QUICK TRAIL FACTS
- Preserve Size: 47,000 acres
- Trail Mileage: 2.3 mile loop
- Pets: yes
- Difficulty: moderate
- Sights: scant views, pitch pine forest
(Map is incomplete)
Kebo Mountain, at 407 feet, is a sweet mountain, close to Bar Harbor, which offers milder pleasures than other peaks in the park. (That is, the views aren’t knock-your-socks-off.) That being said, it’s a lovely little hike, about 2.3 miles round trip from the Great Meadow Loop, and not very strenuous.
The summit has no views, just scraggly, picturesque pine trees and ledge. But I did find a side path to a small open area with a view, close to the second of Kebo’s two knobs (the one farther south along the ridge path). Oddly, it had been barricaded with fallen branches. I’m not sure why rangers wouldn’t encourage hikers to this spot, as there was a bench there, and, again, the best views of the mountain. It didn’t seem any more dangerous there than so many other high, rugged clifftops in the park. Look for it about 0.4 miles from the main summit, on the sea-facing side of the mountain.
Directions: There are several ways to summit Kebo. I started from Kebo Street. Some people park along the edge of the road in wintertime. I’m not sure what the town allows during summer. At the edge of the cemetery, the northern end, you’ll see the Kebo Brook Trail. Follow it west, and in 0.2 miles, turn left onto Stratheden Path for 0.7 miles. Then you’ll turn right onto Kebo Mountain Trail and start climbing. The summit will be in about 0.6 miles, after reaching the first knob and dipping down and up to reach the real summit. You can also park at the lot for Cadillac North Ridge. From this point, it’s just under a mile to the summit.
