Hiking the Gorham Mountain Trail in Acadia National Park
Distance: 1.8 - 3.0 miles / 2.9 - 4.8 km
The Gorham Mountain Trail, also called the Gorham Mountain Loop Trail, is a favorite among both locals and visitors alike, as the panoramic views atop Gorham Mountain make for one of the best places to catch the sunrise in Acadia National Park!
On top of this, Gorham Mountain, along with the Beehive Loop Trail, are two amazing day hikes that can be combined into one longer adventure utilizing the Ocean Path along Park Loop Road. This explains why the distance on Gorham Mountain varies, depending on which route you choose to hike.
That being said, hiking out and back from the southern trailhead to the summit is only 1.8 miles (2.9 km). The full loop down to the Beehive Trailhead (Bowl Trail) and Ocean Path is 3.0 miles (4.8 km) roundtrip, or the Gorham Mountain Trail combined with the Beehive Trail and Ocean Path creates a 3.1-mile (5.0 km) loop in total.
Gorham Mountain Trailhead Parking
Parking for the Gorham Mountain Trail is located in a small parking lot off Park Loop Road, just down the road from Sand Beach and the Beehive Trail.
Remember to purchase your National Park pass in advance and display your pass or entrance receipt here and at every trailhead in Acadia National Park, whether you went through an official entrance station or not. Yes, law enforcement officers check parked cars throughout Acadia, and I have seen tickets handed out to vehicles not following the rules of a U.S. fee area.
On a different note, be aware that Acadia National Park is one of the busiest parks in the country, and finding a place to park, even at less-known trailheads, can be incredibly challenging during the busiest times of the year.
Google Maps Directions: Gorham Mountain Trailhead
Hiking Checklist - Acadia
Here is a complete list of must-have things that you will want for any hike in Acadia National Park.
Hiking the Gorham Mountain Trail
The Gorham Mountain Trail climbs a relatively gradual granite slope, gaining about 440 ft. (134 m) from the trailhead to the summit.
Gorham Mountain-Otter Cove Junction
At less than 0.1 miles (0.2 km), the Gorham Mountain Trail splits, with the Otter Cove Trail that heads west toward Otter Cove and beyond to the Blackwoods Campground.
That said, go right to continue up Gorham Mountain.
Waldron Bates Memorial Plaque
This plaque is here to commemorate Waldron Bates, an avid outdoorsman who is best known around Mt. Desert Island as a pathmaker, as he planned and built trails that are still used across Acadia to this day!
This is also where the name "Bates Cairns" comes from—these are the rock cairns found across Acadia trails, many of which are scattered throughout the Gorham Mountain Trail.
Lower Gorham Mountain-Cadillac Cliffs Junction
Immediately after the Waldron Bates plaque, the Gorham Mountain Trail splits with the Cadillac Cliffs Trail.
When considering which route to take, know that both the Gorham Mountain and Cadillac Cliffs Trails continue toward the summit, but choosing either truly depends on the kind of adventure you’re interested in having.
By this, I mean that the 0.3-mile (0.5 km) Cadillac Cliffs Trail is undoubtedly the more challenging of the two, as it navigates over numerous rock scrambles with iron rungs and ladders along the way.
However, if you’re more interested in continuing up the easier, gradual route to the top, go left to stay on the Gorham Mountain Trail.
I chose to go left to continue up the Gorham Mountain Trail.
As a reminder for the constant, uneven granite terrain found throughout Acadia National Park, some hikers may prefer to carry trekking poles, which can be especially useful on the hike down Gorham Mountain.
Upper Gorham Mountain-Cadillac Cliffs Junction
After about 0.3 miles (0.5 km), the Cadillac Cliffs Trail meets back up with the Gorham Mountain Trail, where the two continue up the same path to the top.
That being said, go left to stay on the Gorham Mountain Trail toward the summit, located about 0.4 miles (0.6 km) away from the end of the Cadillac Cliffs.
After just 0.6 miles (1.0 km) from the southern trailhead, the east-facing views on Gorham Mountain really start to open up!
This is why Gorham Mountain can be one of the best sunrise hikes in Acadia National Park, as the views to the east from the summit are not as good as the stunning views along this short stretch prior to!
This is all to say: don’t forget to pack a headlamp if you plan to hike Gorham Mountain for sunrise!
These are the views looking northeast toward Sand Beach and Great Head beyond.
After these initial views, the Gorham Mountain Trail turns away from the east-facing cliffs toward the summit, located about 0.3 miles (0.5 km) away.
Gorham Mountain
According to the National Park Service, Gorham Mountain stands at just 518 ft. (158 m), which is another reason this shorter summit can make for one of the best and easiest sunrise hikes in Acadia National Park!
Some notable places that can be seen from the top include Cadillac Mountain, Day Mountain, the Beehive, and Champlain Mountain, among many others!
North Gorham Mountain Trail
Past the summit, I chose to continue further and hike the full 3.0-mile (4.8 km) Gorham Mountain Loop Trail, which is also the direction to link up with the Beehive Trail up ahead.
After just 0.1 miles (0.2 km), go right at this unsuspecting split in the North Gorham Mountain Trail, even though it may seem more obvious to stay left.
Go right at this cliff face to continue down the Gorham Mountain Trail.
When the Gorham Mountain Trail re-enters the forest, it’s a nice sign that there are only about 0.3 miles (0.5 km) left before the end of this trail and the beginning of the Beehive Loop, also called the Bowl Trail.
Gorham Mountain-Bowl Connector Junction
Toward the bottom of Gorham Mountain, the trail splits, with a shorter trail to the right that cuts out about 0.1 miles (0.2 km) from the true Gorham Mountain Trail to the left.
That being said, I chose to go left, but it’s truly a matter of personal preference, as both routes lead to the Beehive Loop Trail down below.
Upper Gorham Mountain-Bowl Junction
The North Gorham Mountain Trail ends at the Bowl Trail, more often referred to as the Beehive Loop Trail.
This is why the two days hikes can easily be combined, but if so, I personally recommend beginning on the Beehive Trail, followed by the North Gorham Mountain Trail.
This is just one person’s opinion, but I say this because the Beehive Trail is the most popular day hike in Acadia National Park, which is why I prefer to hike the loop as early as possible.
In any case, go right to begin the Beehive Loop, down to the Beehive Trailhead, which you can read about in its entirety in my separate post.
Read My Separate Post: Beehive Trail
Ocean Path
Once off the Beehive Trail, go right after crossing Park Loop Road to begin the 1.1-mile (1.8 km) walk on the Ocean Path back to the Gorham Mountain Trailhead.
Ocean Path-Gorham Mountain Junction
This is where the Ocean Path returns to the beginning, completing the full 3.0-mile (4.8 km) Gorham Mountain Loop Trail.
