LAKE WOOD - Acadia's other secret

Have you ever visited Acadia National Park and stopped at a place called Lake Wood?  Many have never even heard of the lake, let along visited it, and it is one of Acadia National Parks biggest secrets that is hiding in plain sight.  Lake Wood may not sound like the kind of name where one would fine a large body of warm water perfectly suited for swimming in, but it is.  Locals know of Lake wood, and you will find them there in the water on those hot summer days, but there is more to Lake Wood than simply swimming, for the shores of Lake Wood hold a secret, it is home to one end of the abandoned Fawn Pond Trail.

LAKE WOOD - Acadia National Park

Not far from the parking lot is a well worn trail, this trail does not follow the shoreline, but a ridge high above the lake.  The trail than makes its way to Fawn Pond, and beyond that this was once a popular way to connect to the Breakneck road, the Bracken Trail and Great Hill Trails, and to the carriage roads.  Attempts to locate the trail from the Breakneck road end can  be a nightmare, but not so if following it from the Lake Wood end of the trail.  And at one point a side trail runs up the back side of Young's Mountain.  One important thing to keep in mind, Lake Wood has a few different trails - one is across from the parking area with a sign, not a trail sign, another follows the edge of the lake and another is in the woods just above the lake all on the left side of the lake, and I have heard there are a few trails on the right hand of the lake as well.  At least two led us up by Fawn Pond.

LAKE WOOD

The road to Lake Wood begins along the Crooked Road.  From Hulls cove drive along the road until you see a small park sign on the left, by a narrow dirt road which leads uphill into the woods.  People drive their cars up the road all the time, as does the Park Rangers, so its safe.  Once at the parking lot the lake is in front of you.  Locals usually don't go into the water by the parking lot, they instead head up along narrow paths along each side of the lake, enjoying the warm water at their favorite spot along the lake.

The GPS for the Lake Wood entrance is N44 24 946 and W 068 15 917.  As your driving along the Crooked Road you will come to an area run by the town with town garages and sand pits.  Just beyond that  there are woods on both sides of the road, look for a narrow dirt road leading uphill with a small park sign by it.  The site is not well marked because the park service seems to treat the lake as an abandoned site.

LAKE WOOD - Acadia National Park

 The publication Pathmakers tells how there was once a granite block bridge built along the Lake Wood footpath which was dedicated as the Kate and Bridgham Memorial Bridge.  Nearby a bronze plaque reads - "In memory of Annie Cottenet Kane and Fanny Schermrhorn Bridgham, who gave the lake and surrounding land to Acadia National Park.  The stone bridge is said have toppled over but can still be seen.

LAKE WOOD HIKING TRAILS - Acadia National Park