KEBO MOUNTAIN'S LOST STAIRWAY LOCATED

Kebo Mountain for many years has kept an incredible secret, and I am not making reference to the origin of the mountains name, I am referring to the myth of the mountains  lost stairway...or is it a myth?    Like a dog chasing its own tail, I have run in circles over the years determined  to locate this hidden gem which articles referred to but maps kept hidden.  I was not along, a number of experienced  trail detectives have gone forth in search of it and fallen short.  I approached my search the same way I had done to find other abandoned trails, searching the base of the mountain  with the objective being to find some stone steps and from what I have read I was not the first to take this approach.  As it turned out, I was not the one who located this thrilling discovery,   that honor would go to  Jennifer Maher Galas, her approach being to seek out signs of the lost stairway from the top of the mountain. and it paid off big time.

The trail itself  is not far from the summit, where it starts out as a dirt trail, loosely concealed by a pile of dead tree branches, a guaranteed sign something the Park Service did not want you to find was in that area.  The trail moves downward and to the left where the impressive granite stone steps begin.  The steps themselves have not fared so well over the years,  but a good section of the stairway is intact as they lead you down an increasingly steeper side of the mountain before they end.  The mountain side here is pretty steep and some of the steps may of simply slid off down the mountainside, but at this point you simply make your way straight down to flat ground,  where the Stratheden path becomes accessible.  Follow it right to reach the Sieur de Monts Spring area, go left to come out on the  One Way section of the Park Loop Road across from the Gorge Trail.

As seen here, pile of odd tree branches often block start of abandoned trails
Main Kebo Trail to left, abandoned trail to right

And there it was, sticking out like a sore thumb at a turn in the Kebo Mountain  official Trail,  one nicely stacked pile of tree branches  serving to block the start of the lost Kebo Mountain Stairway trail.
As soon as I spotted that pile of tree branches I knew it was the start of the abandoned trail and stepped over them, following what   to this day is a pretty good clearing where the path ran.  As I progressed I spotted those unique rock signs, one tiny rock on a much larger one, and within minutes we were at the stone steps.

rock on rock often used to mark abandoned trails

Stone Steps Kebo Mountain Lost Stairway Trail

Stone Steps Kebo Mountain Lost Stairway Trail

Stone Steps of Kebo Mountain Lost Stairway Trail
Acadia National Park - Kebo Mountain

Section of worn path below stone steps
Kebo Mountain lost Stone Steps Trail - Acadia National Park

Deer keeping an eye on us
Acadia National Park

KEBO MOUNTAIN - Acadia National Park

DIRECTIONS;
From the Park Loop Road where the official  Kebo Mountain Trail begins by the middle of a long curve in the road, follow the trail to the right, the Kebo Trail is steep so bring water and take rests as needed.  You will come to the summit of  Kebo Mountain, marked by a pile of rocks and a wooden sign.  Continue to follow the trail which at one point will begin to go downhill before it straightens out.  This is a saddle between two peaks, follow it and at one point the main trail takes a right hand turn, and that turn, to the left and along the side of the trail is a neat pile of tree branches that look out of place, as if they were placed there to block something, that is the start of the lost Kebo Mountain Stairway Trail.  If you go past that spot, the trail begins to climb again, so the abandoned trail is just before the main trail begins to go uphill again.

I will add a map for this soon.

Trail Begins behind pile of tree branches;
44 22.306  -  068 13.089

small rock on large
44 22.300  -  068 13.055

stone steps begin
44 22.307  -  068 13.050

stone steps beyond tree
44 22.308  - 068 13.038

trail near base of mountain
44 22.313   -   068 13.027

rock on rock
44 22.323   -   068 13.019

rock on rock
44 22.329   -   068 13.003

rock on rock
44 22.331   -   068 12.993

trail joins  Stratheden Path
44 22.337   -   068 12.989