Hiking Saint Sauveur Mountain via Ledge Trail in Acadia National Park
Distance (Ledge Trail & Loop): 2.5 miles / 4.0 km
Saint Sauveur Mountain in Acadia National Park is one of the park’s least-trafficked day hikes, much like Mansell Mountain on the other side of Long Pond.
That said, I personally see Saint Sauveur Mountain as a fun, underrated adventure that can make for a great sunrise hike, as all the best viewpoints along the upper loop face to the east!
In any case, Saint Sauveur Mountain is not often hiked in one straightforward manner, as there are four routes lead to the summit from all directions, with the most popular being the Ledge Trail.
This is exactly the direction in which this article is written, which includes the full loop past the summit of Saint Sauveur Mountain to Valley Peak beyond the summit.
What is Saint Sauveur Mountain Named After?
While Saint Sauveur might sound like the name of a religious figure, the name is actually derived from a 1613 Jesuit mission led by Father Pierre Biard on Mount Desert Island.
However, the mission was destroyed just a few weeks after its founding by an English raiding party from Virginia, led by Captain Samuel Argall.
Nevertheless, Saint Sauveur Mountain still bears the French name 'Saint Sauveur' to this day, which translates to 'Holy Savior,' a name that some speculate reflects religious beliefs or a desire for divine protection.
Saint Sauveur Mountain Trailhead Parking
Parking for Saint Sauveur Mountain via the Ledge Trail is located in a small hidden parking lot just off Highway 102, about 2.3 miles (3.7 km) north of Southwest Harbor. By 'hidden,' I mean that it can be easy to drive past, as it’s not as obvious as the parking area for Acadia Mountain, just to the north.
Remember to purchase your National Park pass in advance and display your pass or entrance receipt here and at every trailhead in Acadia National Park, whether you went through an official entrance station or not. Yes, law enforcement officers check parked cars throughout Acadia, and I have seen tickets handed out to vehicles not following the rules of a U.S. fee area.
On a different note, be aware that Acadia National Park is one of the busiest parks in the country, and finding a place to park, even at less-known trailheads, can be incredibly challenging during the busiest times of the year.
Google Maps Directions: Saint Sauveur Mountain Trailhead
Hiking Checklist - Acadia
Here is a complete list of must-have things that you will want for any hike in Acadia National Park.
Hiking the Ledge Trail to Saint Sauveur Mountain
The Ledge Trail to Saint Sauveur Mountain begins climbing almost immediately after the trailhead, gaining roughly 470 ft. (143 m) from here to the summit.
These are the 'ledges' for which the trail is aptly named.
I think it’s important to note that because the Ledge Trail is the most direct route to Saint Sauveur Mountain, it is also the steepest.
For this reason, some hikers may prefer to carry trekking poles for the uneven granite terrain, which can be especially useful on the steep hike back down!
As the Ledge Trail approaches the junction with the Saint Sauveur Mountain Trail, the elevation gain begins to level off from the initial steep sections.
Ledge-Saint Sauveur Mountain Junction
After roughly 0.5 miles (0.8 km), the Ledge Trail ends where it meets the Saint Sauveur Mountain Trail, which branches off the Acadia Mountain Trail just to the north (left).
That being said, go right at this junction to begin the Saint Sauveur Mountain Trail to the summit, about 0.2 miles (0.3 km) away.
Saint Sauveur Mountain
The summit of Saint Sauveur Mountain is located just before the start of the loop between Saint Sauveur and Valley Peak.
While there are no views at the 679-ft. (207 m) summit, I highly recommend continuing further to begin the loop, as the best viewpoint on the entire trail is only 0.2 miles (0.3 km) from the top.
Saint Sauveur Mountain Loop Trail
The Saint Sauveur Mountain Loop Trail, also called the Valley Peak Loop Trail, is a 0.9-mile (1.4 km) loop that runs across the top of the mountain between Saint Sauveur and Valley Peak.
That said, it truly makes no difference in terms of distance to reach Valley Peak on the far side. However, if you’re most interested in hiking to the best viewpoint first, go left in the clockwise direction.
This is the direction that I chose to hike.
North Saint Sauveur Mountain Loop-Valley Peak Junction
Shortly after beginning the loop, the trail comes to a split with the Valley Peak Trail, which climbs from the Man O' War Trail at the base of Acadia Mountain to Saint Sauveur Mountain.
Here, I highly recommend going left to leave the loop, as the best viewpoint on the entire hike is located just a short distance ahead on the far side of the trees!
These views to the southeast look out toward Valley Cove, Flying Mountain, and Northeast Harbor beyond.
For those interested, this is where I recommend catching sunrise when the weather is clear!
Past the viewpoint, the loop continues for another 0.3 miles (0.5 km) to the summit of Valley Peak.
South Saint Sauveur Mountain Loop-Valley Peak Junction
The next time the Saint Sauveur Mountain Loop splits is when it meets the Valley Peak Trail, which ascends from the Valley Cove Trail off the Flying Mountain Loop.
Here, go right, and the summit of Valley Peak will be found almost immediately ahead.
Valley Peak
Valley Peak is the last named summit on the Saint Sauveur Mountain Loop, which stands at 505 ft. (154 m), according to the National Park Service.
This is a bit shorter than Saint Sauveur Mountain, but the hike back up to the Ledge Trail is hardly noticeable compared to the initial steep ascent following the trailhead.
Saint Sauveur Mountain Loop Junction
After just 0.4 miles (0.6 km), the Saint Sauveur Mountain Loop returns to the beginning, with the trail back down located to the right.
Overall, the Ledge Trail to Saint Sauveur Mountain and Valley Peak is my favorite route to the summit loop, and remember, Saint Sauveur Mountain can make for a great sunrise adventure, as the best viewpoint is only 0.9 miles (1.4 km) from the Ledge Trailhead.
This is why I continually say throughout my Acadia articles to travel to the park with a good headlamp, as there are seemingly countless hikes that make for great, uncrowded sunrise and sunset adventures, apart from the popular trails, like Beehive and Precipice.
Mount Desert Island
Schoodic Peninsula
