Schoodic Mountain
Schoodic Mt. can be climbed as a loop (2.8 miles) or an up and back (2.5 miles). Allow 2 hours. The mountain's summit is bare and flat with 360 degree views, including dramatic views over Frenchman Bay and Mount Desert Island. The most direct route up Schoodic Mountain leaves from the rear of the Schoodic Beach parking area. However, a popular route on a hot summer day combines an ascent from the parking area with a descent to Schoodic Beach for a refreshing swim before the half-mile walk back to the parking area. The western half of Schoodic Mountain's summit, including the communications tower, is private property. Please respect our neighbors and stay on marked trails.
Black Mountain
The Black Mountain Cliffs Loop (2.9 miles - allow 2 hours) starts at the Schoodic Beach parking area, a popular trailhead leading to Schoodic Mountain, Schoodic Beach on Donnell Pond, and Black Mountain. The loop includes a roughly half-mile walk to Schoodic Beach from the parking area as well as 2.4 miles of hiking trail leading up to and back from the cliffs on the southwest flank of Black Mt. The loop also offers a trail link to Black Mt.'s western summit and the Caribou Loop Trail.
The Big Chief Trail (2.6 miles - allow 2 hours) on Black Mountain starts 2.2 miles down the Black Mountain Road, at a small trailhead parking area. It climbs steadily for approximately 0.6 miles through mixed woods and transitions into spruce and fir shortly before crossing onto open ledges with extensive views over the southern half of Tunk Lake and on towards the coast. A 1.4 mile loop around tiny Wizard Pond using a portion of the interconnected Caribou Loop Trail includes a stop atop Black Mt.'s attractive East Peak before returning to the 0.6 mile trail segment leading back to the trailhead.
Caribou Loop Trail
The Caribou Loop Trail (minimum 7 miles - allow 6-8 hours) ties together rugged Black and Caribou Mountains to create over 6 miles of backcountry hiking in Downeast Maine. The core loop is 6.1 miles, though hikers will need to add at least 0.9 miles of trail (one-way) to reach the core loop. Multiple access points mean that hikers can combine different sections of the loop into unique experiences. Access points include the Schoodic Beach/Mt. and Big Chief trailheads as well as the Caribou Mt. Trail, a 0.9 mile trail located approximately 1 mile down the Dynamite Brook Rd (accessed off Rt. 182 between Franklin and Cherryfield).
Tunk Mountain
The new Tunk Mt. and Hidden Ponds Trails provide the opportunity to explore scenic ponds and climb a low but brawny mountain with inspiring views.
The Tunk Mt. Trail (3.2 miles roundtrip - allow 3 hours) is an up and back hike involving some steep climbing once above Mud Pond (reached at approximately 0.7 miles). Several vista points with wide-ranging views southward are encountered on the climb. The upper summit area, including a vista northward, is on property owned by the Nature Conservancy.
The Hidden Ponds Trail (2 miles roundtrip - allow 1-2 hours) uses the first half-mile of the Tunk Mt. Trail and then loops for one mile around Salmon Pond. This trail, while still involving travel over rocks, roots, and bog-bridging does not include significant climbing. It passes by Salmon and Little Long Pond while being only a short walk from Mud Pond (via the main Tunk Mt. Trail). An interpretive brochure further describing the trail's ecology and geology can be downloaded. The Tunk Mt./Hidden Ponds Trailhead is accessed off Rt. 182 between Franklin and Cherryfield. Hikers can link in to the Caribou Loop Trail by walking south on the Dynamite Brook Rd. for roughly one mile.
Downeast Sunrise Trail
The Downeast Sunrise Trail is an 85-mile scenic rail trail running along the entire Downeast coastal area connecting multiple scenic conservation areas, intersecting salmon rivers, and providing year round recreation opportunities. It is open to snowmobiles, ATVs, horse-back riders, skiers, hikers, bikers, walkers, and joggers. Between Franklin and Cherryfield (where there are parking areas/trailheads), it passes through several sections of the Donnell Pond Public Lands. Shared-use roads open to vehicular and recreational trail use link the Sunrise Trail with other destinations within Donnell Pond Public Lands.
Access is twelve miles east of Ellsworth off Route 182 or 183.
http://www.tripleblaze.com/trail.php?c=3&i=4173