Acadia National Park

Hike Pemetic Summit with Island Explorer Bus

strenuous Summit BaggersBus HikersPhotographers
0.1 mi Distance
2-4 hours Estimated Time
Out & Back Trail Type

What to Expect

This is one of Acadia's smartest hikes — a point-to-point traverse that uses the free Island Explorer bus to eliminate the usual out-and-back slog. You'll climb Pemetic Mountain's open granite ridgeline through a mix of scrubby pitch pine and exposed ledge, with the effort ramping up steadily until you're scrambling over bare rock near the summit. The payoff is enormous: a nearly full-circle panorama that puts Cadillac, Sargent, and Penobscot peaks at eye level while the Atlantic stretches south toward the Cranberry Isles. On the descent, you'll drop past the glassy stillness of Bubble Pond — far quieter than its famous neighbor — before finishing at Jordan Pond, where the popover house awaits. This hike rewards anyone who wants a legitimate summit experience without marathon mileage.
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Safety Advisory

The upper ridge is fully exposed granite with no tree cover. In thunderstorms you become the highest point — if you hear rumbling or see clouds building fast over Cadillac, descend immediately rather than pushing for the summit.

Several sections near the top require hand-over-foot scrambling on steep rock slabs. These are manageable when dry but become genuinely dangerous when wet. After rain, give the rock at least two hours of sun and wind before attempting the summit pitches.

Trail Details

Distance 0.1 miles round-trip
Difficulty strenuous
Estimated Time 2-4 hours
Trail Type Out & Back
Pets Dogs allowed (leash required)
Season Year-round
Trailhead Hike Pemetic Summit with Island Explorer Bus

Pro Tips

Trail Tip

Start from the Bubble Pond bus stop heading south — the northern approach has a more gradual grade, saving your knees for the steeper Jordan Pond descent. Check the Island Explorer Route 5 (Jordan Pond) schedule before you go, since buses run roughly every 30 minutes and the last bus leaves earlier than you'd expect.

Trail Tip

Wear shoes with sticky rubber soles, not standard trail runners. Pemetic's summit ridge is open granite that gets slick with morning dew or light rain, and you'll be grateful for the grip on the steeper pitches near the top.

Trail Tip

The best photo op isn't at the summit cairn — it's about 200 yards south along the ridge, where you get Jordan Pond and the Bubbles in the foreground with Penobscot rising behind them. Arrive before 10 a.m. for front-lit conditions on the western peaks.

Photos

A hiker stands on an exposed granite peak, looking out at mountains rising across the valley.Emma Forthofer, Friends of Acadia

Getting There

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Explore Acadia National Park

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