Little Notch via Cold Brook Trail, Gilley Trail and Sluiceway Trail

This short west-side Acadia loop packs a lot into roughly 5 km / 3.1 miles, with about 200 m / 656 ft of climbing. It begins near the south end of Long Pond, where the Cold Brook Trail leaves from the Long Pond Trailhead parking area, and links a gentle approach with a steeper, rougher descent from Little Notch via the Sluiceway and Gilley trails. The route sits on Mount Desert Island in Acadia National Park, in the quieter interior forest between Long Pond and the Bernard Mountain–Mansell Mountain ridge. The nearest clear landmark for the start is the Long Pond Trailhead on Long Pond Road, Southwest Harbor, Maine, at the south end of Long Pond. (home.nps.gov)

The opening stretch on Cold Brook Trail is usually the easiest walking of the day. Expect a wooded footpath with a mild grade as it trends away from the pond and toward Gilley Field, making this a good place to settle into pace, check layers, and confirm the route in HiiKER before the terrain becomes more complex. This lower section is more about atmosphere than big views: mixed forest, damp ground in places, and the quiet feel that often defines Acadia’s west side. The climb is not constant at first, but the route gradually gains height as it approaches the interior trail junctions. (nps.gov)

Terrain and route character

From Gilley Field, the route turns onto Gilley Trail and then climbs toward Little Notch. This middle section is where the hike earns its medium rating. The footing becomes rockier and rootier, and short steeper pitches begin to appear. While the total elevation gain is modest, it is concentrated enough to feel like a proper climb over a short distance. Hikers should expect uneven stone, occasional slick patches after rain, and narrow sections where careful foot placement matters more than speed. (poyst.com)

Little Notch itself is the key landmark of the walk: a saddle-like junction area on the ridge system west of Bernard Mountain. It is less a dramatic summit than a useful high point and decision point, but it gives the route a real sense of arrival. If visibility is good, nearby ledges and openings along the ridge can offer partial views across western Mount Desert Island, though this is not a hike defined by nonstop panoramas. Much of the appeal is in the transition from pondside forest to higher, mossy, granite-studded uplands. (poyst.com)

The descent on Sluiceway Trail is the section to respect most. Multiple route descriptions note that it is steep and rocky, and it follows a drainage-like corridor for part of the way. In dry weather it can be a fun, rugged drop; in wet weather, the stone can become slick and the descent noticeably slower. Trekking poles can help, but the main preparation point is sturdy footwear with reliable grip and enough time to descend carefully. Once Sluiceway meets the Gilley/Great Notch area, the grade eases, and the return on Gilley Trail and Cold Brook Trail feels much more relaxed. (hikingwithpups.com)

Landmarks, nature, and wildlife

Long Pond is the defining water feature near the trailhead and helps shape the landscape around the route. The surrounding forest on this side of Acadia is typically a mix of spruce-fir and northern hardwood species, with mossy ground, glacially worn stone, and pockets of moisture-loving vegetation along brooks and drainages. In summer, hikers may notice lowbush blueberry in openings and on sunnier rocky sections. (home.nps.gov)

Wildlife is often more heard than seen. Songbirds are common in the forest, and Acadia’s west side supports a range of birds associated with mixed woodland and wetland edges. Around ponds and quieter waters in the broader area, loons, herons, raptors, and other birdlife are possible, though not guaranteed on this specific loop. As elsewhere in Acadia, small mammals are common, and hikers should give all wildlife space and secure food properly. Ticks can be present in warmer months, and wet leaves or granite can be slippery after rain or morning dew.