From collection Place
The Amphitheater Trail (ANP #56) travels through woodland and along Little Harbor Brook, with some open ledges near Birch Spring. The south end of the trail starts at the Little Harbor Brook carriage road bridge and ascends north, then goes northwest to cross the Sargent Mountain South Ridge Trail (#52) at Birch Spring. The trail continues on and ends at the intersection with Hadlock Brook Trail (#57). Though mostly unconstructed, there are highly constructed features in the area near the Amphitheater carriage road bridge with several Village Improvement Society stepstone crossings that vary in craftsmanship (Acadia National Park trails database).
Historical Context
In the 1911 Seal Harbor Village Improvement Society, SHVIS, Annual Report, Path Committee Chairman, Dr. Frank Damrosch states, "The new path from Sargent Mountain down the Harbor Brook Valley was laid out and constructed, making one of the most attractive woodland paths in this vicinity..." Dr. Damrosch refers to path maintenance as performed by "our path man McCrae." In 1917 a short connecting trail was constructed to join the Amphitheatre Trail with the Hadlock Brook Falls Trail, via the Cedar Swamp [Birch] Spring to facilitate expeditions to Little Brown Mountain (now known as Parkman Mountain) or Sargent Mountain via the Giant Slide Trail. This connecting trail is now the marked route for the northern end of the Amphitheatre Trail #56. The original upper or north end of the trail (#523), along Harbor Brook up to the notch between Sargent and Penobscot, and intersecting with the Deer Brook Trail (#51) near Sargent Pond is no longer marked. There were apparently extensive original cairns in this area throughout the 1980s. This northern termination may have been “very near Sargent Mountain Pond because the Deer Brook trail originally did not extend into the [notch] between Sargent Mountain Pond and Jordan Mountain. “ (David Goodrich, personal communications in the 2003 "Pathmakers Draft Plan"). In 1931, the Amphitheatre Trail was greatly altered by the construction of a carriage road and bridge across the Amphitheater ravine. Rockefeller met tremendous local resistance when he proposed a carriage road through this area in c. 1920. He delayed construction for many years but eventually proceeded as he, and many others, felt it was an important link in the system ( Dorr, Acadia NP, Its Growth and Development, 1948, p. 33, [ https://bhhs.digitalarchive.us/items/show/19 ]). This construction effectively eliminated the lower, southern portion of the trail from the lower carriage road bridge to the Asticou-Jordan Pond trail which is now no longer marked (see trail #528). The trail passes under the spectacular Amphitheatre Brook carriage road bridge, where 1930s construction of steps, culverts, and stone tread paving were added to connect to the carriage road system. This work includes some large stepstones across Little Harbor Brook of uncut level blocks up to 3 x 3 x 2 feet, with uniform 1-foot gaps between and two open culverts associated with the stone staircases. A section along the stream has well-built, slab-laid stairs. Another section has a wall made with large, round stones from the brook that holds the trail tread along the side of the stream. Extensive rehabilitation of this area was completed in 2005. This work included repair of 410 square feet of wall, 52 feet of reset stone paving, additional drainage, and 98 stone steps.
Distance (e.g., miles)
1.7 miles
Route (e.g. trail)
From the Asticou Trail, along the carriage road, up Little Harbor Brook, to notch between Sargent & Penobscot Mtns.
Latitude (decimal)
44.3248
Longitude (decimal)
-68.27
Significance
The historic trail system of Acadia National Park is listed on the National Register of Historic Places, recognized for its national significance and ties to the history of Mount Desert Island and establishment of the park. The system's period of significance starts in 1844 and ends in 1942. The listing encompasses 109 trails traversing 117 miles on Mount Desert Island (some extending outside the park) and includes 18 memorial plaques, 12 viewpoints, and unique engineering features.
GNIS/GNS Feature ID
1911339
NRHP Property ID
100007602
ACAD Trails ID
56
Authoritative Source
Microsoft Access database used in preparation of report Pathmakers: Cultural Landscape Report for the Historic Hiking Trail System of Mount Desert Island by Coffin Brown, Margaret, Jim Vekasi, et. al. U.S. Department of the Interior, National Park Service, Washington, DC (2006); accessed June 2024. Entry updated and revised by Gary Stellphflug and Terese Miller (March, 2025) utilizing orignal research, personal knowledge, and 2013 trails map.
Source
Acadia National Park trail database, 2013 map. Goodrich, David, personal comments on the 2003 Pathmakers Draft Plan.
