Background: The Beech Mountain Trail run is a run on trails from Beech Hill area in the Town of Mount Desert, Maine and finishes near Seal Cove, Maine. The entire run is on Mount Desert Island, Maine, USA. The trail travels through Acadia National Park and passes through Southwest Harbor, Maine in route to Seal Cove, Maine. The distance is aprox. 7.4 Miles or 14.8 for an out and back including paved road to the gate near Camp Beech Cliff and the gate just past the Bald Mountain Parking area at the intersection of Seal Cove Rd. and the Western Mountain Trucking Rd. closest to Seal Cove Pond. The total distance on single track trail is aprox. 5.9 Miles. The run was originated in 1998 by Peter Keeney and has been run continously ever since. This site welcomes any runner/ hiker who wants to post a time for this established route including: the name of the finisher, the date of the attempt, the town the finisher calls home, and age of the finisher.
Rules: The established route must be followed from start to finish and any attempt going off the route must re-enter the trail at the same point of exit. Only those following the route from start to finish will be considered an official finish.
The Trail: Is mostly single track with plenty of rocks, tree roots, slippery ledges and climbs and decents. The trail is very technical in parts and even the most experienced will put in a great effort to finish the entire route. Total distance of the route from start to finish is close to eight- miles. There are short treks on paved road including Beech Hill Rd and the Great Pond Parking Area & Boat Launch( Pump House). Also, a short distance on Dirt Road along Seal Cove Pond Rd., and Western Mountain Trucking Road to the Bald Mountain Parking area.
The Route: Starts on Beech Hill road climbs Carters Knubble along Beech Hill road, and passes Camp Beech Cliff. Then Beech Hill Road turns into Park Road and follows the Park Road to the Beech Mountain Parking area. At the Beech Mountain Parking Area enter the trail to the West end of the parking and head to the summit of Beech Mountain. At the Fire tower on Beech Mountain Summit follow the South Ridge Trail to the Valley Trail heading to Long Pond. Cross dirt road and continue on trail to Great Long Pond. Once at the Parking Area/ Boat Launch cross the parking area and go behind the Pump House. Follow the Great Pond Trail to the Perpendicular Trail and Mansell Mountain Summit. From Mansell Mountain Summit follow Notch Trail across the Razorback and toward Great Notch. From Great Notch follow the Notch Trail to Knights Knubble. From Knights Knubble follow the Notch Trail to Little Notch. From Little Notch follow the Notch Trail to the Bernard Mountain Summit. From the Bernard Mountain Summit follow the West face trail to theright of the fork. Follow the West face trail to the bottom. At the bottom turn left onto the Western Mountain Rd and then turn right toward Seal Cove, and Seal Cove Road. finishing on the right at the Bald Mountain parking area near Seal Cove Road. The route includes Bernard Mountain 1071 Ft., Knight's Knubble 907 Ft., Mansell Mountain 949 Ft., and Beech Mountain 839 Ft. Also, The Perpendicular trail and it's 766 steps on the way to the summitt of Mansell Mountain.
Starting Point: Can be either the Bald Mountain Parking Area on Western Mountain Trucking Road or Camp Beech Cliff Parking Area on Beech Hill Road.
Entry Gates are open from May through October. No restroom facilities are open to public along the route.
