TRIP REPORT - Monument Cove (Acadia)

        Monument Cove appears on many modern maps, yet it isn’t mentioned in any of the trail guides nor is there a sign pointing the way to the natural stone monolith. Despite its inclusion on the map and it being located on the tourist filled Ocean Path, it is rarely visited. Only a handful of photos turn up on an internet search, most of them from the ledge above. After seeing the freestanding spire of granite, you’ll understand why it received its own chapter.

    Getting there is easy, parking on the other hand might be a little difficult. Along the one-way section of the Park Loop Road, just a quarter of a mile after Thunder Hole is the parking lot for Gorham Mountain. The tricky part will be finding a parking spot. Across the road, a couple stairs lead you onto the always crowded Ocean Path. Follow it to the right for just a few feet before a side trail takes you down over some roots towards the ledges. Once you reach the ledges go left and you’ll find yourself at the top of a shady ravine overlooking Monument Cove. There are traces of what might be an old paved path between the walls of stone, or perhaps they’re merely chunks of tar from the road above, but today it’s a bit of a scramble over the pile of rocks.

    At the bottom of the small ravine, the granite tower comes into view across the rocky beach. Unlike some of the other shoreline attractions in this book, Monument Cove is accessible even at high tide. After 250 feet of hopping across smooth rocks you’ll find yourself at the base of the 20 foot tall monument. You are able to get pictures of the granite monolith from all sides and even walk in between it and the rock wall it separated from long ago. This one is nice and easy to get to and although you’re directly below the droves of tourists walking the Shore Path, you’ll probably have the magnificent cove all to yourself.
  

For more abandoned trails and forgotten places in Acadia National Park be sure to check out The Acadia You Haven't Seen, available now on Amazon in E-Book and Black & White format or http://www.matthewmarchon.weebly.com for your color copy today. Over 50 destinations including many you won't find anywhere online.