Pemetic Northwest Trail

Pemetic Northwest Trail climbs the mountain's rocky northwest face from the Bubbles parking area to its open granite summit. The signed trail is about 0.6 miles one way; return by the same route for about 1.2 miles round trip. Expect roughly 750 feet of climbing and allow 1.5 to 2 hours for the out-and-back. The mileage looks easy, but this is a hard scramble packed into a short hike. Go if you are comfortable on steep, uneven granite and fixed climbing aids.

From the Bubbles (Bubble Rock) parking area, cross Park Loop Road at the signed Pemetic Mountain Northwest Ridge Trailhead. The path climbs through boulders and a rocky ravine. At a steep granite face, a more exposed ledge line branches from the ravine route, which uses iron rungs and a wooden ladder; the paths rejoin above. Wet granite can be slippery, and the ravine may carry water in spring or after rain. The mapped route follows the Northwest Trail to its North Ridge junction and includes the short final ridge approach to the summit. The distance above does not include a descent on a different trail.

The open top gives you views over Jordan Pond, Penobscot and Sargent mountains, and the surrounding ocean and islands. For a photo that shows how the climb feels, keep some bare granite in the foreground with the water and ridges beyond. Acadia requires an entrance pass year-round. Dogs are not allowed on the Bubbles-Pemetic route, and the steep scrambling, rungs and ladder make this an inaccessible hike.