Western Mountain Loop

This 3.8-mile round-trip circuit links the south end of Long Pond with Mansell and Bernard Mountains. Allow 2 to 3 hours. It is short but challenging: Perpendicular climbs more than 300 cut granite steps, and the circuit adds iron rungs, a small ladder, roots and steep cliffside footing. Choose it for the historic stairway and two-summit circuit, not continuous views; the best panorama is a short spur above Long Pond. Acadia requires an entrance pass year round, though this hike has no activity fee or reservation requirement.

Start on Long Pond Trail at the west end of the south parking area. After about 0.2 mile, turn left at the second junction onto Perpendicular Trail. Iron rungs, a short ladder and more than 300 cut granite steps climb the steep face of Mansell. Long Pond appears between the trees. Just before the trail turns away from the face, a short spur opens toward Beech Mountain, Long Pond and the outlying islands. The summit itself is wooded, with no view.

Continue past Mansell's summit, turn right onto Mansell Mountain Trail, then right onto Razorback. Bear right at its next junction to reach Great Notch and continue straight onto Bernard Mountain Trail. This steep 0.4-mile climb crosses roots and cliffs, passing Knight Nubble. At the Little Notch junction with Sluiceway, continue straight another 0.2 mile to Bernard's 1,071-foot summit. It is mostly wooded with minimal views, so return to the junction.

Turn right onto Sluiceway and descend about 0.5 mile. Turn left on Gilley, then right on Great Notch shortly afterward. Keep right at the Razorback and Mansell Mountain junctions until Gilley Field parking. Cross that lot and follow Cold Brook back to the south Long Pond parking area. The trailhead is at the west end of the lot, behind the municipal water pumping station.

The Perpendicular Trail was built by the Civilian Conservation Corps. A CCC camp stood just south of Long Pond in 1933, and west-side crews expanded Acadia's trail system on newly acquired lands. The stone stairway is the route's signature feature; do not expect an open summit view at either end of the climb.