Dorr North Ridge Trail

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Dorr Mountain takes its name from George Dorr, “The Father of Acadia” - the person most responsible for helping to create the national park. It sits just to the east of Cadillac Mountain and reaches a height of 1270 feet. Of the two Dorr ridge trails, this “North Ridge” trail is the shorter and more gradual of the two. Technically, this path does not actually crest the mountain. However, you can link-up directly with the “South Ridge” trail, which will take you the short distance to Dorr’s stony summit where you’ll get some terrific views of the water and islands to the east, as well as a distinct look at the town of Bar Harbor to the northeast.

You can take this trail in either direction. Whichever route you choose, you’ll encounter an elevation change of approximately 850 feet over roughly 0.9 miles. Its northern trailhead intersects with the Hemlock Trail in the saddle between Dorr Mountain and Kebo Mountain to the north. Its southern end intersects with the Schiff Path coming in from the east, the Dorr South Ridge Trail rising up from the south, and the Gorge Path connecting from the west. The lower part of this trail begins in a pine forest, while the upper part traverses more exposed, rocky, areas the closer you are to the summit. There are several places you can park to access this trail, so it’s best to consult a map and plan accordingly.

In sum, this trail has a little less climb than its southern counterpart. And even though some people consider a summit push a moderate outing, it can still surprise some with close to an average 20% grade. Nevertheless, it’s a great way to get to, or from, Dorr’s rocky summit and take in some of Acadia’s best vistas.

Pine forests alternating with rocky exposed areas