the peaks
what to carry along
CAMERA
This is optional, I use my cell phone on long hikes, but sometimes I want the picture more than the workout.
WATER & FOOD
I don’t need as much water in fall, as in summer, but I always need a snack, usually, rather suddenly, I get low blood sugar.
LAYERS
I have a light-weight jacket that I can throw on at the top of the mountain, when it gets a bit breezy.
MAP
We brought a map, but it was older and the trails were a bit different, and the All Trails map was not available unless we had cell service.
BACKPACK
I bought a small day pack this year that I like very much, it’s very light, and doesn’t throw me off balance. It’s an Osprey, Hikelite 18, in black.
POLES
This is optional, there are some times when I would like the stability, but usually I’m fine and I don’t carry poles.
SARGENT MOUNTAIN, 1373′
The second highest mountain on the island.
GILMORE PEAK, 1037′
PARKMAN MOUNTAIN, 942′
CEDAR SWAMP MOUNTAIN, 929′
Optional Add-on
BALD PEAK, 974′
how to get here
PARKING
Either the Brown Mountain Gate Parking (parking 2 on the map) or the Parkman Mountain Parking lot (parking 1 on the map) will work. If you have two cars, you can leave one in either lot and save 2 miles of walking. Both lots require a parking pass and fill up quickly.
The buses are not running this year due to COVID, but normally both lots are on the bus route.
the new reservation system
In addition to a parking pass, each vehicle will also need a reservation to enter the park. Starting Oct 1 the park will be adopting a new reservation system. Reservations are $2/car and are available through the park service website, not at the ticket office.
[Cadillac Mountain is already sold out for sunrise in October, but more reservations will be released 48 hours beforehand}
you need both things!!
trail notes
It was a beautiful fall day, when you are happy to hike forever, and we practically did.
We parked at the Parkman lot (parking 1 on the map) and hiked up to Parkman, decided not to go over to Bald Peak (which would have changed the name of the hike to 5 Peaks); we followed Grandgent Trail down, towards Gilmore and it is steep. Joe hates going down a steep trail, so we won’t do that again.
After Gilmore there is another steep part before you reach a sign with 4 options. It’s very clear when you have access to the maps what we should have done, and ended up doing, but that was after taking a wrong turn down Maple Spring Trail, instead of up Maple Spring Trail. The printed map we had was unclear, and there was no cell service. We met someone who had just come down Grandgent Trail from Sargent, and recommended that we take another route because there were lots of loose boulders and it didn’t feel safe.
As soon as we headed up Maple Spring Trail to Sargent, the trails were easy and there was a beautiful view. There is a short detour to see Cedar Swamp, but the views were better on Sargent, and not everyone wanted to add more steps at that point.
We came down the South Ridge Trail, which ends at the carriage road, and then followed Around The Mountain by Hadlock Falls (which is practically dry), back to the parking lot (1).
Survivors: Joe, Liz, Maggi, & Bruce
