Parking
Use the unmarked Norumbega pullout on ME Route 198 just beyond the Parkman Mountain lot; cross the road to the Sargent Mountain Trailhead. No accessible restrooms are available at the trailhead.
Overview
About Bald Peak Trail
Why go
- Open granite summit above Upper Hadlock Pond and its islands
- A compact trail with a real summit climb
Heads up
- Steep exposed granite is slippery in wet weather
Map & elevation
The route
Plan your hike
Before you go
Parking
Safety
3 active Acadia alerts
- ClosureSouthern Ocean Path section closed for repairsThe southern section of Ocean Path is closed for repairs from the trailhead across from the Otter Point parking lot to the trail’s southern terminus.Official details
- ClosureSchoodic Mountain Road closed for repairsSchoodic Mountain Road is closed for repairs from Schoodic Loop Road to the summit of Schoodic Head.Official details
The highest, rockiest slopes around here are a summer buffet for grizzly bears.
Acadia Tour Guide
Your drive to Bald Peak Trail, narrated.
Parkwolf is a GPS audio tour guide for Acadia National Park. As you drive, it chimes in with what’s ahead: hidden gems, upcoming stops, history, geology, and wildlife, right through your car’s speakers.
See the Acadia audio tourRecorded for this trailhead
Norumbega Access to Bald Peak0:00 / 0:25
“You're nearing the Norumbega roadside trail access, where I'd choose the Bald Peak and Parkman Mountain loop for two open summits.”
Plays as you drive up to this trailhead in the Parkwolf Acadia Tour Guide.
More stories near here in the app
- Parkman Access to the Carriage Roads
- The Life on the Rocks
- Brown Mountain Gatehouse and Its Bells
- The Periwinkle's Toothed Tongue
- 116 audio storiesacross Acadia’s roads, triggered by GPS as you drive
- Wildlife heatmapsfor Bald Eagle, Peregrine Falcon, White-tailed Deer, and 13 more
- Works offlinemaps, 142 trails, 72 places, and audio download before you lose signal
- CarPlay readysimple controls built for the drive
“…As we drove through Acadia it gave us a tour, which was really cool. Lots of great info about the parks and how to avoid the crowds. It’s a great travel companion!”
Trail guide
Hiking Bald Peak Trail
A short route, not a loopBald Peak Trail is about 1.
Bald Peak Trail is about 1.0 mile one way from the Sargent Mountain Trailhead at Norumbega Parking to its junction with Parkman Mountain Trail, crossing the summit on the way. The mapped line measures about 0.92 mile, which rounds to the listed mile. Allow about 45 to 60 minutes to reach the junction, including a pause at the top. To return directly to the pullout, retrace the trail for about 2 miles total.
The climb gets rougherThe path follows a stream and crosses two carriage roads before the slope steepens on open…
The path follows a stream and crosses two carriage roads before the slope steepens on open granite. Blue blazes and Bates cairns mark the route across the rock; watch for them instead of cutting straight across the slabs. This is a short but demanding climb, with uneven footing and exposed sections. The trail is not accessible for wheelchairs or strollers.
Look down from Bald PeakAt the open granite summit, Upper Hadlock Pond and its outlying islands spread below.
At the open granite summit, Upper Hadlock Pond and its outlying islands spread below. The summit marker and water make a distinctive view; leave some granite in the foreground to show the terrain. From the top, the trail descends the north side to meet Parkman Mountain Trail.
Choose your way backThe separate two-summit circuit continues over Parkman Mountain and returns to the same access,…
The separate two-summit circuit continues over Parkman Mountain and returns to the same access, a 2.7-mile loop. Its Parkman leg has two steep ledges, including one with an iron rung, plus three carriage-road crossings. Those obstacles belong to the longer loop, not the Bald Peak Trail segment.
Access and footingUse the unmarked Norumbega pullout on ME Route 198 just beyond the Parkman Mountain parking…
Use the unmarked Norumbega pullout on ME Route 198 just beyond the Parkman Mountain parking lot, then cross the highway to the trailhead. A park entrance pass is required. The route is listed as year-round, but the open granite can be dangerously slick when wet; choose dry weather. Leashed dogs are allowed on a leash no longer than six feet, though the steep footing makes this a poor fit for many dogs. There are no accessible restrooms at the trailhead.
Wildlife
Wildlife in Acadia
131 sightingsBald EagleMost seen around noonSighting map
21 sightingsPeregrine FalconMost seen around 10 AMSighting map
403 sightingsWhite-tailed DeerMost seen around 7 PMSighting map
307 sightingsPorcupineMost seen around 7 PMSighting map
205 sightingsBeaverMost seen around 7 PMSighting map
34 sightingsMinkMost seen around 7 PMSighting mapSighting maps show where each species has been reported across Acadia. Wildlife moves, so no sighting is guaranteed.
