Sargent Mountain Trail   Sweeping view from Sargent Says Kevin Corcoran Bar Harbor from Sargent Says Kevin Corcoran In September, 2009, I hiked up Sargent Mountain via the North Ridge Trail. However, my approach was a bit unorthodox. Instead of beginning my hike off of Routes 198/3 via the Giant Slide Trail - which leads the hiker to the northern starting point of the North Ridge Trail - I cut off the first mile of the North Ridge Trail by biking 5. 2 miles from     Eagle Lake to catch the North Ridge Trail 7/10 of a mile from Sargent's summit. I started the bike ride at the parking lot on the north side of Route 233, just north of Eagle Lake. The bike ride on this particular carriage road was rather challenging, with several fairly steep, long grades that forced me to walk the bike in a couple of places. Still, the combination of biking and hiking was very enjoyable. Anyway, having locked my bike to a tree where the carriage road intersects the North Ridge Trail, I made the 0. 7 mile hike to the top of Sargent in about 45 minutes. The trail is moderately steep, ascending from 780 feet at the carriage road to the 1,373-foot summit in   7/10 of a mile. This trail is fairly open, offering great views to the north and northeast for nearly the entire duration. Views of Aunt Betty Pond and Bar Harbor itself presented themselves for almost the entire 45 minutes. At about 5/10 of a mile the trail leveled off temporarily on a large, open ridge, giving me a much needed breather before the final 0. 15 mile push to the top. On top, Ithe hiker will discover a very large, wide open rocky summit with commanding views in all directions. To date, this is the best view I've had in Acadia National Park. The vista over Bar Harbor is remarkable, with the group of the four Porcupine Islands being promiment. The northern portion of Eagle Lake also presents itself nicely, as does the northern reaches of Somes Sound amd the Atantic Ocean to the north. The great bulks of Cadillac Mountain and Pemetic Mountain dominate the views to the east. The view from Sargent also made it easy to spot the next three peaks on my day's hike; Gilmore, Parkman and Bald. In fact, I was able to knock off these three bare-topped, wonderful little peaks and get back to my bike in only 2. 4 miles of hiking. I would highly recommend Sargent Mountain. There are several approaches to this mountain (the 2nd tallest in Acadia after Cadillac), and it won't take all that long from any direction. And if you have a couple of hours more to play with, adding Gilmore, Parkman and Bald Mountains to your circuit will have you snapping dozens of pictures and boasting to your friends. Says Kevin Corcoran BIGGER SIZE PICTURE HERE BIGGER SIZE PICTURE HERE            Map Map Campgrounds Nearby List of Nearby Campgrounds Weather Local weather forecast These outdoors activities are available near Sargent Mountain Trail.   Trails Near Sargent Mountain Trail: Parkman Mountain Trail, Hancock County , 1 miles away Bald Peak Trail, Hancock County , 1 miles away Conners Nubble Trail, Hancock County , 1 miles away Acadia Mountain Trail, Hancock County , 3 miles away Valley Peak Trail, Hancock County , 4 miles away   Camp Grounds Near Sargent Mountain Trail: Camp Store, Mount Desert , 2 miles away Mt Desert Campground, Mount Desert , 2 miles away Mount Desert Campground, Hancock County , 3 miles away Smuggler's Den Campground, Southwest Harbor , 5 miles away Blackwoods Campground, Hancock County , 5 miles away   Whitewater Near Sargent Mountain Trail: Union River, Hancock County , 16 miles away, Class I-II - 0.5 miles long (Ellsworth Falls to Ellsworth) Branch Lake Stream, Hancock County , 20 miles away, Class III-V - 4 miles long (Branch Lake to Infant Street in Ellsworth) Blue Hill Falls, Hancock County , 20 miles away, Class III - 1 miles long (Route 175 - Tidal Reversing Falls) Tannery Brook River, Hancock County , 23 miles away, Class I-III - 4.5 miles long (Route 180 to Graham Lake) Narraguagus River - West Branch, Hancock Washington County , 26 miles away, Class II-III - 14 miles long (Denbow Peat Mine to Sprague Falls 1)   Public Lands Near Sargent Mountain Trail: Acadia National Park, Bar Harbor - ME , 5 miles away Maine Acadian Culture, Bar Harbor - ME , 5 miles away Lamoine State Park, Maine , 6 miles away Holbrook Island Sanctuary State Park, Maine , 36 miles away Fort Point State Park, Maine , 38 miles away   Hotels Near Sargent Mountain Trail: Highbrook Motel, Bar Harbor , 3 miles away Park Entrance Oceanfront Motel, Bar Harbor , 4 miles away Days Inn Bar Harbor, Bar Harbor , 4 miles away Atlantic Oceanside Hotel and Conference Center, Bar Harbor , 4 miles away Bar Harbor Hotel Bluenose Inn, Bar Harbor , 4 miles away   Lakes Near Sargent Mountain Trail Jones Pond, Hancock County , 14 miles away Morancy Pond, Hancock County , 14 miles away