Sorry if you read this earlier and saw the somewhat confusing map I had put up of this newly discovered abandoned trail, which I am calling the Witch Hole Pond Trail. Being an abandoned or ghost trail, it has no trail markings or trail head, but on a return trip back to the area we discovered something just as good as a trail head.
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| WITCH HOLE POND - ACADIA NATIONAL PARK |
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| Witch Hole Pond Marsh Trail - Abandoned Trails of Acadia National Park |
CASCADES OF WITCH HOLE BROOK - ACADIA NATIONAL PARK
This abandoned trail once ran all the way to the pond's edge and than followed the pond looping around it. A vanishing section of the trail around one edge of Witch Hole Pond can still be followed today for a short distance.
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| DIRT PULL OVER BEFORE PARK LOOP ROAD SPLITS |
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| TRAIL COMES OUT BY PARK LOOP ROAD - DIRT PULL OVER TO LEFT |
You quickly come to a second intersection, go left, and keep following the edge of the marsh. The trail right goes a very short ways back to the carriage road.
Even though I just discovered it, it is clear by how worn it is that the abandoned trail is very much in use today by locals, and no doubt park staff wanting quick access to the Witch Hole Pond area.
As you make your way along the trail there is a hill over looking the trail and old maps show where 3 to 4 houses were once located up on that hill. We did some exploring and were able to locate only one sunken foundation. I recall reading that back than some of those houses were nothing more than log cabins.
We went down the back side of that hill and came to an old dirt road which we followed through the woods - it came to a large marsh I had never seen before. The dirt road kept following the edge of the marsh but water from the marsh along with thick brush soon over took the old road and we could not follow it any further.
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| WITCH HOLE POND - ACADIA NATIONAL PARK |
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| WITCH HOLE POND CARRIAGE ROAD - ACADIA NATIONAL PARK |
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| SUNSET - WITCH HOLE POND - ACADIA NATIONAL PARK |
Acadia National Park
Abandoned Trails Guide Map
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| ABANDONED TRAILS OF ACADIA NATIONAL PARK - The Book Available Now in Libraries |
I looked today but could not find the trail. Have to wait till next summer.
ReplyDeletethis is very easy to find from either end. From Hulls Cove Visitor's Center, follow park loop road, the road will split, follow the road until it joins the other side again, and look for a dirt pull over right there and park. Cross the road and enter the woods, you should be able to spot the trail straight ahead or slightly to the left. It follows the edge of a large marsh so the area is pretty open.
ReplyDeleteFrom Duck Brook road, cross bridge and turn right and head towards Witch Hole Pond. The carriage road will come to the pond and turn right, than left to an intersection. At that first sign post there is the worn path. Or when the carriage road meets the pond, and turns right, follow it until it turns left, but instead of turning left, look down the steep banking and you will see the path below the banking. Your almost certain to find it from the Witch Hole Pond end, the first sign post worn path is right there.