THE GURNEE TRAIL

An old newspaper article I came upon says the Gurnee Path began by the start of the Duck Brook Trail by the bridge on Eden Street.  Each time they do construction work along Eden Street to widen or improve the road, more sections of the path are eaten away, as in places the path does come very close to the roadway.
  It served to connect the village of Bar Harbor with the village of Hull's cove.
The Gurnee path did much more than simply connect two nearby villages.  A connecting trail once ran from the Gurnee path making its way up and across the Park Loop Road, than toward the general direction of Witch Hole Pond.  It came out on the Witch Hole carriage road, across from a section of wetland - that section of the trail between the loop road and the carriage road is still very visible and easy to follow.

The Gurnee Trail - Acadia National Park

The Gurnee Trail - Acadia National Park

GURNEE TRAIL MAP

Start of old driveway along rt. 3 Eden Street
latitude       44 24' 14" N
longitude    68 14' 3" W

stone steps
latitude       44 24' 15" N
longitude    68 14' 4" W

Worn Gurnee Trail
latitude       44 24' 15" N
longitude    68 14' 5" W

The Gurnee Trail - Acadia National Park

 The path cost about $2,000 to build and was funded through a donation by Augustus Gurnee.  In 1924 construction was begun on the path and two years later, shortly after Gurnee's death the path was completed.
If you are interested in visiting the abandoned Gurnee Trail, or at least the section that is still in good shape, head out of Bar Harbor along route 3 - Eden street in the direction of Hulls Cove.  You will pass first the Ferry Terminal and than Sonogee on the right, shortly after that the road rounds a curve before heading into Hulls Cove.  The key is that curve, just after the curve  there is an old abandoned driveway right there on the left hand side of the roadway.   I suggest you park at the Ferry terminal and walk to that driveway.  At the end of the driveway is a flat area where a building once stood.  To the left is a set of old stone steps.
Go up the stone steps, which end at a small flat area that is paved over.  Continue straight up the hillside, the Gurnee trail is about three car lengths up that hillside and you can not miss it.  Going right on the Gurnee trail takes you to the section that crosses the bluffs, going to the left takes you to the area destroyed in order to put in telephone poles.

UPDATE
So we returned back to the Gurnee Trail today in an effort to follow it further along up along the Bluffs, and I have to say it was pushing the limits of what I will do when it comes to following an abandoned trail.  I now feel pretty safe in saying this trail ranks as the third most dangerous trail in the entire park, but only in a few places does it become that dangerous.  We came upon stretches of the trail where the trail was three feet wide at best with sheer drop offs to our right and a wall of rock to our left.  It got so bad in one location I would not go any further and turned around.  The precipice and beehive are trails known for their narrow ledges, but the Gurnee Trail deserves a mention on that short list as well.  Today was an absolute nightmare for me because I do have a problem with heights,   and the drop offs just kept getting higher and higher above route 3 below.  And therein is the major problem with the Gurnee Trail, it sticks right up to the very edge of the hillside, and it now has become clear to  me why the Park Service has no plans of reopening this trail.
We began by arriving at the abandoned driveway and making out way to the stone steps.  At the trail, we followed it right heading toward the Bluffs.  We soon arrived to the area we had always stopped at because we could not find a way beyond that point, so today we made out way up a gully away from the trail, crossed through a short section of woods, and than made our way back down to the trail.  it worked out fine, but we did not have to go to far before we were walking very close to sheer drop offs.  At one point the trail slowly made its way away from the edge as the path became much wider, rising sharply higher as we went.  But up ahead was more dangerous drop offs and that was enough for me.

This photo above is a good example of the danger to this trail as it is today.  There are a couple of pine trees growing in the center of the trail, you can't go around them to the left, or through the center, you are forced to hang onto them and make your way past them with about a foot or less of space between the trees and the drop off on the right.  I did get past this point, but called it quits up ahead, I do not like walking close to cliffs or ledges..  Below are a few pieces which appeared in the local paper concerning the Gurnee Path.

PROPOSED PATH TO HULL'S COVE

Bar Harbor Record
November 28, 1923

Chairman Harold Peabody of Path Committee Will Be Glad To Receive Suggestions From Those Interested.

Mr. Harold Peabody, Chairman of the Path committee of the Bar Harbor Village Improvement Association, writes the following letter on the subject of the proposed path from Duck Brook to Hulls Cove.  The proposed path has been much discussed by those most interested in Bar Harbor's paths and trails.  Mr. Peabody will be glad to receive suggestions from any who may be interested in the project.  The letter follows;

November 14, 1923
To the editor of
The Bar Harbor Times
Dear Sir;
Since admission of automobiles to Mount Desert Island the road to Hull's Cove has been getting more and more dangerous for pedestrians.  It has been suggested frequently that a path from a short distance beyond Duck Brook to Hulls Cove  Brook might be built along the edge of of the woods on the left of the road, and up over the cliffs above Canoe Point.  The Chairman and Superintendent of the Path Committee of the Bar Harbor V.I.A. have carefully gone over the territory suggested, and find that it would be possible to make a path but it would probably cost not less than $2,000. for a path only two feet wide.  Much clearing would be necessary, also filling in, and probably blasting, especially over the cliffs.  Also, owing to two stables and one house close to the road the path would have to swing around those buildings.  The distance is exactly one mile from the end of the present path near Mrs. Fabbri's Garage to the beginning of the present path just before reaching Hulls Cove Brook.
These things are necessary before it can be started.  First, we must be sure that the people who walk back and forth to Hulls Cove Brook want and really need this path.  Second, a right of way must be secured from the owners of the property all along this distance, and permission to build a foot path about four feet in width as close to the road as possible.  Third, the money would have to be raised by private subscription to finance the proposition.  The Chairman of the Path Committee  will gladly receive any suggestions on the subject.
Very truly yours,
Harold Peabody
Chairman Path Committee
of the Bar Harbor V.I.A.
Eagle Lake road
Bar Harbor, Maine








THE GURNEE PATH
BAR HARBOR TIMES
Sept. 15, 1926

The Gurnee Path began on August 31, last year was built as far as Canoe Point during the autumn.  The views of the bay and Gouldsboro beyond are very beautiful and the path has proved very enjoyable to many people.  The funds to continue this path towards Hulls Cove for nearly a third of a mile have already been given and work will be started very soon.




BAR HARBOR TIMES
April 19, 1933

On the Gurnee Path From Duck Brook to Hulls Cove an important improvement was made under the direction of Mr. Miller and for this work 15 to 30 men were employed for several weeks.