Hiking the Norumbega Mountain Loop Trail in Acadia National Park
Distance: 3.2 miles / 5.1 km
The Norumbega Mountain Loop Trail in Acadia National Park is a collection of three separate trails that create this 3.2-mile (5.1 km) loop up to the summit of Norumbega.
That said, the Norumbega Mountain Loop is not a named trail by the National Park Service, but hiking all three trails is one of the most common ways that hikers explore Norumbega Mountain, as it feels like two adventures in one, being that the full loop utilizes half of the Hadlock Ponds Loop Trail at the bottom.
However, hikers who are only interested in going as far as the summit of Norumbega Mountain can shorten this distance to 1.0 mile (1.6 km) roundtrip by hiking out and back on the Goat Trail only.
This is all to say that, between Norumbega Mountain, the Hadlock Ponds, Cedar Swamp Mountain, and the Parkman-Bald Peak Loop to Sargent Mountain, this entire area within Acadia National Park is one of the best places to weave together any number of trails into a longer adventure!
Norumbega Mountain Trailhead Parking
Parking for the Norumbega Mountain Loop, including the Goat Trail, is located directly off State Route 3 on the right-hand side when driving south.
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: Norumbega 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 Norumbega Mountain Loop Trail
Whether you plan to hike the Goat Trail out and back or the full Norumbega Mountain Loop, both routes begin at the same trailhead on the north side of the parking area.
Goat-Hadlock Ponds Loop Junction (Norumbega Loop Trail)
Immediately after beginning the hike, the Norumbega Loop Trail splits, with both routes leading to the summit in slightly different ways.
First, there is the short but steep Goat Trail, which climbs directly to the summit of Norumbega Mountain, and second, there is the Hadlock Ponds Loop Trail, also called the Lower Norumbega Trail, which connects to the true Norumbega Mountain Trail that ascends from the south.
Considering these options, deciding which direction to hike depends entirely on whether you’d prefer to hike up Norumbega Mountain on a gradual granite slope from the south or take the steep Goat Trail directly to the summit.
Personally, I prefer the steeper Goat Trail up and the gradual Norumbega Trail down, but choosing either depends entirely on whether you plan to hike the full 3.2-mile (5.1 km) Norumbega Loop Trail, or simply do an out-and-back hike on the much shorter Goat Trail, totaling only 1.0 mile (1.6 km) round trip.
Read My Separate Post: Hadlock Ponds Loop Trail
Goat Trail
Given everything mentioned above, I chose to go straight to begin the Goat Trail.
Yes, she’s steep!
The Goat Trail truly lives up to its name, gaining roughly 570 ft. (174 m) in just 0.5 miles (0.8 km) from the trailhead to the summit of Norumbega.
However, most of this elevation gain is located in the first 0.3 miles (0.5 km), as the Goat Trail levels out significantly before reaching the summit.
That being said, some visitors may prefer to carry trekking poles for both the hike up and down—especially if you decide to descend by way of the Goat Trail.
There’s truly no break from the constant incline up the Goat Trail until it levels off just before the summit of Norumbega.
After only 0.3 miles (0.5 km), the steep Goat Trail begins to level out, with just 0.2 miles (0.3 km) remaining to reach the summit of Norumbega.
Norumbega Mountain
According to the National Park Service, Norumbega Mountain stands at just 840 ft. (256 m), which is considerably shorter than the nearby Sargent Mountain at 1,362 ft. (415 m).
In any case, the best views on Norumbega Mountain are not at the summit. In my opinion, they are found along the descent down the Norumbega Mountain Trail, as shown below.
This may be another incentive to complete the full loop or, at the very least, to hike out and back to some of the viewpoints on the upper portions of the trail.
Norumbega Mountain Trail
The summit of Norumbega Mountain is the dividing line between the Goat Trail and the true Norumbega Mountain Trail from the south.
This is why Norumbega is often referred to as the Norumbega Mountain Loop Trail, which combines the Goat Trail, the Norumbega Mountain Trail, and the Hadlock Ponds Loop Trail to create this 3.2-mile (5.1 km) loop, as previously mentioned.
The views to the south and west can be a great place to catch the sunset on Norumbega!
However, keep in mind the 'long' hike back in the dark, which is why I highly recommend traveling to Acadia with a quality headlamp, as it can be useful here and on countless other adventures, like the Beehive and Precipice Trail for sunrise.
Some of the best views on Norumbega Mountain look to the northeast, toward Sargent and Penobscot Mountain, as well as numerous other minor summits like Cedar Swamp Mountain below the big two.
With that in mind, these views are exactly why I recommend hiking past the summit if you are only interested in hiking out and back on the Goat Trail, as they can be found less than 0.25 miles (0.4 km) from the top!
On a sunny day in Acadia, I highly recommend wearing a hooded sun shirt for adventures like the Norumbega Mountain Loop, as the pines and conifers provide some, but not nearly enough shade—especially on taller peaks like Sargent or Pemetic Mountain.
Norumbega Mountain-Golf Course Junction
After roughly 0.7 miles (1.8 km) since leaving the summit, the Norumbega Mountain Trail splits with the Golf Course Trail, a seldom-hiked route in Acadia, as it leads down to the private Northeast Harbor Golf Club.
That being said, go left to continue down the Norumbega Mountain Trail to the Hadlock Ponds, about 0.5 miles (0.8 km) away from this junction.
Norumbega Mountain-Hadlock Ponds Loop Junction
When the Norumbega Mountain Trail reaches Lower Hadlock Pond, go left to begin the Hadlock Ponds Loop Trail and return to the trailhead.
The trail to the right simply continues around the Hadlock Ponds Loop, which you can read about in its entirety in my separate post.
Read My Separate Post: Hadlock Ponds Loop Trail
Hadlock Ponds Loop Trail (Lower Norumbega Mountain Trail)
The Hadlock Ponds Loop Trail is truly two separate day hikes around both the Upper and Lower Hadlock Ponds that visitors commonly combine into one 3.7-mile (6.0 km) adventure, hence the name Hadlock Ponds Loop Trail.
That being said, the Norumbega Mountain Loop simply utilizes the western half of the Hadlock Ponds Loop, from the Lower Hadlock Pond to the Norumbega Trailhead, which is why this section will mirror my separate Hadlock Ponds article, should you decide to read both.
If you decide to hike the full Hadlock Ponds Loop, you’ll cross over a dam at the mouth of the Lower Pond, which explains signs like this posted around the trail.
On one hike around the ponds, I happened to pass by a few locals who were fishing in the Lower Pond, but I couldn’t speak to how good the fishing is myself.
I should have asked!
South Upper-Lower Hadlock Ponds Junction
Even though the name Hadlock Ponds Loop Trail conveys one loop around both ponds, the trail is actually two separate loops, connected by a short 0.1-mile (0.2 km) stretch that begins here along Hadlock Brook.
That said, cross over Hadlock Brook and go left to continue north on the Norumbega Mountain Loop Trail, as the path to the right continues around the Lower Hadlock Pond.
Go left on the far side of the bridge to continue on the Norumbega Mountain Loop Trail.
North Upper-Lower Hadlock Ponds Junction
The next junction, about 0.1 miles (0.2 km) up Hadlock Brook, is where the Upper Hadlock Pond Loop begins.
Here, go left once again to stay on the west side of the Upper Pond, as the trail to the right is longer, around the east side of Upper Hadlock Pond.
After the Upper Hadlock Pond split, there are no more turns in the Norumbega Mountain Loop before returning to the trailhead.
Goat-Hadlock Ponds Loop Junction
Finally, the Norumbega Mountain Loop Trail returns to the Goat Trail and the Norumbega Trailhead off State Route 3.
If you are interested in continuing around the Hadlock Ponds Loop Trail from this trailhead, you can see where the loop continues across the highway to proceed in the clockwise direction around both ponds.
Read My Separate Post: Hadlock Ponds Loop Trail
