Directions to trail head. From downtown Bar Harbor, travel south on Route 3. Turn right to enter the Sieur de Monts area. At the very beginning of the parking area (as you enter it), on your right, before you see the Wild Gardens of Acadia on your right, is one end of the Hemlock Road. Follow that road past where it is crossed by the Jesup Path (ANP #14), which is evident as a boardwalk on your right, and the trail head for Homans Path is on the left almost immediately after the Jesup Path crossing.

Trail details. The trail ascends gradually to the first stone steps (of many!) on the path. Just before you reach those steps, look to your left and right and you will see an old roadbed. This was the original access to the Homans Path. To your right, you can see in a gully in the old roadbed one of the remaining log supports for a short bridge.

The stone steps in front of you were the beginning (or end, depending on your route) of the original Homans Path. The short ascent you have just completed to reach these steps was constructed for the reopening of the trail in 2003.

After climbing a series of stone steps, ...

... you will walk under an overhanging ledge.

Part of your ascent will be on open steps, ...

... and sometimes you will ascend between narrow gaps in the ledge.

There are also areas where the stones were laid as paving.

As you climb, your view opens over the "meadow" and to the Porcupine Islands beyond.

Jackson Lab is a prominent feature in many vistas.

Near its upper end, the path ascends gradually over roots ...

... and ledge.

At the end of .4 miles, the Homans Path meets the Emery Path in a T-intersection (UTM: 19T 0562821, 4912382; Lat./Long.: N 44°21′43.2″ x W 68°12′41.9″). Here you can return to Sieur de Monts via the Emery path (.3 miles/.5 km according to the Park's sign), emerging behind the Nature Center, or ascend on the Emery Path to the Schiff Path and ultimately to the summit of Dorr Mountain.

To contribute to this web page: All information (including images) should be e-mailed to info@vfthomas.com or sent by traditional mail to MDI Trails and Memorial Paths, c/o V. F. Thomas Co.; P. O. Box 400; Southwest Harbor, ME 04679.