TRIP REPORT - Great Hill & the Roadside Cave (Acadia)

      Although the word ‘great’ is in its name, I honestly wasn’t expecting much. I figured it’d be a boring hike with an unimpressive view, it is a hill after all. Besides, they literally wiped it off the map, making no new trails to replace the old ones that were destroyed in the fire of 1947. So even though I’d known where to find it, it took me almost two years to finally climb it. Do not wait like I did, this one truly is great.


      After starting the park loop road at the visitor center in Hull’s Cove, you’ll notice there’s a few pull offs where you can stop for views. At 2.3 miles past the visitor center there will be a viewing area on the left with some exposed ledges on the other side of the road. You’ll know you’re at the right one if the plaque is telling you about the fire of ‘47. You also get a nice view of the ocean and the notch between Dorr and Cadillac Mountain.

     When facing the exposed ledges, look to the left and you’ll see a small break in the trees, that’s where the trail starts. Sometimes the park rangers drag logs and branches over the unmarked trail to keep people off of it but now that you know where to look, it won’t be too hard to find, just hop over their little roadblock. But first, that small cliff that looks like it could house a cave, well at least it always did to me, it actually does.

      At approximately the center of the cliff you’ll notice a split, this is where the cave begins. It requires some squeezing to get into, as well as ducking beneath a hanging rock suspended above you, but nothing too extreme. Once in the cave it gets a little tighter but still comfortable in size, well, as comfortable as can be when there isn’t enough room to stand. There is a horizontal gap in the cliff only a few inches wide that offers a limited view of the mountains but seeing anything from inside of a cave makes it that much better.                                     

         

     It is possible to make it all the way through the 40 foot cave and out the other side but it requires some crawling and shimmying. After the view through the crack the cave slopes downward towards its ridiculously small exit. If you choose to go all the way then prepare to get a little dirty and watch out for the pricker bushes on your way out but its worth it for the satisfaction of crawling all the way through a cave.

    Now that that’s out of the way its time to start the hike. This is a nice and easy trail, not to mention short, you’re already close to the summit when you begin your ascent. The hardest part about abandoned trails is finding and staying on them, this is the perfect one for beginners because its so easy to follow.

      The trail will take you over some exposed rock ledges before entering the trees again, and then again, and then again. The trail is always easy to find though, just look for the narrow path between the blueberry bushes. About halfway to the summit you’ll find yourself on some stone slabs with two unique boulders dumped off on the side of the mountain during the last ice age, glacial erratics. There’s a nice view from here similar to the one from the road, just a little higher and more private. Nice, but not great. Keep going.

       Follow the unmarked trail through the sparse forest and after a couple hundred feet you’ll see the true summit of the mountain peaking out through trees. This is where you’ll find your great view. A couple steps onto the rocky top made me understand where the name came from. The views are a full 360 degrees with plenty of space to wander around, explore, take pictures and pick blueberries. There’s a large pile of stones to mark the top but I’m told  park rangers have been known to knock them over in order to disguise the trail. The view truly is amazing. For the life of me I can’t understand why this isn’t an official trail. Believe me, this is something you have to see.

      But you’re not done yet. Great Hill actually has two summits, both of them the exact same height at 530 feet above sea level, although you’re only gaining 130 feet of elevation. The second viewing area is to the west and just slightly south of where you’re standing. You can see it on the other side of the col but it looks like nothing more than a bunch of trees. Make your way down into the wooded notch between the two summits, aiming just a bit to the left. The woods aren’t thick at all, making for easy bushwhacking. In just under a 0.1 mile you’ll find yourself on the second summit which has a very similar view with one major difference, Eagle Lake. From the first summit the lake is blocked by the mountain you’re now standing on, also opening up the view down into the swampy valley around Duck Brook.

    For the return trip it's possible to make this a loop hike, although it involves a bit more bushwhacking. Rather than go back the way you came you can follow the valley between the two summits back towards the road just a little over 0.1 mile away. Distance wise it’s the same whether you take the well worn path or the bushwhacking route. Also keep in mind, there had been multiple trails up and around Great Hill just waiting to be discovered.