Hike to one of Acadia’s iconic summits AND help Acadia National Park’s efforts to restore native vegetation during the Save Our Summits event.

Acadia National Park, in collaboration with its partners-in-science, Friends of Acadia and Schoodic Institute, invite tenacious hikers to bring bags of soil to the summits of Penobscot and Sargent Mountains. You’ll get to choose how much soil you’ll carry – carrying as little as five pounds (about the size of a large freezer ziplock bag) is a huge help!
This soil is integral to the ongoing summit restoration efforts in Acadia National Park.
*Registration is required and has now closed.

When:

Wednesday, June 21 (rain date Thursday, June 22).
Waves at 7 a.m., 8 a.m., and 9 a.m.

Where:

Meet at the Parkman Mountain Carriage Road Trailhead off Route 3 in Acadia National Park.
Participants will hike up to the summit of either Penobscot Mountain or Sargent Mountain.

Save Our Summits route map (courtesy NPS). Download a PDF of the route.

Choose Your Route

Participants have the option to hike with soil up to the summit of Penobscot OR Sargent Mountain.

Sargent Route
Elevation gain: 1,040 ft
Distance: 4.20 mi
AllTrails Map

The Sargent route  is the less-challenging of the two options.

Penobscot Route
Elevation gain: 1,086 ft
Distance: 4.33 mi
AllTrails Map

If you want more of a challenge, choose Penobscot.

Take note!
Please carpool! This event has limited parking (plus carpooling is just a smarter way to get around), so fill your car with all the summit-loving hikers you can.

Don’t forget your park pass!

Arrive prepared to be on trail for a few hours. Dress appropriately with reliable hiking boots and sweat-wicking apparel. Bring water and snacks, as well as anything you may need for your known medical and allergy needs.

Bring a backpack with extra room to stow your soil. Carrying soil up via backpack is the most convenient method.

Participants must check out at the check-in table by 3 p.m. (you’re welcome to continue exploring in the park after hauling your soil, just please check out first).

If conditions are expected to be rainy or slippery on June 21, the event will be postponed to the following day, June 22. Participants will be alerted via email to a postponement.

Registration for Save Our Summits is now closed

Summit Restoration is Critical

Despite their hardened granite, Acadia’s mountain summit ecosystems are incredibly fragile.

Human-caused climate change is causing longer growing seasons, more rain, less snow, and fewer species that we know and love. Extreme weather events are damaging landscapes, cultural resources, and infrastructure. Invasive plants species are trying to out-compete native summit plants. Trampling by humans has damaged the plant communities at the top of mountains.

For the last several years, Acadia National Park, Friends of Acadia, and the Schoodic Institute worked together to evaluate new vegetation plantings and soil replacement on Cadillac Mountain summit. This research continues to provide managers with invaluable information on how to direct change toward desired future conditions on Cadlillac and other summits in Acadia.

Turns out, getting soil on the summits is a critical piece of the revegetation puzzle. The loss of vegetation has caused soil to erode, which means there’s no place for seeds to settle and grow.

That’s where you come in.

By carrying soil to the summits of Sargent and Penobscot Mountains, you’ll play an important role in the restoration of these vital ecosystems and their future resiliency.

That’s something to feel proud of. (Bonus: you’ll get a wonderfully scenic hike in Acadia!)

Lean more about this science-based approach: Learning How to Restore Mountain Summits

Soil-to-Summit Motivational Playlist

For those who appreciate a little musical motivation, please enjoy this playlist, curated with soil-carrying enthusiasm by Friend’s of Acadia’s Nikki Burtis.

Still have questions? Email Nikki Burtis, Friends of Acadia Stewardship Coordinator, at nikki@friendsofacadia.com