HEMLOCK BRIDGE

Spanning 200 Feet with a Large Arch:

One of the more expensive bridges to build, the majestic Hemlock Bridge is located in the heart of the Middle Peaks area under Bald Peak and Sargent Mountain. Spanning an impressive 200 feet, a single large arch (ornamented by two faux arches on each side) allows Hadlock Brook to flow underneath. The bridge is named for all of the hemlock trees that surround the area and is the companion bridge to Waterfall Bridge, which is located only a tenth of a mile to the east.

Several parking areas provide relatively easy access to Hemlock Bridge and Waterfall Bridge, including the Parkman Trailhead and the Norumbega Trailhead. You can hike or bike the carriage roads directly to the bridges, or hikers can pay a visit during hikes along the neighboring trails, including Bald Peak and Parkman Mountain as well as the Hadlock Brook Trail and Maple Spring Trail.

To navigate the trails and carriage roads of Acadia and find the classic stone bridges, get a copy of the wonderful Map Adventures Acadia National Park Trail Map or Diane Abrell's Carriage Roads of Acadia: A Pocket Guide. And for more in depth information on the construction and history of the bridges, please see Robert Thayer's Acadia's Carriage Roads book.