SUNSET HILL TRAIL - ACADIA NATIONAL PARK

SUNSET ON SUNSET HILL - Acadia National Park

SUNSET HILL TRAIL

I discovered this trail over twenty years ago and today it is not nearly as worn as it once was.  I try and get up on Sunset Hill a couple times a year, and today was my first trip up this year.  My goal was to document it and maybe get some photos of some of the different areas up there where we have found evidence of illegal camping over the year, but as it turned out, we did a little better than that as we came upon an active campsite.

SUNSET HILL - ACADIA NATIONAL PARK

So we walked over to Sunset Hill, taking photos along the way, it was a perfect day for photos.  The way I always go when hiking the hill is by going down the closed section of the Duck Brook Road.  At the stone arched bridge we make out way up the side of it on the right, to the Park Loop Road above and cross the road.  Shortly after the stones end on the other side of the road, headed in the direction of the Hulls Cove Visitors Center, begin to look for a worn path leading up the banking.
Once on the small knoll, the worn path appears to head off into the woods near the base of the hill, what you want to do is once on the knoll, proceed forward about three car lengths and head up the side of the hill, there really is only one way up as cliffs end up being to your left or right further up, so as you hike up the side go at a angle slightly to the left, which will steer you between the cliff areas.

SUNSET HILL - ACADIA NATIONAL PARK

Once you get so far up you will come to some worn areas of trail, there was a rock pile to the far laet but that only shows where another way up or down is located, continue upward to the summit.  We counted at least three worn paths leading toward the summit area.  The summit is an open area but with some trees.
Just ahead and to the left of the summit was the first place I was going to document as a place where we have found signs of illegal camping activity, and as we approached it, we came upon a illegal campsite that was full of camping gear and sleeping bags - no signs of people, but they may of heard us approaching and scattered, or more likely they were in town or in the park someplace.
I will add to this at a later date on some of the other locations where illegal camping has occurred up there.

ILLEGAL TENT SITE - Sunset Hill, Acadia National Park

CRITERION MOVIE HOUSE
Cottage Street, Bar Harbor

ROBINHOOD PARK HORSE SHOW
Bar Harbor

MORRELL PARK RIDING ACADEMY
Bar Harbor

EAGLE LAKE RIDING ACADEMY
Bar Harbor

MAIN STREET SHOE HOSPITAL
Main Street, Bar Harbor

BAR HARBOR TEA CO.
Eden Street, Bar Harbor