Parking
No roadside access at the summit junction. Jordan Pond House is the starting point for the longer summit route; plan a return over connected trails from the lower junction.
Overview
About Sargent East Cliffs Trail
Why go
- Fast descent from Sargent Mountain’s summit.
Heads up
- Steep, rough footing can be slippery at seeps.
Map & elevation
The route
Loading the Acadia map
Full mapElevation709–1,352 ft
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 Sargent East Cliffs 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 area
Bubbles Divide and Bubble Rock0:00 / 0:23
“You're nearing Bubbles Divide, the trailhead for Bubble Rock's perched boulder. For the shorter visit, walk to South Bubble and Bubble Rock and return the same way, about a mile with stairs and steep, uneven granite.”
Plays on the road 1.2 mi from the trailhead in the Parkwolf Acadia Tour Guide.
More stories near here in the app
- Parkman Access to the Carriage Roads
- Giant Slide’s Boulder Passages
- Norumbega Access to Bald Peak
- Bubble Pond and Its Rustic Bridge
- 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 Sargent East Cliffs Trail
What this trail isSargent East Cliffs Trail is a 0.
Sargent East Cliffs Trail is a 0.7-mile one-way descent from the Sargent Mountain summit junction down the east face toward the lower trail junctions. It crosses rough granite and seep-fed sections, and works as a quick way off Sargent rather than a standalone out-and-back. The mapped line measures just under 0.6 mile, so treat the listed 0.7 as approximate.
A steep descentAllow about 30 to 45 minutes if you are already at the top.
Allow about 30 to 45 minutes if you are already at the top. The route drops quickly over uneven granite; seeps can make the footing slick, and wet conditions are a poor time to use this descent. If you want an easier way off the mountain, return by Sargent South Ridge and descend Deer Brook instead.
Put it in a longer hikeThere is no roadside access at the upper junction.
There is no roadside access at the upper junction. A common 6–7-mile outing starts at Jordan Pond House, climbs Spring and Penobscot, follows Sargent South Ridge to the summit, then descends East Cliffs and returns by Deer Brook and the carriage road. The 0.7 miles here cover only the East Cliffs segment, not the access climb or return. Pets are allowed on a leash no longer than six feet.
Take in the summit firstSargent is Acadia’s second-highest summit, with northward views toward Cadillac and the…
Sargent is Acadia’s second-highest summit, with northward views toward Cadillac and the surrounding mountains. Stop for that open view before starting down; most of this short trail is about the steep descent.
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.
