acadia National Park is home to some of the best hiking trails. Offering something for every hiking level or scenery preference. I never get tired of weaving through lush forest trails, climbing up impressive peaks, and catching a view of the coastline from the top. Each year, I try to make my way to Acadia to discover new hidden gems or trails I haven’t been on before. However, there are some infamous trails that are considered “classic” Acadia National Park adventures. Cadillac Mountain South Ridge Trail is at the top of that list.

If you Google anything about Acadia, you’ll quickly learn about the fan-favorite sunset spot called Cadillac Mountain. To get to the top in a vehicle, reservations have to be made in advance and often book out months ahead of time, especially around sunrise or sunset. People wake up at truly insane hours to get there for sunrise. Once you see the view from the top, you’ll understand why.

If you’re heading to Acadia National Park on a last-minute trip and don’t have time to make reservations, or if you love hiking and want a little challenge, you can summit Cadillac Mountain via the Cadillac Mountain South Ridge Trail, or you could also chose the shorter Cadillac Mountain North Ridge Trail. One of the longest trails in the park! This hike will definitely make you sweat your butt off (I speak from personal experience) and give you a good story to tell (again…personal experience speaking here). 

I Was Ready, Or So I Though……

I won’t lie to you; I was woefully unprepared for this trail. As a new hiker, I was ambitious, naïve, and honestly a bit stupid. So, here’s to me sharing everything you need to know before you head to the trailhead. All in the hopes that no one gets caught with their pants down…this may or may not be a literal thing…keep reading and you’ll find out.

Cadillac Mountain South Ridge Trail At A Glance

Length: 7.1 miles round trip
Height: 1,526 feet
Elevation Gain: 1,548 feet
Type: Advanced
My Rating: Advanced due to length, but oh-so-worth-it!
Dog Friendly: The varied terrain can make it challenging for dogs, but they are allowed. You must be able to lift/carry your dog over some areas.
Would we do it again: YES!! With SUNSCREEN!!!

The Details

As the highest peak on Mount Desert Island, Cadillac Mountain offers a number of trails to the top. The South Ridge Trail, its longest and probably most popular trail, starts close to the Blackwoods Campground. If you’re staying in the campground, you can access the trail directly from camp! But anyone who wants to stay in town or find other accommodations will need to drive to the trailhead.

The first bit of the trail weaves through a lush forest, making you forget that you’re surrounded by water. I loved this part because it was pretty well-shaded and offered an easy starting ascent. Looking back, it probably made me underestimate the trail. So don’t get tricked by the steady ascent at the start, you’re still in for a wild ride!

The Eagle’s Crag Spur Trail

Just after a mile, there’s a small side trail, the spur trail which you hear referred to as Eagle’s Crag. It’s a small loop that spits you out about a quarter of a mile ahead on the main trail. It has stunning views, so I’m told. It will give you an idea of what to expect from the top of Cadillac Mountain. You can choose whether you want to do this on the way up or on the way back down. We did it on the way up.

Continuing up and down the trail, you’ll come across the Featherbed. And although you might be tempted to strip down to your undies and jump in, you still have a lot of trail to get through. There is a nice bench if you need a rest, which I most certainly took advantage of. No matter how many years I hike, I’ll always be that girl that loves a good sit to soak up the view…and catch my breath…but the view is a better excuse. 

After the Featherbed, things start to get more intense. There is less tree cover, which means less shade (my first red problem when I did this hike – stay tuned). And the trail gets a whole lot steeper, talk about feeling the burn! You’ll start to see jagged pink granite lining your vision, and no matter how much you love pink, I promise you’ll be cursing these granite obstacles after a while. 

Honing In On The Summit of Cadillac Mountain

The summit, just over a mile away at this point, comes into view abruptly and draws you closer. After passing the Cadillac West Face Trail junction and wandering along an access road, you’ll find yourself back in civilization. Cars will be roaming around the parking lot, much less sweaty-looking people will be eating fancy picnic lunches. All while you’ll be showing up like an animal from the brush – dirty, sweaty, tired, and ravenous. You might get a look or two from the less adventurous crowds. However, getting to the top feels phenomenal no matter what.

You can spend as much time as you’d like up there! Use the restroom facilities, and let the sweat dry before heading back down. Go back the way you came, watch your footing, and don’t forget to take in the views on the way down. You’ll probably be more fatigued during the exit journey, so take your time and enjoy the downhill. Even if you go at a leisurely pace, the return trip will probably only take a fraction of the time that the ascent took. I’m always amazed at how fast I feel going downhill and how slow I feel going uphill, but hey, slow and steady wins the race, right?

Logistics

Not uncommon in Acadia National Park, finding parking for the Cadillac Mountain South Ridge Trail can feel a bit like the Hunger Games, so be sure to get there early. Since it’s on the south side of the island, budget your driving time into your arrival. I recommend getting there as early as possible for two reasons: easier parking and cooler temperatures.

The trailhead is situated on US Route 3 and is identified with a sign. Scour the area for roadside parking and snag a spot if you can. Parking can be a major barrier to entry when trying to do this hike later in the morning. To avoid the rodeo of vultures trying to snag a spot, arriving early is key.

You will need to pay the $35 entrance fee when you get to the park itself. But for what Acadia offers, it’s more than worth it. If you’re trying to get outside more, consider investing in the Annual National Park Pass for $80. It grants you access to any national park in the US! Plus all of the money earned from these passes goes to improving park services and visitor experiences. 

Safety Recommendations

Whether you’re tackling one of the many areas in the region or taking on Cadillac Mountain, Acadia’s nature-filled oasis comes with a set of safety considerations. In fact, no matter where you’re hiking or exploring in general, the same safety recommendations should be followed. Take it from me! I had to eat a GIANT piece of humble pie (not the kind of pie I like) after the South Ridge Trail. Don’t think you’re too experienced or too good to be smart about what you’re doing. These may feel basic, but when I took on this trail, I messed up on many of them. So here are a few reminders to be better than I was:

Water Is Your BFF

Most hiking happens during heightened summer temperatures. Your body will sweat more than you realize! You will exert tons of energy, and begin demanding more water than you’d normally drink…BRING IT. I’m not suggesting that you lug gallons of water up a mountain here. But you should have multiple bottles or a decent-sized water bladder depending on the length of your hike. 

Sunscreen Is Your Other BFF

The sun…it burns!! Nothing ruins a fun hike like a painful, blistering sunburn that you can’t do anything about. Once you’re far enough out, turning back to grab sun protection isn’t an option! Trust me, I know. So you need to have it with you. Bring sunscreen, a hat, and sunglass to protect skin and other sensitive areas from harmful UV rays that can cause permanent damage and seriously ruin your hiking experience. 

A Change Of Clothes Never Hurts

Having a spare shirt or shorts in your bag can provide some much-needed relief from thigh chafing or boob sweat, but they are useless if you don’t have them with you. I also highly recommend bringing extra socks for when the blisters start to form. Boy oh boy, did I wish for an extra pair of socks during this hike. 

Know Your Limits

If we’re completely honest, I wasn’t ready for a 7.1-mile hike in the heat and I had no business being on that mountain. I was new to hiking and sure I could take on anything, but a lot went wrong. I ended up being very lucky to get out in one piece. There are plenty of other trails in the area that are easy and medium levels, so if you don’t feel confident in your hiking abilities yet, don’t push them too hard.

My Trail Story…. More Like My Cautionary Tale

Full disclosure: everyone makes mistakes, and on the Cadillac Mountain South Ridge Trail, I made many. I was unaware, ignorant, and even a hazard to myself and my friend, so don’t follow in my footsteps. You’ve been warned!

The first summer I started hiking, I thought I could do anything. It’s an empowering sport, and at first, I was a little too empowered. I grabbed my best friend, Mel, and her yellow lab, Summer, and snuck away to Bar Harbor for a long weekend of hiking and eating good food in the area. Acadia National Park, the major draw of the area, has always been one of my favorite national parks, and I was eager to hit the trails since I hadn’t yet experienced it in that way.

Our day one plan was to drive around the park loop road. We would check out the tide changes at Thunder Hole, and hike Gorham Mountain. Gorham Mountain is a great beginner hike! It makes for a wonderful warmup before longer, more challenging hikes…that was the intention at least. After checking off our to-do list for the day, we made our way to our accommodations to check in and get settled. There’s never been a vacation that I didn’t overpack for, and this time was no different. After listening to Mel tease me for how much stuff I brought while I unpacked, we were finally settled in, excited for the next day. 

Cadillac Mountain Summit Here We Come

Day two was Cadillac Mountain South Ridge Trail day, the mack daddy of all hikes in Acadia. We got up early. We both hate getting out of a cozy bed, we knew it would be worth it to grab a parking spot. The marine layer was STRONG that morning and the thick fog had taken over the area. But since Mel and I are both coastal gals, we knew it would eventually burn off and leave us with the best views. 

We got geared up, packed our bags, and hopped in the car. Both of us had an extra change of clothes, 8 bottles of water, snacks, dog food and a bowl, toilet paper, and some bug spray. We forgot to grab sunscreen, extra socks, and an emergency kit! All of which we would end up needing a lot more than that dang bug spray. (Narrator: “And this is where the misadventure all started…”)

Needless to say we were a bit sore from the previous day’s hike and sleepy from our early wake-up call. We were slow-moving at the beginning of the trail, but we didn’t care. It took us a while to get our muscles going and fully warmed up, but once we got to the spur trail turnoff, we were starting to sweat. We mostly only did the side trail because no one else was doing it! You see getting trail time in without other people on a summer Saturday in Acadia is nothing short of a miracle! When the chance comes, you don’t overlook it.

Slight Detour From Cadillac Mountain Trail

Unfortunately, the fog hadn’t yet lifted, leaving it up to our imaginations what the view was supposed to look like. To this day, I haven’t seen the view from the overlook; I need to go back and make it happen! We were able to take a relaxing break. It was time to get Summer a drink of water and a treat, and down our own granola bars for breakfast. There’s something about granola bars on a hiking trail that always makes them taste like the best granola bars that have ever existed. We knew it would start to heat up quickly after the morning hours left us. So we didn’t want to waste too much time in this spot and got back on the trail right after our last granola-filled mouthful. 

Sometimes The View Is Lacking

Shortly after, we were back on the main trail and we began to notice that the trees were getting further and further apart. The terrain was getting rockier and more technical, and the sun was coming out to play! Or should I say it was NOT here to play… Either way, it was at this point that we realized that neither of us had remembered to pack the sunscreen.  One of my biggest failures in all of my years of hiking! And this is where things started to go downhill, or should I say uphill? We gave each other that “oh sh*t” look, but there wasn’t much we could do. We continued onwards with hopes that the sun would have mercy.

An hour or so later, it became apparent that the sun wasn’t going to go easy on us today. I began feeling a burning sensation on the back of my neck. At that moment I asked Mel to take a look at it. With her 5’ 1” stature, I had to nearly get down on my knees for her to be able to see. She quickly alerted me that things were not looking good back there. The skin on the back of my neck was bright red, inflamed, and painful to touch. The worst part was, without sunscreen, our options were extremely limited. We scoured the area to see if we could ask someone else for some. Just when you need someone, there was no one around at that moment.

Introducing Super Fat Girl Hiking And Her Trusty Sidekick Fun Sized

Sometimes, in the wilderness, you have to get crafty, and that’s exactly what we did. We realized that we could use the extra change of clothes we packed to create some sort of sun cover for my neck. I pulled out the pair of shorts from my bag. Then draped them over my neck and shoulders, and used the drawstring to attach them to me. To paint a clear picture, these weren’t casual shorts. They’re neon blue hiking shorts that made me look as if I had an oddly tiny cape thing going on. To this day, we call them my “superman shorts,” and they really did save my bacon on that hike! I’ll spare you the photo that Mel took of me, but you get the idea. I will give you the photo of what I felt I looked like!

When we finally saw the summit peeking through, we were still about an hour and a half away. We were burning in the sun and tired from the long uphill. I wish I could say things got better here, but they didn’t. Our feet started to hurt so bad that we could almost feel the blisters getting bigger second by second. It would have been the perfect time to slip on a fresh pair of socks or stick some moleskin to my growing blisters, but…you guessed it…we didn’t have either of those things!

I began to look like someone with two broken ankles, hobbling up the mountain. I remember glancing over at Summer, her tail still wagging, and a big smile plastered on her face, almost as if she was saying, “Wow, I’m not sure why you guys look so miserable!” “I’m having a great time!” We checked her feet often to make sure they weren’t getting too hot, and she was fairing way better than us.

Will It Rain On Our Parade?

Eventually, the breeze abandoned us, and we were left with the sun beaming down on each step. It felt like every inch of our bodies was soaked with sweat. As we marched on, we noticed a looming storm cloud making its way right toward us. On one hand, we were thrilled at the thought of being cooled off by some rain or even the shadow of a cloud. But on the other, mountain storms can get gnarly fast. Almost as quickly as we saw it, the storm cloud passed. Thus, leaving us just as dry and hot as we were a few minutes prior.

We avoided one obstacle and came upon another one shortly after. There were a few iron rungs that we needed to climb to bypass a large boulder, and while that was no issue for Mel and me, Summer was unsuccessful in trying to find a way around the rock. We decided that Mel was going to get on top of the rock. At that point she would take Summer as I lifted her over it, and then I would climb up. Just as we were getting in position, a group of strapping young men came up behind us. In what felt like seconds, they offered to help us, got Summer over the rock, and were thanked with a bunch of tail wags and licks…from Summer, not us – get your head out of the gutter!

All Hail The Sunscreen Gods Of Cadillac Mountain

As if that wasn’t enough, they also had some sunscreen that we were able to borrow. Who knew that our own set of trail angels would come in the form of lanky, sweaty, 20-something men, but here we are!

I was able to remove the shorts that were tied around my neck which was a huge relief. I would have been a bit mortified to summit with those being used as a makeshift scarf. As we got even closer to the summit, we began hearing cars and the buzz of civilization. But soon we noticed that a giant group of hikers had stopped just short of the summit to eat lunch. I asked a passing couple why everyone was eating in this spot instead of at the summit and they glanced at each other, chuckled, and said “You’ll find out.” 

Cadillac Mountain South Ridge Summit

A bit alarmed and confused by their cryptic answer, we decided to keep going and eat our packed lunches once we reached the summit. When we finally crossed the finish line — well, I guess the halfway line, but we felt as if the hardest part was over, so we still celebrated – we were more than ready to change out of our sweaty, stinky clothes and freshen up before eating and heading back down the mountain. When we got in line for the bathroom, there were about 10 people in front of us. They all started giving us quiet glances and dirty looks. It only took a minute to realize that we SMELLED and since none of them hiked, they did not. We also did not pack the deodorant….

The Bathroom On Cadillac Mountain

The girl behind us gave us a wide girth and the people in front of us kept inching away. We were covered in dirt, sweat, and trail stank, and these people wanted nothing to do with us. By the time we reached the stalls, we piled in to change, and Mel took Summer in with her. I hate public restrooms but this one had an inch of water lining the floor! This was making it even harder to stay upright while I precariously balanced on my shoes to change my clothes. I shimmied one leg out of the soaked shorts but realized that my underwear was too soaked to keep wearing. So I took everything off and put on the superhero shorts. As shorts this time, not a cape.

When I got to my shirt and sports bra, I realized I didn’t have a fresh sports bra with me! Add it to the list of things I didn’t pack for this hike…what we were thinking when we left the cabin that morning is truly beyond me. I wish I was small-chested, but there was no way I was going to let my D chest fly solo! Especially around families and other park guests, so I had to shimmy myself back into my wet sports bra. If you’ve ever tried putting a sports bra on while it was wet, then you know just how much of a struggle it was to secure myself in that thing. Once I was locked and loaded in my dry clothes, I washed my hands outside while people who were dressed like hikers but definitely didn’t hike gave my sweaty hair sideways glances.

Time For People Watching on Cadillac Mountain

I found Mel and Summer sitting on a bench near the gift shop, waiting for me to come out of the rest room. Though it felt a bit like a war room, I won’t lie. Since we didn’t bring our wallets with us (add that to the list, too!) we skipped the gift shop. Instead we started wandering around to find a place to eat our sandwiches and try to stop sweating before the descent. All the best spots were taken by people who looked much more polished than we did. We found a spot on the rock wall near the parking lot. We knew if we sat on the ground we’d never, ever get back up, plus, this was the best spot for people-watching.

Not ashamed to admit that people-watching is another one of my favorite activities. We sat there observing groups of people get out of their air-conditioned cars, pose for photos in their hiking outfits, and get right back in their cars. Part of me wanted to laugh and the other part of me wanted to scowl at all the young adults pretending to have hiked the mountain while I actually risked my sanity to do it! Honestly, maybe I was just jealous that they took the easier way up than I did. 

I Think We Smell

After a while, a couple walked by us, paused when they were close, looked down and rudely said, “You two smell.” I was absolutely gobsmacked that someone would say that to two complete strangers, but there we were, getting called out by people we’d never even seen. We told them that their observation wasn’t news to us and that we had hiked nearly 4 miles to be here. Instead of chuckling or apologizing, they said again, “You two smell,” and walked away. It was so bizarre that all Mel and I could do was look at each other, pack up our bags, and head back to the lunch area with the actual hikers.

Once we got back down to the smelly lunch spot with the smelly people and our smelly selves, we found the couple that we had seen on the way up and they asked us how the summit was. I just replied with, “Did you know we smell?” and laughed. We got the rest of our lunch out and chowed down. It was, in that moment, we both agreed that we would never hike to a summit that you could drive to in the middle of the summer on a weekend. Never again!

What Goes Up Must Come Down

Eventually, it was time to head back down the mountain, and the way back was a breeze. Mel and I got Summer through the rock obstacle with no issues and we chatted as we leisurely walked back to our car. Since it was later in the day, the hot sun wasn’t an issue. Though we were both nursing pretty bad sunburns, mine worse than Mel’s. It only took us about 1/3 of the time to get down the mountain and we decided to forego spur trail on the way back. Once we got to the car, my leg was cramping, yet another sign that I probably wasn’t ready to tackle a hike of that level at the time.

Driving back to town was my final test! My manual transmission forced me to use my leg muscles to stop, go, and shift when I felt like my leg muscles had completely left my body. Eventually, we made it home, took showers, and assessed all our injuries. I had burns, blisters, and even a rash (I won’t mention where!) and when I took my soggy sports bra off, my skin was bleeding because it had been rubbing so badly.

Looking back, the Cadillac Mountain South Ridge Trail was too far out of my comfort zone. I’m all about trying new things and pushing your limits (safely!) but this was an irresponsible situation. I was ill-prepared and unfit and I’m so lucky nothing worse than a bad sunburn and a bruised ego happened. I would, however, go on a million more hikes with Mel and Summer if I could. Don’t be like me and be stupid while you’re hiking but DO take a yellow lab with you whenever you get the chance. Be sure to check out some of our other recommendations!