TRIP REPORT - Eagle Cascade & Eagle Lake Arches (Acadia)

     If you’ve ever been around Eagle Lake on the carriage road then you’ve probably unknowingly passed by an off trail waterfall I’ve nicknamed Eagle Cascade. You might have even heard its roar after a heavy rain as it sits only a hundred feet or so off the carriage path. Just up the carriage road a little ways lies something else you’ve probably passed by without realizing it; the abandoned ruins of Eagle Lake we’re going to call the Eagle Lake Arches.

    The most direct route would appear to be the carriage path but if you’re like me and hate walking on carriage roads, there’s actually a shorter, more direct and scenic route. On the park loop road not even a half mile past the road up Cadillac Mountain you’ll come to a scenic pull off just after a couple of cascades pass under the road. This is the stream that flows into Eagle Lake that you’ll be following. The parking area is on the right side of the road and has room for about four cars but most people are only there for a minute or two to take in the view of the largest lake on the island. The woods are nice and open which makes bushwhacking easy and quite enjoyable. The embankment looks steep but you’re cutting diagonally across it down to the stream so it isn’t bad at all.

    The Cadillac Mountain runoff winds its way through the pine forest, flowing over rock ledges and even roots at times of high water. Normally it won’t be flowing too strong which makes it possible to safely rock hop downstream. Its only 0.2 mile to Eagle Cascade but there’s a number of picturesque rapids and falls along the way, twice, because two streams travel side by side before joining forces just above the falls.

    You’ll hear Eagle Cascade before you see it disappearing over the ledge. It’s only about a ten foot drop but due to the fact that it tumbles over a sheer ledge it makes it a rather impressive waterfall even when there isn’t much water. Now after a heavy rain you wouldn’t even recognize it because of the velocity it pours over at. If you have the opportunity this is one you definitely need to see when the water is raging but truly is gorgeous either way.

    Through the trees a hundred feet or so you’ll see the carriage road. If you follow the stream you’ll pop out right at the little bridge most people think nothing of. Take a right on the carriage path and continue on it for 0.2 mile, crossing over four tiny runoffs, most of which will be bone dry. At the fifth and biggest drainage ditch of the bunch, also the flattest with the possibility of a trickle of water, look to the left. There will be evidence of a path here leading towards the lake which won’t be visible through the trees. It’s easy to follow and only about 200 feet long before you come to the ruins.

    Little to nothing is known about the remains of what appears to be the foundation of a lakeside house. I’ve read that after construction was started, new laws were put in place that prevented houses from being built that close to the town’s drinking supply. I’ve also heard that it had something to do with the island’s water filtration system much like the Stone Tower on Duck Brook located just a mile or two away, which seems unlikely to me but who knows.

    On my trip to the ruins on April 22 of 2016 my wife and I found what might be a clue as to what the curious structure is and why it’s there. Folded up tightly and shoved in between two of the stones was an old piece of paper. On the weatherworn sheet of moldy paper was a poem that reads…Here beneath the arches old, lie the remains of Mary Rinemold. Who built this shrine to mourn, a lover lost on the night of a harvest moon. To this day the locals believe he turned into a loon and you can hear him sing if you sleep beneath these arches… If the paper is legit then from what I gather Mary Rinemold was building this house in memory of her deceased lover but died before its completion and was buried beneath the stone arches. Of course I’m not sure of the validity of the poem and I haven’t been able to find anyone by the name of Mary Rinemold or any Rinemold in the area. Then again, why anyone would make up such a story and then hide it from sight is beyond me.

    Whatever the reason the stone arches were placed here, they certainly are intriguingly beautiful. The elements have taken their toll on the stone ruins but everything is still standing and actually pretty sturdy. I don’t recommend walking across the arches but have admittedly done it myself. Some of the stones are loose but the structure is surprisingly solid. The views over Eagle Lake are amazing with Connor’s Nubble and Sargent Mountain directly across the water and the Bubbles to the left. There’s some rocks just off the shore you can hop onto that offer a full view of the arches. If you explore the area around the ruins you can make out where there was most likely a boat launch as well as either the driveway or possibly the remains of an old road before the carriage path was built. We may not know much about the mysterious arches but there certainly is a different feel here, a feeling that makes me question if maybe the story is true. You’ll understand once you get there.

  
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