Giant Slide Trail

Dogs Leashed

Features Fall Colors · River/Creek

The Giant Slide trail begins on public land along State Route 3 and climbs up to trails that provide access to Cedar Swamp Mountain, Sargent Mountain, Gilmore Peak and others. Parking for the hike is in the gravel along State Route 3, and there is a stump marking the trailhead. At this point, you are on private land, so stay on the trail to respect the landowners' property and protect the forest around you.

The trail is shaded and outside one or two quick ascents up some rocks, its fairly flat for Acadia standards. At roughly 3/4 of a mile, you cross a Carriage Road and your climb begins in earnest. From here, the trail follows Sargent Brook as the trail climbs uphill. The trail essentially climbs up a giant rockslide shaped by the brook. You scramble up, under, and through boulder fields, making it a great adventure for hikers of all ages.

The trail criss-crosses the brook at several places along the brook. The trail is marked with blue blazes, so be on the lookout as you make your way through the boulder field. At 1.1 miles, you come to the intersection with the Sargent Mountain Northwest Trail on the left side and the Parkman Mountain Trail on the right. After this intersection, you encounter the steepest ascent on the trail before it levels out and you arrive at the Around the Mountain Carriage Road at roughly 1.5 miles. Crossing the carriage road, the trail continues fairly level for another half mile, passing the Grandgent Trail before it descends steeply to the intersection with the Maple Spring Trail.

From here, you can retrace your steps or if you have set a shuttle, continue exploring the trails in the area, even hiking all the way down to Jordan Pond for an after hike popover. It's really a fun trail if you are equipped with the proper footwear and a sense of adventure.