Penobscot Mountain Trail

Penobscot Mountain is a granite summit above the west side of Jordan Pond. This 3.8-mile loop starts behind Jordan Pond House, climbs Spring Trail to the open ridge, then descends by Penobscot East and Deer Brook before returning along Jordan Pond. Allow three to four hours and about 950 feet of climbing. Spring Trail is the hard part: steep cliff bands, exposed rock and short scrambles make this a poor choice in wet weather or if heights unsettle you. The mileage is modest; the footing is what makes it strenuous.

From behind the house, cross the carriage road near signpost 15 and a small footbridge to reach Spring Trail. The path starts under conifers, crosses Jordan Stream and another carriage road, then steepens sharply. It zigzags through narrow granite cliff bands; short sections have iron handrails and log fences. Keep your eyes on the next foothold. Once above the cliffs, the grade eases and the trees thin. At the junction with Penobscot Mountain Trail, turn north toward the summit.

The ridge opens onto bare pink granite with low vegetation and wide views. Jordan Pond sits below to the east, with the Bubbles and Pemetic Mountain beyond it; on clear days you can pick out the Cranberry Islands and more distant offshore islands. The summit is an open rocky area, not a tower or constructed overlook. For a photo, include a strip of summit ledge in the foreground with Jordan Pond and the islands beyond it; that shows both the exposed setting and the view.

The loop continues past the summit along Penobscot East, then drops through forest to Deer Brook. Roots and uneven ground make this descent slower than the map suggests. Deer Brook Bridge, a two-arched carriage-road bridge, is a useful landmark near the pond. From the north end of Jordan Pond, follow the shoreline path south to the house; it is a long, gentler finish after the steep mountain section. Continuing north to Sargent Mountain adds a separate, much longer hike and is not part of this loop.

Park at Jordan Pond North or the smaller lot beside Jordan Pond House; both can fill on summer afternoons. A seasonal Island Explorer bus serves the house, so check its current schedule if you plan to ride. The house has restrooms and water, but there are no water facilities on the mountain. Dogs are allowed on leash no longer than six feet. A park entrance pass is required. Penobscot East can have seasonal peregrine-nesting closures, so check Acadia's current trail notices before relying on this loop. The park does not recommend the steep route for small children or in wet weather.

Look for grooves and wave-like patterns in the summit granite, marks left by glaciers. A small bog near the top holds rainwater in a shallow depression. Loons may appear on Jordan Pond, and birds sometimes soar over the water. Jordan Pond House has been a recreation and dining stop since the nineteenth century; tea and popovers have been served there since the 1890s. It is a seasonal stop at the trail's start and finish, not a place to count on for supplies along the climb.