Valley Peak Trail   View from Valley Peak Says Kevin Corcoran Valley (Peak) Girl Says Kevin Corcoran Valley Peak is a small peak located off the western side of the fjord known as Somes Sound within Acadia National Park. There are at least three different trailheads that can be used to provide access to Valley Peak. I'm describing what is probably the least common approach; a lovely 5. 7-mile loop that includes ascents and descents of Flying Mountain, Acadia     Mountain, St. Sauveur Mountain and finally, Valley Peak. The starting point that I'm describing here is from Fernald Point Road. The trailhead for Valley Peak and the four mountain loop can be found off the north side of Fernald Point Road, about 9/10 of a mile east of its intersection with Route 102, which in turn is located approximately 1/2 mile north of the scenic little fishing village of Southwest Harbor. The trail begins off the southeast corner of the little parking lot that provides access to the Valley Cove Fire Road in addition to four peaks mentioned here. After only 3/10 of a mile the hiker tops Flying Mountain (trail described separately). The trail then descends   to Valley Cove within Somes Sound, and then ascends up Acadia Mountain (trail described separately). One tops out on Acadia Mountain 2. 6 miles north of the summit of Flying Mountain. From Acadia, the hiker descends west and then south, before making the moderate climb up St. Sauveur Mountain (trail described separately). The hiker covers 1. 9 miles between the true summit of Acadia and the top of St. Sauveur. Heading south from the wooded peak of St. Sauveur Mountain, the hiker is given the option of taking one of two parallel trails down to the summit of Valley Peak. I took the more westerly trail and made the gentle 149-foot descent down this 0. 3 mile connector trail. Arriving on Valley Peak I was favorably impressed with the views to the south, primarily of Somes Sound, the Cranberry Islands and the Atlantic Ocean beyond. Connor Point was easy to spot as was Greening Island. To complete the 5. 7 mile loop, I headed over the peak and headed south down the very steep trail that took me back to the parking lot off of Fernald Point Road. You drop over 400 feet on the 4/10 of a mile descent, making this little stretch the steepest section of the entire loop, by a considerable margin. The final 1/10 of a mile to the parking lot was a welcomed gentle downhill. 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 Valley Peak Trail.   Trails Near Valley Peak Trail: Saint Sauveur Mountain Trail, Hancock County , 0 miles away Flying Mountain Trail, Hancock County , 1 miles away Acadia Mountain Trail, Hancock County , 1 miles away Beech Mountain West Ridge Trail, Hancock County , 2 miles away Bald Peak Trail, Hancock County , 3 miles away   Camp Grounds Near Valley Peak Trail: Smuggler's Den Campground, Southwest Harbor , 1 miles away White Birches Campground, Southwest Harbor , 2 miles away Camp Store, Mount Desert , 2 miles away Mt Desert Campground, Mount Desert , 2 miles away Mount Desert Campground, Hancock County , 3 miles away   Whitewater Near Valley Peak Trail: Union River, Hancock County , 16 miles away, Class I-II - 0.5 miles long (Ellsworth Falls to Ellsworth) Blue Hill Falls, Hancock County , 17 miles away, Class III - 1 miles long (Route 175 - Tidal Reversing Falls) Branch Lake Stream, Hancock County , 18 miles away, Class III-V - 4 miles long (Branch Lake to Infant Street in Ellsworth) Tannery Brook River, Hancock County , 23 miles away, Class I-III - 4.5 miles long (Route 180 to Graham Lake) Narramissic River, Hancock County , 27 miles away, Class II - 16.3 miles long (Denham to Alamoosook Lake)   Public Lands Near Valley Peak Trail: Acadia National Park, Bar Harbor - ME , 9 miles away Maine Acadian Culture, Bar Harbor - ME , 9 miles away Lamoine State Park, Maine , 8 miles away Holbrook Island Sanctuary State Park, Maine , 33 miles away Fort Point State Park, Maine , 36 miles away   Hotels Near Valley Peak Trail: Highbrook Motel, Bar Harbor , 6 miles away Belle Isle Motel, Bar Harbor , 6 miles away Best Western Acadia Park Inn, Bar Harbor , 7 miles away Park Entrance Oceanfront Motel, Bar Harbor , 7 miles away Isleview Motel and Cottages, Trenton , 7 miles away   Lakes Near Valley Peak Trail Jones Pond, Hancock County , 18 miles away Morancy Pond, Hancock County , 18 miles away