Valley Peak Trail, Acadia National Park, Hancock County, ME

A difficult, moderately used, woodland, summit path that begins at Fernald Cove, ascends straight up southeast side of St. Sauveur, over Valley Peak, the down northeast side to intersection of Man o' War Brook and Acadia Mountain Trail (#101). Tread surface varies including woodland path, ledge, loose rocks and gravel, and wetland. Trail has 1992 bogwalk, 1990 planked bridge with a stream-stone abutment, plus stream crossings with no constructed features. There is no historic drainage, just NPS and AMC ditching, stone culverts, and log waterbars. Trail has small sets of old stairs rising up onto ledge with some areas of coping, and remnants of piled coping on sloping ledge. Trail passes fieldstone walls with at least one cellar hole. CB, PC, SB, MB

Significant Dates

1871

Historical Context

The ridge section of what is now called the Valley Peak Trail may overlap with a portion of the no longer marked Slide Trail. The 1915 path guide describes the Slide Trail, as "From Fernald Point Road to top of Dog Mountain." The entire Valley Peak Trail as currently marked is first shown on the 1916 path map, as trail #31.See also Trail #603, Slide Trail

Distance (e.g., miles)

1.5 miles

Route (e.g. trail)

From parking area at Fernald Cove, up southeast side of St. Sauveur Mtn., over Valley Peak, down northeast side to east end of Man o' War Brook Fire Road and Acadia Mtn. Trail.

Latitude (decimal)

44.30536

Longitude (decimal)

-68.32

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

1912049

NRHP Property ID

100007602

ACAD Trails ID

104

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.